KEYS TO THE GROOVE 2.0 is not merely a continuation—it is a return, refined.
When pianist Lannie Battistini, bassist José Valentino, and percussionist Johnny Vergara come together, the music carries the weight of shared history and the freedom of trust. This collaboration is rooted in years of artistic dialogue—on stages, in studios, and across conversations where craft, faith, curiosity, and friendship have quietly shaped a common musical language.
The title Keys to the Groove operates on multiple levels. The “keys” are literal—hands on piano, fingers on strings—but they are also symbolic: access points into rhythm, into relationship, into motion. The “groove” is not simply timekeeping; it is alignment. It is the moment when intention, intuition, and listening converge. 2.0 signals growth—not reinvention for its own sake, but deepening. The first chapter of Keys to the Groove, recorded by Battistini and Valentino, earned a Global Music® Award for Latin Jazz in 2022. This second iteration expands the conversation, widening the rhythmic and emotional palette while remaining anchored to the same artistic core.
At the center of the project is Lannie Battistini’s compositional voice—lyrical, grounded, and spiritually attentive. His piano playing does not dominate; it invites. José Valentino’s bass work responds in kind, weaving melody into foundation, shaping space as much as sound. Johnny Vergara’s percussion completes the triad, not as ornamentation, but as breath—giving the music its forward motion and tactile presence.
What makes this album distinctive is not virtuosity alone, but process. Much of the recording unfolded without rehearsal, relying instead on deep listening and trust built over time. Improvisation here is not exhibition—it is conversation. Each track unfolds as a lived moment, guided by instinct rather than excess, clarity rather than display.
The sequencing of the album reflects a deliberate arc. It moves with purpose—ascending, grounding, remembering, arriving. “Fionna (A Tribute to My Late Daughter)” stands at the emotional center, offering stillness and reflection amid motion. Elsewhere, original compositions sit naturally alongside one reimagined standard, not as contrasts, but as continuations of the same voice.
Ultimately, KEYS TO THE GROOVE 2.0 is about relationship—between musicians, between sound and silence, between where one begins and where one arrives. It is music shaped by experience, refined by restraint, and animated by joy. Not a destination, but a path—one that continues to open with every listening.
THE LATIN JAZZ BAND
Music Conversing. Soul Listening. Rhythm speaking.
KEYS TO THE GROOVE 2.0 brings together three artists whose collective chemistry is rooted in long-standing trust, shared musical values, and deep listening.
Pianist, producer, and recording engineer Lannie Battistini has cultivated a musical voice shaped by Latin jazz tradition, rhythmic clarity, and contemporary expression. As founder of Hands In Motion Music Productions, Battistini approaches performance with restraint, intention, and emotional depth—favoring connection and conversation over exhibition.
Bassist and multi-instrumentalist Dr. José Valentino brings a multidimensional approach to the ensemble through his work as a performer, composer, producer, and educator. Equally grounded in artistry and scholarship, Valentino’s playing emphasizes movement, space, and storytelling, shaping the ensemble’s foundation with sensitivity and precision.
Percussionist Johnny Vergara, originally from Panama, contributes a rhythmic language deeply informed by Afro-diasporic traditions and Latin musical culture. His playing is rooted in feel, balance, and forward motion, providing texture and pulse while allowing the music to breathe naturally.
Together, the trio creates music defined not by excess, but by listening, trust, and shared expression—where groove emerges organically through interaction, intuition, and experience.
Contact For Bookings, Information, Riders, Fees:
Neysa Rodriguez-Battistini
Booking | Publicity | Content Strategist Director