In the words of Phillip Doc Martin, “The pocket is the groove that is created when playing with a group ofmusicians. The better the individuals, the better the pocket. Pocket is only created wheneveryone in the ensemble is working as a cohesive unit. I love the feeling I get when I am in agreat musical situation where everyone is listening to each other and we are creating good vibes.Now THAT is Pocket Love!”The 11-track collection puts Martin’s fresh horn melodies front and center, surrounded by thesoulful harmonies and grooves fired up by some of his favorite South Florida based “cats” he’sknown and worked with since he was an up and coming musician there. The bright and spiritedatmosphere-rich soul ballad title track and a lush, seductive cover of the Grover Washington, Jr.classic “Just The Two of Us” feature the distinctive tones of Grammy winning guitarist andurban jazz star Paul Brown. Elsewhere, the percussive mid-tempo seduction “Club Life” featuresexciting horn doubling textures, old school key harmonies by Hemmings and trumpet and aflugelhorn solo by Marvin Winder. The moody and whimsical ballad “Black Shoebox” findsMartin soaring over an easy shuffling groove, while the spirited jam “Hip Today” blends the bestof modern and old school sensibilities (Fender Rhodes flavor, jangling rhythm guitar) andincludes a jazzy piano solo by producer Marvin Tony Hemmings.Other highlights include the mystical soul-jazz sheen and dark guitar strumming on “GrooveLove” providing a foundation for Martin’s candlelit sax passion; the crunch-groove and wistfulsynth harmony driven “LA Nights”; the swaying, sensual funk ballad “Pardon Me”; and the highoctane, brass-fired jam “REM Funk” (with Martin’s sax conversing joyfully with a snazzy hornsection). The saxophonist closes Pocket Love with a thoughtful and hypnotic cover of JohnLegend’s #1 pop ballad “All of Me,” performed to perfection as a stripped down duet by Martinand Hemmings.