Euge Groove

"I am The Phoenix!” exclaims Steven EUGEne GROoVE. “After all that has happened in my life over the last several years, I literally am The Phoenix! In the story of the Greek Phoenix, he lived an amazing life, which is why he was reduced into ashes from flames of bright, vibrant colors. His transformation was meant to take his life to the next level to live out eternity. Sometimes you have to burn it all down and rebuild to get there.” Euge Groove’s highly anticipated new album, The Phoenix (a follow-up to 2023’s lauded Comfort Zone), is not merely a new recording from one of Contemporary Jazz’s luminaries but it is a bold declaration of the evolution of a man, musician and spiritual being. Having recovered from life-saving open heart surgery—aided by his remarkable Bernedoodle, Odysseus, a service dog trained in cardiac alert—there is something serendipitous about Euge Groove’s new album being his fourteenth. In many religions and cultures, the number fourteen is often viewed as a symbol of balance, harmony, and spiritual growth, which are all areas coming into focus for the saxophonist. The Phoenix (available everywhere July 17, 2026) is his most spirit inspired statement yet and it highlights his compelling compositions and keen arrangements. Throughout the recording, his laid-back yet audacious playing rings with a clear, satisfying intention. The prolific musician, who has collaborated with iconic artists ranging from Tina Turner, Tower of Power, and The Eurythmics to Aaron Neville, Huey Lewis, and Joe Cocker, shares: “I really wasn’t sure I was going to get to the finish line on this album. I’m just seeking peace right now. I’m attracted to peaceful people, places, and things, and I think the album reflects that. There is less urgency than in past projects. It is more relaxed and fun. I feel like I’ve returned to the reasons I got into music to begin with.”

Euge Groove admits that his entire life changed in January 2025 after an extensive and harrowing open-heart surgery that came with a prognosis of a year-long recovery. He shares, “I had to crawl to the bathroom holding the heart shaped pillow they gave me to hold when I left the hospital in case I passed out. I was 100% alone in my home, hallucinating, and hearing conversations. Getting through something like that through sheer willpower changed me for the better.” Euge recounts an encounter with a wise older Orthodox Jewish gentleman who passed on some mind-bending information to him. “He told me that the universe gifted me a spiritual awakening, and I believe he is correct,” confesses the saxophonist. “The biggest thing this experience has given me is ‘no fear.’ I even find myself attracted to challenging situations. I equate it to Gary Sinise’s character in Forrest Gump. When he and Forrest are out on the shrimping boat in the middle of a once-in-a-century hurricane, and Gary looks up at God and says, ‘You call this a storm? Come on! You call this a storm?’ No fear. That’s real freedom. Real peace. And the honest truth is, if going through what I went through is the price one must pay for a spiritual awakening, I’d do it all over in a second.”

Euge Groove completed The Phoenix in June of 2024 with the exception of one small detail… "No saxophone!” he laughingly exclaims. "I just didn’t have the energy, and that was for obvious reasons unknown at the time." To say that Euge got by with a little help from some friends is not just a Joe Cocker song.

He was blessed to collaborate with several longtime friends and musical companions who have been instrumental in his music-making process for years. Keyboardist/arranger Tracy Carter and bassist Corney Mims have worked with Euge Groove dating back to his 2007 album Born 2 Groove. “I was barely functioning at the beginning of 2024 when Tracy, Corney, and I started the writing in my studio. They saw that I was struggling and said, ‘We got your back,’ and that just meant so much to me. They have been so instrumental in helping to shape the sound of Euge Groove to where it is today.” Guitarist and labelmate Paul Brown also played a huge role in the success of finalizing the album. “I shouldn’t have been able to put the sax on the album the way that I did. I was only getting 15 minutes at a time at home without having to take a break, and when I pushed it too hard, I was done for the day. I had decided to cut the saxes with Paul Brown like the old days, to take some of the responsibility off of myself. Just play the sax. Well, day one, I cut for four or five hours and not one drop of fatigue. Completely unexplainable. That continued for the entire album.” Trusted musical comrades, drummer Trevor Lawrence Jr., percussionist Lenny Castro, and guitarist Jubu Smith also join Euge Groove on The Phoenix.

The Phoenix opens with the effervescent, buoyant and ethereal R&B number “Heart Of Gold,” showcasing Euge Groove’s penchant for composing unforgettable melodies and his undeniably gorgeous soprano tone. The album title and first single is hard to resist with its driving funk rhythm, burly tenor soul, and its mounting and soaring optimism. It has the triumphant vibe of Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now.” There were many divine and unexplainable moments while creating The Phoenix. Euge recalls that when he recorded “The Phoenix,” after he played the bridge, Paul Brown looked at him and said, “Well, you got your soaring Phoenix bridge!” Ironically, Paul didn’t even know that the song was called “The Phoenix.” In an ode to the mythical “Phoenix,” Euge has 14 feather tattoos, a Phoenix, and Sisyphus and the eternal Bolder on his body with plans to add four more (you can see some images in the album packaging). "They are a reminder of what I need to achieve in the remainder of my days in this dimension and the next. New Year’s resolutions can last a day. Tattoos are forever,” states Euge. The R&B-infused “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” dedicated to his first granddaughter, showcases Euge’s resplendent tone and flawless runs, creating an emotion filled musical journey that transitions into a cathartic quiet storm anthem that easily pulls on your heartstrings. The wistful waltz “Those Nights Alone” finds Euge Groove bearing all as he pours his soul into each and every note on his resonant tenor. His ability to stir deep emotion and summon quiet reflection come into sharp focus on this unforgettable ballad.

The Phoenix would not be complete without the euphoric, rhythm-happy and life-affirming tribute “Odysseus,” Euge Groove’s remarkable service dog, who has been a consummate friend, support, and inspiration during the saxophonist’s journey. The buoyant and percolating groove captures the love Euge holds for his Bernedoodle. The layering of Euge’s sax and the driving rhythms of the tune unleash the uncontainable celebration “He is never more than ten feet away from me and always has an eye on me. He literally saved my life when I got him. I needed him more than I ever knew,” shares Euge. “I credit him with literally saving my life in every way imaginable. God put him in my life when he was only nine weeks old, and it was very early on in my yearlong recovery. I could barely handle him. One day, I just closed the door to my bedroom with him in there, crashed on the bed, and said I’ll just wing it. The universe new exactly what it was doing when he put Odysseus on my doorstep. It new exactly what I needed in my life.”

The ballad “Better Days” is a poignant reminder of the power of enduring hope while the sultry and bluesy "For the Love of the Game" remind us how much of a master Euge Groove is at story telling as his sax trills and thrills, stops and bursts with joy, ease and fluidity. The Phoenix also features the arresting “At Peace."

This masterpiece creates one of the most moving moments on the album with its cyclical anchoring chord progression and melodic structure that serves as an affirmation as Euge’s saxophone preaches the spirit of serenity that graces each and every note he summons. Euge recalls, "At Peace" was an exceptionally special moment and intimate moment during the recording. "I have always written and cut every song in the order that it appears on the final album but this time, I put off ‘At Peace’ until the last song. I had no idea what to do with it. It's a great vibe, but the form is odd, even though the time signature is 4/4. When it was time to record, I sat on Paul’s sofa in his studio and would try to pick a good reed and warm up while the track is playing in the background. Finding a reed for me can be a 30 minute or more drama filled with lots of cursing. I slapped a reed on, started to blow, and about 90 seconds later, I told Paul I better get in front of a microphone. He agreed. One take, and that was it. I had no idea what I was going to play beforehand. I truly believe the Universe used my body to play that song.” Also showcases on the album is the bopping groove of the up-tempo swinger “Lil’ Man” a nod to his home’s other dog, Romeo, which delights and the fancy-free, soul drenched vibe of “Devil My Care.” The latter is the perfect conclusion as The Phoenix nods to Euge’s newfound freedom and his pursuit of peace and joy.

A graduate of the University of Miami's School of Music, Steven Eugene Grove (better known as Euge Groove) was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and grew up in a musical home. His mother played the piano and taught the Cherub choir at Christ Lutheran Church. He began his own musical pursuits at age seven, starting with the piano and adding the saxophone at nine. It was in elementary school where he discovered that music was his true calling. “In fifth grade, I thought I'd be in school band the rest of my life.” He later discovered two saxophonists who had a profound effect on his approach to playing. “One was French classical player Marcel Mule, who really defined what the sax was supposed to sound like for me, and the other was David Sanborn, who took that sound and brought it into the mainstream world,” Euge reminisces. Explaining his varied influences, he notes, “I've listened to everyone from Grover Washington, Jr. and David Sanborn, to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, as well as Michael Brecker, Stan Getz, King Curtis, Junior Walker, Richard Elliot, and Kirk Whalum. The thing is, the more mature we become, the more those influences fuse into something new. I always listened to a lot of R&B growing up, fused that with pop music, and then with gospel. Hopefully, all these influences come through in my music, and I am able to create my own unique expression.”

With the release of The Phoenix, Euge Groove is looking forward to hitting the road and playing a few of the cuts from the new album live. “I am going out with a new objective; having fun! I want to do shows because I want to, not have to. Making music is an extremely selfish endeavor. You’re basically making music that you personally would like to listen to. The fact that someone else shares my view of it the same way is an unexplainable high. Truly a gift from the universe that doesn’t go unnoticed by me.”