Album Notes

Formed in 2000. Stick Man Rick Latham (ex B.B. King, Quincy Jones, and others, currently drummer with rocker Edgar Winter), Albert Wing (long time Frank Zappa sax man, currently with Diana Ross) and trombonist Ken Tussing (Ray Charles and numerous others) decided to make some great music and have fun.

With the addition of L.A. studio heavyweights guitarist Mack Dougherty(Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Jaco Pastorius), bassist Vail Johnson (Kenny G. Eric Marienthal) and innovative keyboardist Bob Luna (Dionne Warwick, Mick Taylor), You'll be "Groovin" from the first downbeat! The Doctors are in!!!!!

Press Reviews:
Rick Latham and The Groove Doctors on the D.A.M. label (Digital Automatic Music) is introducing their new CD that includes a multimedia section that contains photos, artists info, lyrics and MP3s.  Just pop-in the CD and you get this innovative groups new release plus more.  The Doctors are Rick Latham: drums and percussion, Mack Dougherty: guitar and "scat" vocals, Vail Johnson: bass, Bob Luna: keyboards, Ken Tussing: trombone and Albert Wing: saxes and flute. "The Doctors" have earned their Doctorate in Groove.  Rick Latham and The Groove Doctors have major credits to their names and not surprisingly have a contemporary jazz CD that really "kicks".  The five track CD opens with Back It Up that features Albert Wing on sax and  Ken Tussing on trombone with a retro `70s style  brass section much like Average White Band and The Crusaders.   Track four Slinky is full of rhythm with Latham's drums setting the backdrop for Bob Luna's keyboards and the brass section's low key Latin touch with  effective grooves.    To say that these guys are innovative is an understatement.  The combined  "chops" of all these guys should  keep them recording for many years to come.  A fine recording.  Visit their website and enjoy!
© by Irene Wadkins-jazz journalist March 1, 2001

Rick Latham and the Groove Doctors self-titled "Groove Doctors" five song EP lives up to it's billing. The self-professed groove doctors are indeed, what they claim to be... purveyors of jazz with a nice steady groove. Although this is only is a five song EP, it effectively presents the group's sound by offering the standard four to six minute jazz tracks. Because of the complexities of the music specific to the genre, there isn't any way to get a song under four minutes (at least there shouldn't be). Assuming of course that the band playing is worth it's salt, and has their chops down.With those thoughts in mind, I proceeded to take in Mr. Latham and the Groove Doctors offerings. I was very pleased with what I heard. This band is a tight and precise unit, which is quite clear in their objectives. Their sound is funky and buoyant. They fruitfully blend the fundamentals of bop with a modern progressive twist. Music like this is like a crisp cool autumn morning; it invigorates you and makes you feel so alive.I am really looking forward to hearing more from this group.
© by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck February 3, 2001