Groove - Synonymous with Style?

[alanclare]

The Wikipedia definition of "Groove" is:

Groove is the sense of propulsive rhythmic "feel" or sense of "swing" created by the interaction of the music played by a band's rhythm section (drums, electric bass or double bass, guitar, and keyboards). The term is mainly used in the context of genres outside of Western art music, such as funk, rock music, power groove, fusion, and soul.

While some musicians have called the concept of "groove" a subjective and elusive notion, they acknowledge that the concept is well-understood by experienced musicians at a practical, intuitive level. Funk and Latin musicians refer to "groove" as the sense of being "in the pocket", and jazz players refer to groove as the sense that a jam session is really "cooking" or "swinging."

Musicologists and other scholars began to analyse the concept of "groove" in the 1990s. They have argued that a "groove" is an "understanding of rhythmic patterning" or "feel" and "an intuitive sense" of "a cycle in motion" that emerges from "carefully aligned concurrent rhythmic patterns" that sets in motion dancing or foot-tapping on the part of listeners.

This is very similar to how we view "Style". Synonymous? Or just similar.

Alan

[DerekA]

I'd say that a style 'has' a groove, rather than 'being' a groove.

[mikf]

In the arranger world the 'style ' is just the name which has evolved to describe a particular auto accompaniment program. Style of course has also wide meanings outside of this in music including the description of a genre or sub genre in music, or even a particular musicians way of playing. I think the use in the arranger was related to this.
I think most musicians understand that groove is a rhythmic feel that is more than just a strict beat. So I might say for example a funky or latin style has a groove, but probably not a strict ballroom style like a viennese waltz or fox-trot beat.
Mike