‘Groove Connection’ features the highly acclaimed German alto saxophonist Jakob Manz, together with a band of international groove jazz-greats.

An album full of infectious rhythms and melodies, with great depth and stylistic mastery.

Everyone is at the top of his or her game, and, even more importantly, everyone has deeply internalised the vocabulary and the feeling of this music, there is real communication going on, and a lot of joy in the room. And that joy is audible to listeners from the very first bar – with a mixture of originals and groove jazz versions of Adele, Billie Eilish, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and many more.

There are very few young jazz musicians who master their instrument with such complete and daunting virtuosity as Jakob Manz, and yet his playing always sounds so unpretentious, clear, soulful and at the service of the tune – all at the same time.

His success in doing this is due, on the one hand, to his talent and the determination with which he works on his musical expression. On the other hand, it is also due to his will to inspire and touch the emotions of the audience with his music. He says it is important to him that he should play his particular instrument, the alto saxophone, in a way that fills the room, but at the same time reaches each individual listener with directness and immediacy. And there is no doubt: he succeeds in this with flying colours, whether it’s in a club, a large concert hall, a festival stage, or indeed wherever the listener might hear this new album.