THIS IS SOUL JAZZ 101…Richard “Groove” Holmes: The Classic Albums Collection

Richard “Groove” Holmes was a master of the soul jazz genre, with his oozing Hammond B3 amply displayed on these eight simmering albums. His 1961 debut includes the formidable team of tenor saxist Ben Webster and pianist Les McCann and the grooving is high on “Them That Got” and “Good Groove”. That same year, he brings in similarly sounding tenor saxist Gene Ammons for a smouldering “Willow Weep For Me” and fun “Groovin’ With Jug”. With Joe Pass/g, Clifford Scott/ts and McCann/p, Holmes gets laid back and funky on “Something Special” and “Black Groove”  with Pass staying on for some trio sessions in a 1962 recording on a lithe “ It Might As Well Be Spring” . The Hammond man tells it like it is with a collage of trios featuring Pass, Ammons, McCann and Webster on “Hittin’ The Jug” and the sanctified “This  Here”.  Holmes delivers a soul message in 1965 in a trio with drummer Jimmie Smith and guitarist Gene Edwards, with some tasty treats on a hip take of “Song For My Father” and “Daahoud” while a concert set with Edwards and George Randall/dr has the team stretching out on a throbbing “Gemini” and cooing on “The Girl From Ipanema”

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