Groovin' with Jesus

Groovin' with Jesus is soul music in every possible sense of the term -- few other records achieve so flawless a balance between the spiritual and the secular, offering salvation in both the Holy Ghost and the unholy groove. The Violinaires' postmodern gospel-funk fits comfortably alongside crossover acts like Aretha Franklin, channeling the power of the church to tackle the sociopolitical conflicts of the post-civil rights era -- from the Sly & the Family Stone-inspired title cut to covers of Hair's "Let the Sunshine In" and George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord," Groovin' with Jesus never allows its higher purpose to undercut the low-down soulfulness of the music, delivering filthy funk in the classic James Brown tradition. ~ Jason Ankeny