London born, Nick van ‘Groove’ Gelder started his music career in the mid 1980s as drummer and co- founder of cult space-rock band Ozric Tentacles. Nick provided the beats for the 5 initial Ozric’s albums, the all instrumental improvised format provided a valuable experience. In 1990 Nick joined Acid Jazz act The Sandals as guitarist, with whom he toured extensively around the UK and Europe with label mates Corduroy and Mother Earth. Around this time Nick also played on The Sandals’ Leftfield produced single Profound Gas.
In 1991 NVG was introduced to new Acid Jazz signing Jay Kay and subsequently formed the band Jamiroquai. 1992 saw the release of the cult 12″single When You Gonna Learn, and some memorable gigs, culminating in a showcase at London’s Jazz Cafe which led to the subsequent signing of Jamiroquai to Sony’s s2 label. Nick went on to record on the chart topping debut album Emergency on Planet Earth, playing drums & guitar and co writing the song If I Like It I Do It. He was voted in the Top 100 Beats of All Time for his drumming on Revolution ’93 in a Millennium poll in Rhythm Magazine. 1993-1994 was spent touring and promoting worldwide and saw the release of the classic singles, Too Young to Die, Blow Your Mind & Emergency on Planet Earth. It was during this period that Jamiroquai forged their reputation as one of the tightest live acts around. Nick left the band in 1994 soon after recording the up-tempo, break-beat driven track The Kids on the album Return of the Space Cowboy. Later that year Nick got together with friends Simon Bartholomew (guitar maverick of The Brand New Heavies) & bass player Nick Seymore to form the Acid Jazz super group Akimbo. In 1995 they recorded the On Top album released on Acid Jazz, showcasing many of the UK’s top young jazz guns including members of, TBNH, Zero7, Incognito, Herbalizer and Soul II Soul. The band headlined London’s Soho Jazz Festival two years running, selling out Ronnie Scotts & appearing at Madame JoJos’ Deep Funk sessions, hosted by The Legendary Keb Darge. In 1999 Nick & Keb started their own independent label Deep Funk Records. Nick co-produced and played on 6 vinyl only releases, 3×7”s by Imaginary Visions, the critically acclaimed Modern Soul Classic 7″ What am I Gonna Do by Akwaaba People and 2 further 12″ singles under his own name, Foolish Moon & Na Capoeira featuring Vocals by Nina Miranda of Smoke City fame. 2003 saw the release of rare soul covers Get On Up/To Be Free under the moniker Chosen 2 on John Kong’s Do Right Label, featuring Akwaaba People singer Mazen.
Nick has also been involved in various collaborations; with Soul Jazz keyboardist Jessica Lauren, Nu-Soul prodigies, Omar & Vannessa Simon, Marcina Arnold, FBI, Superphonics, Raw Deal, Wipe The Needle, and number one World Music act, Dub Colossus, as well as performing at numerous gigs, sessions & jams with many of London’s Jazz-Funk-Soul elite.
Summer 2008 saw the release of NVG’s long awaited debut album Choose Music on BBE Records. Recorded at his own studio, with all tracks composed, produced, & all instruments performed by himself, bar featured performances from vocalist Mazen and the Stella Horns (Jim Hunt, Nichol Thomson & Dom Glover). The warmly received Choose Music has been followed by a further 3 digital only releases -Brighter Star/MXR, Choose Music The EP and Foolish Things, a mini album of reworked tracks from the Deep Funk label.
Nick has recently been working on new material for his next studio album Groovitas due to be released Autumn 2011