Chillaxin' with Euge Grove...I mean, Groove

Summer has a soft grip on Westlake Village these days. That's because I'm sitting (again) outdoors to listen to another jazz artist, part of the Westlake Summer Jazz program sponsored at the Hyatt Plaza Hotel by Mercedes Benz of Calabasas.

Tonight's turn is Euge Groove, born 46 years ago in Hagerstown, Maryland but now a Westlake Village resident...although, I don't know, he talks like a southerner ("Are you livin' large, y'all?" was his battle cry).

His style is smooth funky jazz, not exactly my cup of tea. A mix of Richard Elliott and Kenny G. at times, he exudes excellence in what he does: predictable sax riffs (see his beautiful baritone sax), so-so musical phrases and a penchant for showmanship. Not that tonight's audience was stuffy by any stretch of the imagination, but he kept interrupting himself to encourage the audience to "feel the funk," "livin' large," and "chillax moving your arms sideways, like this!"

At times, I was reminded of '90s sax sensation Najee, but Groove's style is less flowy and more staccato.

It was too much for me. I left after 25 minutes into the show and went for some cinnamon almonds at the local Trader Joe's.

Acoustic Alchemy in Westlake Village

Last Saturday (June 28), the suavish-gritty British duo Acoustic Alchemy stopped by the Westlake Hyatt Plaza Hotel in Westlake Village, CA, for a cool evening of jazzy guitar sounds. It was cool alright...with the temperature dipping into the high 60s, attendees had to don shawls, jackets and light sweaters as the performance took place outdoors by the pool.

The duo, made up of Greg Carmichael and John Parsons (who took over after Nick Webb's passing in 1998), didn't disappoint. Saturday night's medley consisted of some refreshing tunes, such as "Carlos the King" from their latest album This Way, an homage to charismatic guitar legend Carlos Santana, and the breezy Big Sky Country, to old favorites such as Ariane (one of my personal favs, actually).

I could only enjoy half of the show because I drove to the hotel from home without a jacket and sitting in mid-60s temperatures in the well-isolated enclave, surrounded by an artificial water cascade and a semicircle of tall perennials, was driving me to feel chills of the skin persuasion. I really felt bad that I had to leave early. However, I want to share a memento from that special occasion.

Next in: Euge Groove, July 12th, same place.