Directions In Groove
Directions In Groove (DIG) are a popular Australian acid jazz band originally from the suburb of Redfern in Sydney, who produced several distinctive acid-jazz / groove / funk albums in the 1990s. Originally known as "dig" and performing instrumental acid jazz, the band became popular with a Sunday night residency at Kinselas, a venue on Oxford St in Sydney. Word quickly spread and the band was soon on the road and recorded an EP titled "Directions in Groove" which was the highest selling independent release of its era[citation needed] and attracted Polygram records to sign the band in 1993.
The band continued to tour and recorded their first full length CD, Deeper in 1994. The group also officially changing their name to Directions in Groove, because there was a group from Canada called dig touring internationally at the time. The success of Deeper in Australia (No.6 on the Album Charts[1]) led to an international release (Verve) and tours throughout Australia and Europe.
DIG released several albums on the EMI Australia and Polygram labels, with "Deeper" being certified gold by ARIA.[2] DIG have also toured the world, playing alongside artists such Herbie Hancock and Bootsy Collins.
The original DIG lineup featured keyboardist and vocalist Scott Saunders, saxophonist Rick Robertson, guitarist Tim Rollinson, bassist Alex Hewetson and drummer Terepai Richmond. The band's most popular tracks include "The Favourite", "Reinvent Yourself", and "Hip Replacement". Hewetson was replaced by Samuel Dixon after he joined Swoop.
DIG were also famous for their live performances at The Basement, a club situated in the heart of Sydney, near Circular Quay which has been a landmark of the Australian music scene since the early 1970s.
The original members of the group reformed in the wake of playing to a packed crowd in June 2008. They subsequently recorded their fourth studio album (the first in 13 years). The new album "Clearlight" was released on 14 October 2011.
Rolling Stone magazine once stated "DIG are the future of Australian music. They know what to do and how to do it."[citation needed]
Members
Original Line-up
- Scott Saunders - keyboards, vocals
- Rick Robertson - saxophone
- Tim Rollinson - guitar
- Alex Hewetson - bass
- Terepai Richmond - drums, percussion
Additional Band Members
- Laura Stitt - vocals (2011-current)
Discography
- Albums
- Deeper (1994) – AUS #6[1]
- Speakeasy (1995) – AUS #8[1]
- Curvystrassse (1998) – AUS #35[1]
- Live 1999 @ Milton Theatre & The Basement (2003)
- Clearlight (2011)
- Singles & EPs
- Directions in Groove (EP) (1992) – AUS #89[1]
- The Favourite (1994) – AUS #63[1]
- 2 Way Dreamtime (1994) – AUS #99[1]
- Futures (1995) – AUS #83[1]
- Crime (1996)
- Upside (1998)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- "The Favourite": Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
