The Groove Divinities Review
By Kevin Wierzbicki
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If you are one who's given to reading liner notes, you'll notice that on this set's opener, Kenni Ski provides the beats while Trip Jenkins handles the vocals. Look a little closer and you'll discover that the two are in fact one and the same. Ditto with guitarist Jimmy Sloan, who also calls himself Southland Slim. They really needn't worry about clever aliases because it is as the Groove Divinities that they shall rise. Not only to the top, but these guys just might redefine what the pinnacle is. Ski has an extremely seductive voice that he plays with in a manner that recalls the vocal work of Jimi Hendrix---full of nuance and subtlety and able to convey an all-knowing cool. With the exception of Sam Cooke's "Change Gonna Come," Ski and Sloan wrote or had a hand in writing this masterpiece of modern rhythm and blues. Not exactly Barry White, but this is lights-down-low kind of stuff; Ski repeatedly sings about taking her clothes off but by a few tracks in they'll just be falling off anyway. Even when the subject matter turns to the evils of drug addiction, like on "Mainline" and "Methodonia," there is a slinky smoothness oozing out of the shadows. Chicago blues, delta blues, the Memphis sound, Philly, Motown; these cats mix and match like they've lived a lifetime in each scene. So call them Slim and Jenkins if they want you to. They'll reward you thoroughly.
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The Groove Divinities Label:Do Right Records
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