Change Up the Groove

by Jason Ankeny Its misleading title notwithstanding, Change Up the Groove does little to alter the inimitable jazz-funk aesthetic Roy Ayers perfected on earlier LPs like He's Coming and Virgo Red. The record simply offers more of a very, very good thing, as a result remaining somewhat overlooked in the vibraphonist's large catalog. What's impressive about Change Up the Groove is the seeming effortlessness of it all. Ayers' command of the almighty groove is absolute, and he divines the funk even in left-field material like the theme from the television hit M.A.S.H. More traditional fare like the scorching "Fikisha (To Help Someone to Arrive)," the measured "When Is Real, Real?," and a shimmering cover of Stevie Wonder's rapturous "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" proves no less impressive, and even if there's no obvious standout, Ayers makes no missteps, either -- tremendous stuff from top to bottom.