Dominique Vantomme (Fender Rhodes, organ, wurlitzer), Mirko Banovic (bass, samples), Geert Roelofs (drums)

Root, the trio built around keyboardist Dominique Vantomme (Toots Thielemans, Louisiana Red, Theresa Malenfant, An Pierlé, Lais ...) takes you to a universe where psychedelica and harmony shake hands.  

Radio Candip, DJ Grazzhoppa, Uman, Laurent Maur and Leonie Geysels were present on the Root debut album. Backed by the rhythm tandem Mirko Banovic (bass Arno and Arsenal) and Geert Roelofs, Dominique Vantomme reaches into the jazz rock and fusion era of the seventies. The Wurlitzer and the Rhodes keyboard give the music a sharp edge and evoke memories of work by Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett in their "Electric Miles” period.

The psychedelic influences on their debut album occasionally leave space for more lyrical passages.

The subdued and melancholic ‘Bibi’ is perfectly tailored to ECM tradition, the label that houses pianists like Keith Jarrett, Tord Gustavson and Stefano Bollani. The subtle samples of 'Bibi' provide a desolate, nighttime atmosphere which immediately takes the listener by the scruff of the neck.

The same atmosphere can be heard in a song like their ABBA cover ‘Money Money Money’. In the interlude all musical conventions are omitted. Root takes the song to a climax which results in a wall of sound full of distorted keyboards, echoes, reverb and noise.

Contemporary electronic elements are also intertwined in the music of Root.

Root's debut album is a cohesive project that brings together the best of both worlds: the raw, throbbing sound of jazz with the funk sound and the compelling auras of contemporary classical and jazz (pop) ballads. The samples unite the two extremes. The result is a highly enjoyable album.