Out October 17, 2025, on OA2 Records – Recorded Live at The Alluvion in Traverse City, MI
With his new live album In the Groove, trumpet virtuoso Anthony Stanco captures the heat, joy, and immediacy of a band firing on all cylinders before a crowd of passionate jazz lovers. Due out October 17, 2025, via OA2 Records, this vibrant set is both a heartfelt tribute to the hard bop tradition and a fresh, forward-looking expression of Stanco’s modern voice as a composer, bandleader, and educator.
Following up 2024’s critically acclaimed Stanco’s Time, which reintroduced him as a master craftsman fluent in the bebop vocabulary, Stanco now steps fully "in the groove"—a term rich with multiple meanings, from rhythmic momentum to geological transformation, all perfectly fitting this live performance captured at The Alluvion, a celebrated jazz venue in Traverse City, Michigan.
A Live Jazz Experience that Feels Like a Homecoming
While Detroit remains Stanco’s home city—and central to his musical DNA—it’s in Traverse City where this album took root. He holds a monthly residency at The Alluvion and has fostered meaningful ties to the community there through Building Bridges with Music, an education-focused nonprofit founded by club owner Jeff Haas.
“Traverse City has become a second home,” says Stanco. “I’ve managed to create a lot of great musical and personal relationships there.”
That sense of belonging radiates throughout In the Groove. Featuring an all-star quintet—Randy Napoleon (guitar), Xavier Davis (piano), John Webber (bass), and Joe Farnsworth (drums)—the recording crackles with the energy that only a live audience can inspire.
Paying Tribute, Pushing Forward
The album is a full-circle moment for Stanco. It honors the classic live hard bop recordings of the late ‘50s and ‘60s while affirming his own voice as a contemporary torchbearer. Tracks like the album-opening “T. Sea” (a Traverse City nod with a wink) and the swaggering “Riptide” channel the earthy groove and blues-based roots of the style.
“You just can’t get a convincing boogaloo in a studio the way you can live,” says Stanco. That truth is fully realized here, especially on the title track, where the audience breaks into call-and-response with Stanco’s growling, muted trumpet—an electric moment that embodies the communal spirit of jazz.
Family, Humor, and Heart
Stanco’s music is not only steeped in tradition but also brimming with heart. “Sonny Boy,” written for his infant son, features the audience joining in to sing a lullaby—mirroring the participatory spirit of Stanco’s Time, which included a tribute to his daughter, “Josie Rosie.” The intentional connection between the two compositions shows Stanco’s deepening artistry and personal investment.
“I couldn't have them fighting about which one was better for the rest of their lives,” he jokes.
Detroit Roots, Global Resonance
Born and raised on Detroit’s east side, Stanco is a fifth-generation Detroiter who studied under Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker—two titans of the city’s jazz scene. His musical values—respect for lineage, love for swing, dedication to craft—are firmly planted in the Detroit tradition, but they bloom anew on In the Groove.
One such bloom is “Pyramid Point,” a reflective piece inspired by a scenic spot overlooking Lake Michigan. Opening with a harp-like solo from Davis, it reveals the album’s contemplative side, counterbalancing the high-octane fire found elsewhere.
A Carefully Chosen Band of Equals
The album’s quintet comprises musicians who know each other deeply:
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Randy Napoleon and Xavier Davis are fellow MSU faculty and played on Stanco’s Time.
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Joe Farnsworth, a hard bop master, returned eagerly for the live follow-up.
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John Webber, a longtime partner of Farnsworth’s, provides a rock-solid bass foundation.
Their chemistry is evident throughout, from the gentle clapping on “Hey Cute One” to the blazing finish of “Just a Moment,” a contrafact of Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice.”
Stanco even includes a Detroit-flavored homage to Donald Byrd via Duke Pearson’s “Say You’re Mine,” connecting the dots between eras, cities, and inspirations.
A Living, Breathing Homage to Hard Bop
In the Groove isn’t just a concert—it’s a living document. A snapshot of an artist in stride, a scene in bloom, and a tradition renewed. It affirms that hard bop isn’t a relic—it’s a living, breathing force, especially in the hands of musicians who honor it while carving new paths.
As Stanco puts it:
“We’re paying our homage and playing the tradition of the blues—but doing our own thing with it.”
Anthony Stanco – 2025 Tour Dates
September 28 – Blue Llama Jazz Club, Ann Arbor, MI
October 16 – UrbanBeat, Lansing, MI
November 1–2 – TC Philharmonic Center, Traverse City, MI
November 20–22 – Cliff Bell’s, Detroit, MI
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