Allen Hinds Group
Groove Fusion (jazz‑blues‑rock) | USA
AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE
2026 | June
Line‑up
Allen Hinds | Guitar
Natalie Cole, The Crusaders, Roberta Flack, Randy Crawford, James Ingram, Boney James
Matt Rohde | Keyboards
Prince, Christina Aguilera, Alanis Morissette, Jane’s Addiction, Maxwell, Kelly Clarkson
Travis Carlton | Bass
Robben Ford, Scott Henderson, Sara Bareilles, Michael Landau, Tak Matsumoto, Larry Carlton
Donald Barrett | Drums
Toni Braxton, George Benson, Sade, Seal, Pink, Colbie Caillat
Style
Blues‑inflected fusion guitar lines that sing first—then open into modern jazz vocabulary.
Keys paint the harmony (Rhodes/organ color, cinematic pads) while bass and drums lock a deep pocket.
Tight hits, elastic time, and room for risk: a groove band built for interplay and lift‑off.
Project profile
Allen Hinds Group sits right at the intersection where jazz harmony, blues articulation, and rock attitude share the same downbeat. The guitar speaks in long, vocal arcs—phrasing that’s as lyrical as it is punchy—while the rhythm section keeps the music grounded in an unshakeable, forward‑leaning groove. Matt Rohde’s keyboard palette expands the band’s harmonic spectrum: warm comping, organ grit, and modern textures that can turn a turnaround into a landscape. Travis Carlton anchors the low end with a pocket‑first sensibility—supportive, melodic, and always in dialogue with the kick—while Donald Barrett’s drumming is tuned for motion: dynamic control, clear subdivisions, and a song‑serving instinct that makes the ensemble feel both tight and open. The result is a Groove Fusion set that moves like a band and improvises like a conversation.
Member details
Allen Hinds | Guitar
Timbre/Articulation: vocal sustain with clean‑to‑edge transitions; blues articulation inside fusion lines.
Technique/Idiomatic: melodic development over chops; dynamic control, phrase‑ending punctuation.
Harmony/Rhythm: jazz‑aware changes, funk accents, rock‑leaning backbeat swagger; leads the form while leaving space for counter‑voices.
(“The guitarist exhibits the epitome of taste via these magnetic arrangements and memorably melodic song‑forms.” — Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz, 2016-10-10)
Matt Rohde | Keyboards
Timbre/Articulation: Rhodes warmth, organ bite, modern pads; touch designed for support and lift.
Technique/Idiomatic: arranger’s comping—voice‑leading clarity, rhythmic restraint, and strategic fills.
Harmony/Rhythm: pop/rock MD experience translated into fusion contexts; locks with bass to widen the groove’s harmonic “floor.”
(“Matt Rohde is a Los Angeles-based keyboardist, Musical Director, Arranger and Composer.” — Beth Rohde, Coast Music, 2025-09-28)
Travis Carlton | Bass
Timbre/Articulation: round low‑end with articulate note starts; melodic motion without crowding the guitar register.
Technique/Idiomatic: pocket‑first lines; syncopation and ghost‑note feel where the groove needs air.
Harmony/Rhythm: bridges blues language and fusion precision; supports solos by shaping the time and the harmony together.
(“Fueled by a top-notch group of musicians, including Travis Carlton … on bass…” — Mike Elliott, Rock and Blues Muse, 2019-01-07)
Donald Barrett | Drums
Timbre/Articulation: clean subdivisions, strong backbeat control, and dynamic shading across sections.
Technique/Idiomatic: session‑honed consistency; grooves that stay elastic while keeping the form readable.
Interplay/Roles: prioritizes song and feel; creates “runway” for guitar/keys while tightening ensemble hits.
(“An incredibly motivated and positive drummer, he’s since become a first call player for touring and session work…” — Craig Garber, Everyone Loves Guitar, 2021-08-13)
Quotes
Allen Hinds
“The guitarist exhibits the epitome of taste via these magnetic arrangements and memorably melodic song-forms.” (Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz, 2016-10-10) — https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fly-south-allen-hinds-self-produced-review-by-glenn-astarita
“Hinds approaches his craft as a truly seasoned vet, with a penchant for the blues, rock, country, jazz and forays into funk.” (Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz, 2016-10-10) — https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fly-south-allen-hinds-self-produced-review-by-glenn-astarita
“It’s like sitting on the front porch of a log cabin, listening to a wise sage, and soaking up every last note.” (Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz, 2016-10-10) — https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fly-south-allen-hinds-self-produced-review-by-glenn-astarita
Matt Rohde
“On the funk and R&B tinged ‘Buckley,’ he trades radiant fours with Matt Rohde’s sweeping Hammond B-3 runs…”
Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz — 2016-10-10
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fly-south-allen-hinds-self-produced-review-by-glenn-astarita
“Matt Rohde is no Lyle Mays… as his lustrous keyboards compliment Hughes nicely.”
Jeff Winbush, All About Jazz — 2011-09-23
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fast-train-to-a-quiet-place-brian-hughes-sylvan-house-music-review-by-jeff-winbush
Travis Carlton
“Fueled by a top-notch group of musicians, including Travis Carlton … on bass…” (Mike Elliott, Rock and Blues Muse, 2019-01-07) — https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2019/01/07/review-keep-on-turning-by-seth-rosenbloom/
“…the ebb and flow of the Carlton and Novak rhythm section propel the slow blues ahead while simultaneously anchoring the groove.” (Mike Elliott, Rock and Blues Muse, 2019-01-07) — https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2019/01/07/review-keep-on-turning-by-seth-rosenbloom/
“Another was its predecessor… Vibe Station from 2015, with bassist Travis Carlton and drummer Alan Hertz.” (Bill Meredith, JazzTimes, 2024-10-08) — https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/scott-henderson-people-mover-scott-henderson/
Donald Barrett
“An incredibly motivated and positive drummer, he’s since become a first call player for touring and session work…” (Craig Garber, Everyone Loves Guitar, 2021-08-13) — https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2021/08/13/donald-barrett-interview/
“On this Donald Barrett interview, ‘Big Ears’ and being aware of others…” (Craig Garber, Everyone Loves Guitar, 2021-08-13) — https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2021/08/13/donald-barrett-interview/
“…serve the song and the groove.” (Jason Mehler & David Frangioni, Modern Drummer, 2025-08-01) — https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/bringing-the-groove-home-to-nashville/
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Reviews
– Fly South — Allen Hinds (review) | All About Jazz | Glenn Astarita | 2016-10-10 | https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fly-south-allen-hinds-self-produced-review-by-glenn-astarita
– Matt Rohde (faculty profile) | Coast Music | Beth Rohde | 2025-09-28 | https://coastmusicrocks.com/matt-rohde/
– Drummer Pat Petrillo to Release “Contemporaneous”… (line-up mention) | The Urban Music Scene | Administration | 2025-07-07 | https://news.theurbanmusicscene.com/2025/07/pat-petrillo-to-release-new-project-contemporaneous/
– Recap: ‘Celebrating David Bowie’… (credit list includes Matt Rohde) | Rock Cellar Magazine | Author not listed | 2024-03-21 | https://rockcellarmagazine.com/celebrating-david-bowie-angelo-bundini-adrian-belew-concert-review-apogee-studio/
– Review: Keep On Turning — Seth Rosenbloom (mentions Travis Carlton) | Rock and Blues Muse | Mike Elliott | 2019-01-07 | https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2019/01/07/review-keep-on-turning-by-seth-rosenbloom/
– Scott Henderson: People Mover (review; mentions Travis Carlton) | JazzTimes | Bill Meredith | 2024-10-08 | https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/scott-henderson-people-mover-scott-henderson/
– Donald Barrett Interview… | Everyone Loves Guitar | Craig Garber | 2021-08-13 | https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2021/08/13/donald-barrett-interview/
– Bringing the Groove Home to Nashville | Modern Drummer | Jason Mehler & David Frangioni | 2025-08-01 | https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/bringing-the-groove-home-to-nashville/
Wayne Krantz was born in Corvallis, Oregon. He released his first album, Signals, in 1990, sporting an array of recognized jazz musicians such as Dennis Chambers, Don Alias, Anthony Jackson, and others.
Evan Marien is an award-winning bassist, composer, producer, author, educator, and 3D artist, born and raised in the cornfields of Decatur, Illinois. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2009 and has lived in the NYC area since 2010.
Josh Dion was born at the tail end of the disco funk era, when popular radio bore the sounds of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and ‘four on the floor’ drum beats! Raised in Storrs, CT, Josh started playing his father’s drums before he even started kindergarten. He grew up playing drums to the simple and beat driven sounds of Nick Mason and Ringo Starr. He also lived across the hall from his older brother, who not only followed the Grateful Dead, but introduced him to Cream at the tender age of seven. Rightfully so, Cream, Zeppelin and the Stones led Dion to Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson and beyond.
