Jazzanooga continues with Euge Groove at the Bessie
Chattanooga’s history with jazz may not be as well-known as that of Memphis, Detroit or New Orleans, but our city certainly introduced the world to local icons Bessie Smith, Yusef Lateef, and Lovie Austin, to name a few. Celebrating jazz with Jazzanooga, Chattanooga continues its tradition of showcasing groovy musical greats with artists like Stephen Eugene Grove.
He’s better known as Euge Groove. Described as a “smooth jazz saxophonist with a strong Top-40 background,” Groove has toured around the world with artists including Tina Turner, Huey Lewis and the News, and Tower of Power, and has worked with several pop artists, including Paula Abdul, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and Exposé.
The saxophonist has produced seven albums since recording his first, Euge Groove, in 2000, and is known for singles like, “Chillaxin,’” “Born 2 Groove,” and “Religify,” among others.
Groove is performing with the Joe Johnson Band at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. MLK Blvd., on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Bessie, by phone (423) 266-8658, or online at https://songbookeuge.eventbrite.com.
For more information, visit bessiesmithcc.org
— Madeline Chambliss