Groove Duets

The O-Tones band has been playing for public and private events all over New England for 22 years and is a dynamic entity. Over this lifespan various singers and instrumentalists have lent their talents to the band’s Swing, Motown, Blues, and Soul sound. The basic group is a 6-piece band with three singers, sax, guitar, piano, bass, and drums, but the group performs regularly in many forms, ranging from a duo to the full 6-piece. In 2012, the group even expanded to a 14-piece big band for the annual tribute to Benny Goodman at The Springfield Armory. This event launched in 1943 when Benny’s full orchestra played there. Three singers fronted The O-Tones Big Band with horn players added to embellish the lush sound of the big band arrangements. Over 800 people picnicked and danced to the nostalgic sounds, which also included more contemporary numbers by Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, and The Drifters. The O-Tones Big Band also recorded an hour of their show at GCTV, which can be viewed online. The evolution of The O-Tones continues in 2015, when Mary Witt (band leader, singer, bass player) decided to take advantage of the vast array of talent that has worked with the group over the years, including many superb female and male singers, as well as an array of incredible instrumentalists. The Groove Duets CD, an exciting collection of songs, brings all these people together to record some fun, groove-based songs. Mary Witt sings duets with 12 different singers on 15 songs, backed by a full band, including a rockin’ horn section! Mary carries the inspiration from working with all these musicians into her daily life. Musicians featured on Groove Duets: Songs: Duet Singers: 1. Livin’ It • Mutlu Annie Patterson 2. Leavin’ • Shelby Lynne Anand Nayak 3. Drop on Me • James Hunter Samirah Evans 4. At Long Last Love • Cole Porter Jim Henry 5. Consequences of Falling • Steinberg, D’Ubaldo, Nowels Tracy Grammer 6. Who’s Gonna Help Brother? • Allen Toussaint Anand Nayak 7. Trust in Me • Wever, Milton, Schwartz Ellen Cogen 8. Baby, You’ve Got What it Takes • Otis, Stein, Benton Tom Mahnken 9. Thought it Would be Easier • Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell John Caban 10. Adam & Eve • Jessica Molaskey, John Pizzarelli Ann Percival 11. Last Chance Love • Brooks Williams Max Cohen 12. More Than One Way Home • Keb’ Mo’, John Lewis Parker Barbara Ween 13. The Walk • Cohen, Stephens, Alexander-Sule Jim Henry 14. The No Soap, No Hope Blues • Adler & Ross Annie Patterson 15. Without Love • Danny Small Liza Constable Rhythm Section: Jeff Dostal, basses Jim Henry, guitars Mary Witt, bass • 2, 9 Pieter Struyk, drums Chris Haynes, piano, keys, accordion Soloists: Guitars: Jim Henry • 1, 3, 5, 11, 13 Anand Nayak • 2, 6, 8, 12, 15 John Mason • 4, 7 John Caban • 9 Misc: Chris Haynes • Piano & Keys, all tracks, Accordion • 3, 5, 11 Jim Henry • Dobro • 11 Tracy Grammer • fiddle • 11 Horn Solos: Kerry Blount • tenor sax, 2, 4, 7, 10 Don Anderson • trumpet, 1, 10, 14 Charles Neville • tenor sax, 3, 6 Horn section: 3, 6, 10, 13, 15 Kerry Blount, Don Anderson, Charles Neville Jon Weeks, bari & alto sax Joe Sabol, trombone