jazzman4133 Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 (edited) 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 March 24, 2004 by jazzman4133 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undergroundagent Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 (edited) I wasn't really feeling this album, believe it or not. I'm a big Groove Holmes fan, but this music was slightly more fast paced then I would've liked. I sold it soon after. Just an opinion. Edited March 24, 2004 by undergroundagent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 I think this thing smokes and started a mini-Groove-sance at my house! Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undergroundagent Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I actually think his Pacific Jazz material is superior, particularly the sessions with Les McCann. Those albums groove hard!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzman4133 Posted March 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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