PVD

Where has all the damn soul gone?  In an era when artists fret about the size of their sample library, PVD relishes its task: to make you shake your ass without the aid of a quantize button, without a pair of decks, & without pretension.  PVD is, plain & simple, an old school hip-hop band.  They just happen to be playing jazz.....
The groove begins and ends with Pat Van Dyke—the namesake, composer, & drummer for the band whose style is the aggregate of many influences; Bonham, ?uestlove, & Tony Williams coming at you all at once. Also responsible for the contagious head-nod spreading throughout the audience is bassist Kellen Harrison; who sits far enough behind the beat to make you look over your shoulder every so often just to make sure he’s still there. On the keys, Jameel Roberts preaches the gospel of the Fender Rhodes, while Ben Zeff urges melodies from his guitar on jam after jam.
While the improvisational nature of PVD surely suggests a jazz or jam band sound, the group isn’t so easily classified.  As a DJ crossfades between records, the band crossfades from jazz to hip hop, often featuring guest MCs as part of their live show.  By the end of a set, the distinction between genres becomes irrelevant, as the band shows effortlessly how much terrain these styles share. Just don’t expect them to explain it to you..... all the proof you need is up there on stage. So ask yourself: are you ..... Down for the Get Down?