(Groovestress): “OK Shufflemonster, last time we discovered that while playing a ‘back-in-the-day’ House Band gig with Roy Buchannan, you had amazing, extraordinary, musical, spiritual, anomalous experiences.”

(Shufflemonster): “As I recall, that was all in response to your inquiry, and I pretty well laid it all out, at that time.”

(Groovestress): “Yes, but I was wondering, or rather some of us might like to know, what Roy was like as a person.”

(Shufflemonster): “Well, whether as a person or as a musician, Roy was ‘ALL ABOUT MUSIC’. He was very straight talking and authentic, soft-spoken and soulful. He was always talking about music. Roy had a very strong MOJO. He had a powerful, intense, spiritual aura and he exuded an ever-present sense of mystery. As a player/musician/role-model, Roy was a highly advanced master, innovator, genius of blues and rock electric guitar. On a more personal level, Roy was ever encouraging to young musicians, myself included, to be creative, explore, discover, take risks, find their own ‘style’. He was truly ultra supportive, generous, giving, even nurturing to anyone who showed interest and dedication to music.”

(Groovestress): “How would you say that Roy’s influence on you back in 1966 carries over into what you currently bring to, or do with GrooveQuest?”

(Shufflemonster): “The individual members of GrooveQuest are given freedom and support for engaging in improvisatory self-expression. GrooveQuest offers an attitude of optimism and encouragement for musical/personal growth and development. This serves as a catalyst for impassioned playing and creative peak performance. Audiences love the excitement of a band that is happily, passionately, and exuberantly involved and invested in the act of spontaneous musical creation, as well as a band (GrooveQuest for example) that brings an attitude of good-natured fun to each gig. I personally enjoy the freedom to be rhythmically spontaneous and interactive. The very name ‘GrooveQuest’ beckons openness to exploration of musical skills and concepts, to go deep into the soul of the music and play from the heart. The name ‘GrooveQuest’ serves as an ever-present reminder that there is always more to encounter, experience, and learn in the vastness of music and rhythm.

The ‘old school’ tunes and song structures in the GrooveQuest repertoire provide very danceable and groovy rhythms and a gentle, happy, ‘feel-good’ mood, as well as an endearing nostalgia. The culmination of that ‘touches my heart’ and inspires me to spontaneously and extemporaneously pour 100% of my [inspired] self into each and every song. I approach each gig, song, Groove, with a sense of anticipation that something wonderful might just occur at any moment.”

(Groovestress): “That sounds like magic.”

(Shufflemonster): “So maybe that’s it right there. If Roy didn’t out-and-out give me a sense of magic pervading each and every gig, then he, at least, strengthened my very own sense of magic and spirituality at the gigs and in music in general.”

(Groovestress): “Focusing on Spirituality/Spirit-in-the-Groove is pretty much a GrooveQuest tradition at this point.”

(Shufflemonster): “With GrooveQuest, ‘Groove’ and ‘Spirit’ are almost the same word. Creating, exploring, encountering Grooves from a spiritual perspective is not only exhilarating, but it’s consciousness-raising, enlightening, and enlivening. Very importantly, it pulls me into the Groove, intensifies my attention and intention, whereupon I may interact with spiritual elements of the Groove, and on a good night take that all important quantum leap.”

(Groovestress): “Do you mean that you quantum leap through the Groove, channeling and looping spiritual energy ‘non-locally’ out to the audience and back???”

(Shufflemonster): “Yes! Maybe something like Roy did ‘back in the day’. Have I answered your questions, Groovestress?”

(Groovestress): “Yes Shufflemonster. And I believe that you have shed light on why we say that
‘GrooveQuest’ is --- ---From the Heart---From the Soul---Essential Spirit of Rock and Roll --- Through the Groove--To You!’“