Jazz Improv Magazine, Summer, 2004: Guitar Issue

DeVOS’ GROOVE GUITAR! – Bob DeVos, guitar

Blues Leaf Records BL 9822 © 2003 Blue Leaf Records, a division of Loose Leaf Music Corp. PO Box 234, Deal, NJ 07723, Web site: www.bluesleaf.com Email: bluesleaf@aol.com

Tom Thumb; The Look Of Love; Driftin’; Prayin’ For Your Return; The End Of A Love Affair; Cantaloupe Island; Round Midnight; Coming Home Baby; Come Rain Or Come Shine.

PERSONNEL: Bob DeVos, guitar; Gene Ludwig, Hammond B3 Organ; Billy James, drums and Emedin Rivera on congas and percussion.

By Vince Giantomasi

One of the unsung jazz artist’s of today is guitarist Bob DeVos. He is a gentle man with a very pleasant manner. On the bandstand his guitar work is exemplary and he exudes professionalism. To see and speak with DeVos one would get the idea of a self-confident guitar master, but inside this man’s soul lies a MONSTER. In the jazz vernacular Bob DeVos is definitely a jazz monster.

His career began in the late 1960s where, as a teenager, Bob was the guitarist for the legendary Rock n’ Roll group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. With a need to further explore his instrument Bob turned to jazz. He studied with masters, Harry Leahy and Dennis Sandole and this led to his being invited to join the trio of soul-jazz organist Trudy Pitts. During these early years Bob also performed with many other great legends of soul such as, B.B. King, Otis Redding and James Brown.

A soulful player that is comfortable with all styles of music Bob is particularly at home with Be-bop, straight ahead organ-jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Fusion and Rock n’ Roll. His musical experiences have included being part of such prestigious groups as the Jimmy McGriff-Hank Crawford Quartet. He worked with groups led by Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Charles "The Mighty Burner" Earland. These groups have included such notable stars as the legendary Sonny Stitt, Eric Alexander and Jim Rotondi. He has also has worked as a sideman with the likes of Stanley Turrentine, Junior Cook, Joey DeFrancesco, Bill Doggett, Larry Goldings, "Screaming" Jay Hawkins, Etta Jones, Houston Person, Teo Macero, Pepper Adams, Dave Leibman, Dick Oatts, Mike LeDonne, Rufus Reid and Dr. Lonnie Smith among others.

On his CD release, Bob demonstrates why he is the guitarist of choice to lead and be part of the unique Guitar/B3 organ combination. This album, DeVos’ Groove Guitar! is a must for all aspiring guitarists. Joining Bob on this CD are B3 Organist, Gene Ludwig, a man who Bob has teamed up with in the group they call The Groove ORGANization that also includes their drummer, Billy James. This album also includes the special appearance of congero, Emedin Rivera.

He opens the album with a Wayne Shorter composition, "Tom Thumb," a very mellow head-bobbing bluesy arrangement with excellent conga work by Emedin. On "The Look Of Love," a love tune penned by Burt Bacharach, Bob chose to swing the tune with a mild shuffle beat. This has quite a different feel from the original and plays very well. It is a nice change of pace and Ludwig adds an interesting soulful touch.

DeVos pays homage to Herbie Hancock by including two of his tunes on this CD. On "Driftin’" Bob has a written a wonderful arrangement that moves in a nice easy bouncing groove! His rendition of "Cantaloupe Island" is delightful. You can feel the cool sea breeze as you listen to this number. Pay particular attention to Ludwig who uses a unique stabbing affect with his organ comps. It is quite different and adds a magical touch to this popular standard.

The selection of tunes on this CD is excellent. Bob DeVos collaborated with producers, Jim Morabia and Jack Kreisberg on this project and together they put together a perfect blend of tunes.

On Percy Mayfield’s "Prayin’ For You Return" there is a rich blues feel with great organ work by Gene Ludwig. Bob took "The End Of A Love Affair" and played it as an up-tempo tune. Again Ludwig shows remarkable style as he understates his comping and blows the B3 organ like a tenor saxophone. Billy James adds a nice driving steady beat with a solo that is smooth and clean.

On Thelonious Monk’s classic tune, "Round Midnight" Bob DeVos has what I consider a masterpiece arrangement. He plays behind the beat with the organ countering in a very mystical way. This is one of the finest solos I have ever heard played against the chord changes. DeVos is superb!

A big favorite of all many jazz enthusiasts is Ben Tucker’s "Comin’ Home Baby" which was a major hit for Herbie Mann in the 1960s. Here Bob presents this Latin tune with a very unusual exotic gypsy feel. He concludes the CD with a beautiful arrangement of "Come Rain Or Come Shine" where he gives it a very pleasant mild swing.

This is an excellent exhibition of the work of truly masterful guitarist. Other albums by Bob DeVos include his 1999 release of Breaking The Ice, which features Charles Earland, Henry Gibson and Vince Ector. He can also be heard as a sideman on the albums, Groove’s Groove and Good Vibrations by Richard "Groove" Holmes and Organomically Correct, Blowing The Blues Away, Jazz Organ Summit and Live with Charles Earland, Impressions Of Charles Mingus with Teo Macero, Age Of Peace with Ron McClure and on Irene Reid’s Million Dollar Secret and I Ain’t Doin’ Too Bad. His other recordings include work with Hugh Brodie, Dave Braham, Gene Ludwig and The Charles Earland Tribute Band.