Happy birthday Groove Holmes

[White Lightning]

Groove Holmes was born 74 years ago today. What an amazing player he was! His PJ, Prestige and Muse albums are so good that I can't understand why they get mentioned here.

So let's hear it for Groove a BAD B3 player. Happy birthday!!

[Jim Alfredson]

Dang! Is it his birthday? Why isn't that in the calender!? Who runs this place?

Happy Birthday, Groove! You still da man.

[GA Russell]

Groove has a special place in my heart. His Soul Message was the first hard core jazz album I bought, and I still listen to it frequently nearly 39 years later.

In his novel The Switch, Elmore Leonard has the bad guys listening to Groove Holmes tapes throughout the story!

I had the honor of informing Cadence Magazine of Groove's passing. Somehow it had escaped their notice.

Happy birthday Groove!

Edited May 2, 2005 by GA Russell

[Soul Stream]

Yes, Groove Holmes is just a pure pleasure to listen to. Maybe it takes another organist to truely appreciate the complexities of Groove's abilities. Suffice it to say, he is truely one of the most recognizable voices jazz organ ever had.

Personal favs...

After Hours on Pacific Jazz and Soul Message on Prestige. Also, his Muse stuff is truely awesome.

[marcello]

One of my two all time favorites. SOUL + BRAINS.

[connoisseur series500]

I enjoy tons of Groove. Don't know how many of his cds I own, but it's gotta be close to 20.

One of my favorites for sure.

[Soul Stream]

One of my two all time favorites. SOUL + BRAINS.

Yes, plus the whole LPs in Aflat...a bitch. one of those blues shuffles he takes through ALL the keys...ouch. Groove is one of the few organists who COULD have hung on that gig with Ammons.

[mikeweil]

So far I only have his four early Pacific jazz CDs, but I wouldn't part with them for any reason. The Trio especially is so swinging'!

[Soul Stream]

Yes, I still think "After Hours" is his best record. Classic.