Behold the almighty groove. That musical construct created by the rhythm section, upon which countless great songs have taken flight. But what about the essence and vibe of the groove itself? That’s the focus of King Canyon, a nuance-driven instrumental trio featuring guitarist Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce), drummer Otis McDonald, and bassist Mike Chiavaro. On the unit’s self-titled, seven-track debut—which also boasts guest spots by guitar god Derek Trucks and vocalist Son Little—Chiavaro initiated five of the songs with his hook-filled bass lines. The Long Island-born New Yorker, whose credits range from recordings for producers Jack Douglas and Phil Ramone to stints with Richard Marx and Kasim Sulton, explains the band’s genesis. “Otis and I are always sending ideas back and forth, he’s a great drummer and producer in the Bay Area. During the pandemic I sent him ten groove ideas—just my bass lines to a click. He put down drums and we liked what we had and we felt we