Euge Groove says, "Smooth jazz gets a bad rap."
Groove, whose real name is Steven Eugene Grove, is the saxophonist headlining Saturday's Lake Tahoe Music Festival concert at Homewood Mountain Resort.
"People think it's all laid back and mellow, but it's not all the same," says Groove. "Sure, some of it has a lot of programmed repeating tracks and is mellow, but my last album, for instance, was pretty much all put together live in the studio – and it's anything but mellow."
Groove learned his craft with a lot of different bands, most notably Tower of Power, which he joined replacing Richard Elliott. Tower of Power is anything but mellow.
Groove has played with plenty of other musicians like Joe Cocker, currently touring with the Steve Miller Band ("They asked me to do that tour but I couldn't"), Elton John, and Aaron Neville. In October, he heads off on a tour with Tina Turner.
"I played her so-called farewell tour a couple of years ago. I didn't expect her to come back out. Nobody expected her to come back out, but she has. Thankfully, it's a pretty light schedule, only 18 cities and many of them multiple nights."
Groove's hits include "Slam Dunk," "Sneak a Peek," and "Rewind." (7 p.m.; $15, $25, $50; 530-581-1184 or www.tahoemusic.org)
Elsewhere
He's always been, in many ways, the lesser Beatle. His drumming was mocked by other rockers of the time; fewer girls listed him as their favorite Beatle; his solo career never soared like that of Lennon, Harrison and McCartney; and his personal life has certainly been chronicled but never with the detail and tabloid insistence as Paul's, for instance.
But Ringo Starr has been consistently among us, many critics call his talents underrated, and he is still a Beatle, commanding attention whenever he performs.
Starr arrives at the new Reno Ballroom on Friday with his All-Starr Band, touting his latest album "Liverpool 8," his first with Capitol/EMI since 1974's "Goodnight Vienna." He co-wrote all dozen of the original tracks and has claimed there is more of his personality in the music. That personality has always been honest, soulful, and edged with a wicked wit. (8 p.m.; $50, $70, $80, $95; 888-288-1833, www.ticketmaster.com or www.downtownreno.com)
• Also at the Reno Ballroom this week, Jim Gaffigan, that rare stand-up who has a following of all ages and balances a contemporary cutting edge with clean language, plays Saturday. (8 p.m.; $30, $45, $55; 888-288-1833, www.ticketmaster.com or www.downtownreno.com)
Around the Silver Circle
"Bardo," a ballet set to music by the band Dead Can Dance and choreographed by Toru Shimazaki; "Lickety-Split" with music by Devendra Banhart and choreographed by Alejandro Cerrudo; "The Constant Shift of Pulse," music by John Adams and choreography by Doug Varone; and "Gnawa," set to Spanish and North African sounds and choreographed by Nacho Duato – that's the program for the Artown appearance of Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts Saturday. (8 p.m.; $25, $35, $49; www.pioneercenter.com)
• The current Doobie Brothers sing "Listen to the Music," "Black Water" and other hits at the MontBleu on Saturday. (8 p.m.; $80, $90; 800-648-3353)
• Harveys Outdoor has a double-header this week with James Taylor on Saturday and Toby Keith next Sunday. Taylor played the Reno Events Center late last year and delivered 90-plus minutes of music to a near-reverential crowd. (7 p.m.; $49.50, $79.50, $125; www.ticketmaster.com or www.apeconcerts.com). Keith is hugely popular at Tahoe and this is his "Biggest Baddest Tour" with Montgomery Gentry, Carter's Chord, Mica Roberts, and Trailer Choir. (7 p.m.; $67.50, $87.50, $97.50, $125; www.ticketmaster.com or www.apeconcerts.com)
Coming attractions
Lyle Lovett, July 29 at John Ascuaga's Nugget; $79; (800) 648-1177
Chris Isaak, Aug. 1 at Silver Legacy; $60-$80; (800) 687-8733
Dana Carvey, Aug. 2 at MontBleu; $60.50-$71.50; (800) 648-3353
Donna Summer, Aug. 15 at Peppermill; $50-$85' (800) 648-6992
