Shanti Groove
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Shanti Groove

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Band Americana Bluegrass

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"SHANTI SHARES IN THE GROOVE"

With a musical style known as Boulder-grown jamgrass, and a willingness to venture into any genre without pause, it’s no wonder that Shanti Groove will help to stir things up at Cervante's Masterpiece in Denver, following the Feb. 18th Phish show at the Pepsi Center.

Fresh off its first tour of 2003, Shanti Groove, made up of Jason Flournoy (banjo), John Heiland (mandolin), Jason Scroggins (flat-pick guitar), Juri Freeman (bass) and Chris Carland (drums), plans to keep the feeling of Phish rolling through the night. And with the energy that Shanti Groove has gained in recent months, and its ability to ride high on the crest of that wave, it might just be the band most suited for the job.

Since 2000, the band has played more than 100 shows in the front range of Colorado as well as many more throughout the country, and the goal for the band is 200 shows by year’s end. Many of the shows will of course feature friends that the band has played with before, such as Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, and other bluegrass legends like John Cowan and Pete Wernick.

Since mid-December the band has hired a new booking agent, changed drummers and is in high-gear with their work on a CD that is due out by the end of February. "I think we have some really good things happening already in the new year," says Scroggins. "We hope to have our first CD released by the end of February and hopefully that will put us up higher than we were last year. This is the third year of the band and I think it will be an even better year than the first and the second. We’ve put in the work and we’re still working hard to get our name out there."

Helping to keep things fresh is the fact that three of the musicians in the band, Flournoy, Scroggins and Heiland, are all songwriters turning out a wide array of compositions. "We have about 120 songs in our repertoire now. That’s cool," said Scroggins. One of the band’s newest songs, "Ross is Boss," pays tribute to Colorado picker Ross Martin and while each band member has written songs for the group, this is the first where the entire band shares authorship. The song, and its chorus — in fact its only vocals — also pay tribute to Jagermeister, and has caused the beverage company to take a look at the group as a possible member of the Jager Music Team.

Although Shanti Groove is deeply rooted in bluegrass, the band truly shines in its ability to take the listener on musical sojourns. When Shanti Groove is at its best, the band members each seem to be in their own world, but their incredibly respectful inter-communication is highly evident to the close watcher. The funny, often weird faces that the musicians make when they’re deep in musical thought and journey is a trademark that they are unknowingly beginning to gather. Asked about their faces, Flournoy says, "It’s like when you’re working on a car, when you have your head down in the engine and you just can’t reach the bolt until you make the right face."

And it appears that the band has been making the right face all along. For 2003, all of the members are set on a year that will include more than 200 shows and the release of two CDs. "This whole thing is totally addictive," says Heiland. "I’d probably ruin my life to play music, if I haven’t already. I can’t see giving up at this point."

The post-Phish extravaganza will begin right as Phish leaves the stage on Tuesday, Feb. 18th at Cervante's Masterpiece in Denver.

Brian Johnson
JamBase | Colorado
Go See Live Music! - Jambase.com


"Boulder groove grass at The Spot"

The mountains of Colorado remind some people of the High Country, and the Rockies have one thing in common with the Appalachians: Bluegrass has gained a foothold among the club generation.

Shanti groove is bringing its self described “groove grass” from Boulder, Colo., to Boone for a Friday night show at the spot.

Shanti Groove is an amplified acoustic band focusing on innovative percussion to add punch to the traditional instrumentation.

Band members are Chris Carland on drums and percussion, Jason Flourney on banjo, Juri Freeman on upright bass, John Heiland on mandolin and Jason Scroggins on guitar.

The band has spent the last year touring nationally and has built up a home fan base, jamming with bands such as Leftover Salmon.

They’ve shared the stage with such groups as Acoustic Syndicate, The Larry Keel Experience, David Grisman Quartet and Leo Kotke.

The Denver Post called Shanti Groove “a band clearly on the rise.”

The band’s sound is energetic without being frantic, as the flurries of mandolin and banjo notes serve as counterpoint to the group’s soaring vocal harmonies.

The group is releasing its first album next month and is touring heavily to build up an audience.

For more information or listen to MP3 samples of the band’s music, visit http://www.shantigroove.com.

The show doors open at 9 p.m. for ages 18 and up. Call 263-0800 for more show information. - Watauga Democrat


Discography

River's Mould (2004)

For Booking: Jason Scroggins, 303-443-0083
shantiscroggs@msn.com

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

The Colorado based "new-grass" phenomenon, Shanti Groove moves along acoustical and electrical lines, fusing the elements of effect-heavy jam improvisation with traditional bluegrass and earth-loving country for a musical genre that is uniquely their own. Their performances are renowned for their energetic musicianship, intricate paraphrasing, funky percussion and powerful musical soundscapes - drawing dance-ready audiences on a national level.


A band clearly on the rise, Shanti Groove recently returned from recording their sophomore album in Nashville, TN with renowned producer Scott Rouse, a GRAMMY Nominee for Producer of Bluegrass Album Of The Year, known for his work with Doc Watson, Del McCoury, Mac Wiseman among others. The studio project features new and re-worked material and is anticipated to be released the summer.


Shanti Groove has grown considerably since their initial incarnation in 2000, along side their commitment to their muse. In 2004, the band self-produced 2 defining shows at the Fox Theater, a DVD project and a series of self-produced, sold-out music-travel packages related to their New Years performance - a production that landed them multiple features in the national and local media.


Literally meaning Peace Groove, Shanti Groove is considered to be one of the pioneers in the Colorado based "new-grass" experience that is spreading throughout the music scene today. The band attributes their success largely on the music collective growing the Rocky Mountains and the peaceful exchange of music and grooves occurring in the local music community. "Local bands that have achieved success before us have readily passed down their knowledge, both in music and business," explains Juri Freeman, and from that, the name "peace groove" seems only natural.


Together they has shared the stage with an all-star cast of musicians including: Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush, Rob Wasserman, Leftover Salmon, Col. Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, The Big Wu, Steve Kimock Band, and Acoustic Syndicate.

Shanti Groove continues to grow as a band, maintaining a relentless tour schedule while carving out a solid fan-base and genre that is completely their own. Their unique blend of electric bluegrass can turn a tired Sunday performance into a foot stomping, jaw dropping musical fiesta for listeners of all ages.