Respectable Groove is the future of early music. With its unmistakable combination of recorder, harpsichord, double bass and percussion, the group interprets medieval, renaissance and baroque music through a kaleidoscope of jazz and contemporary influences. Improvisation, just as it was for musicians from centuries past, is an essential ingredient of the intriguing mix that is Respectable Groove.
Brilliantly led by David Gordon, harpsichordist of choice for Andrew Manze and Nigel Kennedy, the band features recorder-player Evelyn Nallen who, according to the Guardian, 'pushes the supposed technical and timbral limitations of the instrument to spine-tingling extremes'. The dazzling percussion of Ichiro Tatsuhara and the sinuous bass of Oli Hayhurst create a modern continuo for the 21st century.
These four musicians are leaders in their fields, their other activities ranging from French baroque dance music to tango to club scene and folk music. This gives both a global perspective to their music and a distinctively English flavour. Together, they draw an exhilarating array of colours from their instruments, with virtuosic solos, inventive compositions, beautiful melodies and delicate grooves.