Pianist and composer Angelo Hart explores melodic textures and creates absorbing moods on the enjoyable and delightful In The Groove. Recorded in April 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed the world, the aptly named album consists of six memorable originals which shimmer against a soulful and tense backdrop.

The unaccompanied "We Vibe" opens with funky dance beats over which ethereal keyboard lines gracefully flow. Hart embellishes the main theme with subtlety, showcasing his superlative pianism. As his percussive chords alternate with sparkling notes, the thumping vamps create a passionate and dark ambience. Hart's elegant improvisation demonstrates that this performance is about more than infectious rhythms and catchy hooks, it is an exercise in creativity.

Another solo piece, the melancholic "Light Year" is an introspective and lyrical acoustic poem. Half way through, electronic enhancements give the lullaby-like atmosphere, and the resonant harmonic cascades a light hearted buoyancy. By its conclusion the opening wistfulness has melted away into an optimistic up-tempo expression.

The title track features a trio, with bassist