1999 - 2000 - 2001 BEST MUSIC POLL WINNERS

If you've seen Planet Groove, Providence's own formidable Latin-world-jazz-fusion outfit and the recipient of the Best Local Jazz award, then you know that they can turn a plain old room into a sizzling cauldron of sweaty funk. The fact is, in concert they thrive on those moments when audience and band become one, when the players lock in and take off together, escorting their listeners across delicious tracks of unexplored sonic territory. Hard-working, inspired, and talented, they get this year's Jazz Act award after moving over from the (now retired) World Music category.

"We're totally pumped to get this," says Ajay Coletta. "We knew we were up against some heavy-duty players in Dan Moretti and Joe Parillo, guys we respect immensely, and we're honored to come away with the prize." Planet Groove's newest disc, Excessive Sonic Boom, beautifully recorded at Dream Edit in Newport back in November, is in the process of building on an addition. Originally recorded (and reviewed in this paper) as a six-song EP, the end result will be a vastly ambitious full-length, ideally full of the fire and ice Planet Groove has made its trademark. Of the six new tunes, one is a Miles Davis cover and another is a challenging solo percussion piece found at the heart of their live shows. Not easily digestible stuff by any stretch, but rewarding. "We don't appeal to a pop audience, really," admits Coletta, "so we rely on the more mature and sophisticated audiences to appreciate what we do. Fortunately, our shows lately have been great, so I think we're finding that audience."

- Bob Gulla

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