Jump to content

"Groove" Holmes


jazzman4133

Recommended Posts

Here's a blast from the past that is most worthwhile for Organ fans. Richard "Groove" Homes is absolutely burnin' on this album.

From AMG: Some wags might claim there's already enough organ-based '60s soul-jazz in the Prestige catalog without throwing a previously unreleased album of the stuff on the bonfire. And your first inclination might be to dismiss this trio date, on which Richard "Groove" Holmes is joined by guitarist Gene Edwards and drummer George Randall, as more of the same old. However, though it does boast much of the expected characteristics of the Prestige sound, this live material, recorded at Count Basie's Lounge in Harlem on April 22, 1966, is above average and worth hearing. The sound quality's very good and fresh, but more importantly, the stripped-down trio arrangements boil the soul-jazz genre down to its most powerful essence. Most soul-jazz acts felt obligated to break up their up-tempo numbers with sleepy renditions of standards, but everything selected for release here's mid-tempo or faster, which, frankly, makes the nearly-hour-long program peppier than you'd expect. And at times, the speed of the rhythms verges on the manic, as on Edwards' solo on "(Back Home Again In) Indiana." On the Coleman Hawkins cover, "Rifftide" the pace gets yet more furious, like the vehemence of fellows who've had way too much coffee during their set break, leaving even the seasoned listener gasping for air like a seasick passenger holding onto the rails for dear life. Their version of Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" is an only slightly less intense soul-jazz reading of a hard bop number. They can play a more solid, shuffling blues groove well too, though, as they do on covers of "Night Train," and Bobby Timmons' "Moanin'." — Richie Unterberger

1. (Back Home Again In) Indiana (Hanley/MacDonald) - 9:32

2. Moanin' (Timmons) - 7:26

3. When I Grow Too Old to Dream (Hammerstein/Romberg) - 5:08

4. Rifftide (Hawkins) - 12:18

5. This Here (Timmons) - 9:10

6. Nica's Dream (Silver) - 7:09

Edited by jazzman4133
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a huge fan of "Groove's" music, but I found this one weaker than many of his other sessions. The recording quality is pretty good for a live date, so that's not a problem. It's hard to describe what bothers me about it, but I do think it's worth keeping, nevertheless. I'd rate it 3 stars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These were the outtakes of the Living Soul session. I think that Prestige selected the right songs to release in 1966. I got that album then, when I was in high school and just starting out with jazz.

But Living Soul is paired on CD with an album I rate as mediocre called Spicy.

I still like Soul Message the best of all Groove Holmes albums, but I'm glad I have On Basie's Bandstand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that the Pacific sides are probably the best. The only reason I posted this is because it's at least "some more Groove", which for fans is a reason to buy and listen. By the way, this album is available on e-music as a download.

For those not familiar with e-music, they have a treasure trove of great early Prestige, Xanadu, Riverside, Fantasy and many others. Check it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...