Gregory Groover, Jr. Returns with Old Knew: A Bold Evolution of Sound and Spirit

In 2024, tenor saxophonist Gregory Groover, Jr. made a powerful statement with his Criss Cross debut Lovabye, an intimate and soulful collection of “love songs and songs of people I love.” Backed by an all-star band featuring Joel Ross, Aaron Parks, Vicente Archer, and Marcus Gilmore, Groover displayed a deeply reflective and lyrical voice across that acclaimed 11-track recital.

Now, with his follow-up album Old Knew (recorded January 6, 2025, at Sear Sound Studio, New York), Groover—at just 32 years old—continues his artistic ascent with a fresh approach. This time, the focus is less on mood-driven composition and more on interaction, energy, and the kinetic spark of improvisation.

To achieve that vision, Groover assembled a pan-generational quintet of some of today’s most dynamic improvisers:

• Joel Ross, vibraphone

• Paul Cornish, piano

• Harish Raghavan, bass

• Kendrick Scott, drums

Produced by Groover’s mentor-turned-peer, saxophonist Walter Smith III (also a Blue Note artist and Berklee faculty colleague), Old Knew embodies both collective spirit and personal storytelling. “On this record, I wanted the energy to feel different—less about the written composition and the mood, and more about the interaction and my playing,” Groover explains.

Groover’s role at Berklee College of Music—as Assistant Chair of the Ensemble Department and Interim Director of Danilo Pérez’s Global Jazz Institute for much of 2024–25—has kept him deeply engaged with the evolution of jazz pedagogy and performance. That spirit of exchange and mentorship carries directly into Old Knew, where he crafts 11 new compositions and arrangements designed to spotlight the tonal personalities of his bandmates.

The result is a record where structure meets spontaneity, where the conversation among instruments becomes just as vital as the notes themselves.

• Recording: Chris Allen at Sear Sound Studio, NY

• Editing: Ryan Renteria

• Mixing & Mastering: Mike Marciano at Systems Two, NY

• Producer: Walter Smith III

• Executive Producer: Jerry Teekens

• Photography: Robert Torres

Side 1

1. Spaces

2. 551

3. Go For Broke

4. Rain Shall Fall

5. Retrogade

6. Sumner

7. Good Sir

8. Juanita and Betty

(Disc 2 info forthcoming if part of final release)

With Old Knew, Gregory Groover, Jr. both honors his roots and pushes boldly forward—expanding the vocabulary of modern jazz while remaining true to the soulful essence that first drew listeners to his music.