Wednesday 29 July 2009

RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES - WORKIN' ON A GROOVY THING (PACIFIC JAZZ 1969) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve




Revered in soul-jazz circles, Richard "Groove" Holmes was an unapologetically swinging Jimmy Smith admirer who could effortlessly move from the grittiest of blues to the most sentimental of ballads. Holmes, a very accessible, straightforward and warm player who was especially popular in the black community, had been well respected on the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey circuit by the time he signed with Pacific Jazz in the early '60s and started receiving national attention by recording with such greats as Ben Webster and Gene Ammons. Holmes, best known for his hit 1965 version of "Misty," engaged in some inspired organ battles with Jimmy McGriff in the early '70s before turning to electric keyboards and fusion-ish material a few years later. The organ was Holmes' priority in the mid- to late '80s, when he recorded for Muse (he also had stints throughout his career with Prestige Records and Groove Merchant) . Holmes was still delivering high-quality soul-jazz for Muse (often featuring tenor titan Houston Person) when a heart attack claimed his life at the age of 60 in 1991 after a long struggle with prostrate cancer. He was a musician to the end, playing his last shows in a wheelchair.
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The name says it all. This man knew how to groove with both hands and feet. He acknowledged himself that in the world of organ players, there was Jimmy Smith and then all the rest; but he (humbly!) considered himself to be at the top of the rest. IMO, there was Smith, Groove, Patton, Young, then all the rest. But when it comes to funking it up, Groove had no match. He's influenced by sax players, like a lot of organ players.
He recorded some very nice "straight" Jazz sessions with Ben Webster, Gene Ammons, Houston Person, and Paul Chambers (renowned bass player). But he also recorded some of the funkiest shit I have ever heard.
Here

6 comments:

6D Music said...

Another excellent post. TYVM. CZ

David Federman said...

It's time to thank you for this mother lode of a music blog. Like you, I am an addicted buyer of Japanese CDs because they sound superior (in most cases) to all else. But I don't think I would ever have gotten around to buying all the Motown and other soul goodies that you do (personal finances forbid it). This album by Richard Groove Holmes--with the excellent arrangements by Gerald Wilson--is a welcome addition to my library. So were the Stevie Wonders. Do you, by any chance, have Marvin Gaye's "Superhits" which was also reissued recently? I relish the thought of hearing "Baby Don't Do It" in a Japanese 24-bit remaster. Thanks.

vincent the soul chef said...

Thanks Georgie for another winner :-)

Peace and blessings.

Georgie Hirezola said...

thanks guys............
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I will receive the most of "Marvin Gaye's" original albums in a couple of weeks but mostly his early & rare stuff that is difficult to find outside of Japan...

michael said...

fantastic post - thanks

Raphy said...

WOW.....I just discover your blog....You have a LOt of GeMs HerE!!!


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