Groove Holmes

[Eric]

For some reason, I decided to check out "American Pie" and "Night Glider". Both of these originally came out on Groove Merchant, I believe. I found them both through half.com.

I was half expecting (pun intended) some overly self-conscious "funk", but discovered some very stanky funk instead. Not particularly cerebral , but outstanding!!!

Eric

Edited February 25, 2004 by Eric

[connoisseur series500]

I love "Groove" Holmes and have a lot of his stuff. Not those two cds, however.

Can they be compared to any of his other works?

[BFrank]

How about "Come Together" - Richard Groove Holmes and Ernie Watts? Some smokin' stuff on World Pacific Jazz Records!

... although, I doubt if this has ever been on CD. I have the vinyl.

Edited February 26, 2004 by BFrank

[Ragu]

I picked up Comin On Home this weekend and feel the electric piano adds a very nice 70's sound to the 60's groove.

[Eric]

ConnSeries,

I would say it compares well to his Prestige stuff. The personnel are not particularly well identified, but as I hear it, it is a smaller group, with guitar and sometimes tenor (and sometimes conga). On a few tracks I hear electric piano, not sure if that is Groove or someone else.

I grabbed them kind of expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised.

Tunes and "feel" are occasionally a little poppy/dated sounding, but this is really a minor quibble. Even "American Pie" cooks, although it is a little short. It is followed by "St. Thomas", so that gives you a feel what these are about. I burned both CDs on to one, so I now have my personal Groove groove-fest whenever I want.

I doubt anyone would be disappointed ... quite the contrary in fact

Eric

PS - Just check AMG - their ratings of 2 and 2 1/2 stars are hosed. I would give 'em both no less than 4. AMG does list personnel for Night Glider. Also, the Doug Payne site says they came out in 1972/1973.

[Eric]

btw, below is the original cover for Night Glider. Dusty Groove has it for $25 or so as a Japanese import, but you can find elsewhere as a budget reissue for $6 - $7 (different cover though).

Groove did three lps for Groove Merchant - the third is "New Groove", which I think I just snagged used (I say I think cause the documentation sucks). Again, DG has it from Japan for 25 clams ...

Eric

Edited February 26, 2004 by Eric

[Chrome]

"Blues all night long" from the late 1980s is pretty good ... features Houston Person, Jimmy Ponder.

[connoisseur series500]

  Chrome said:

"Blues all night long" from the late 1980s is pretty good ... features Houston Person, Jimmy Ponder.

I love this session.

[connoisseur series500]

  Eric said:

btw, below is the original cover for Night Glider. Dusty Groove has it for $25 or so as a Japanese import, but you can find elsewhere as a budget reissue for $6 - $7 (different cover though).

Groove did three lps for Groove Merchant - the third is "New Groove", which I think I just snagged used (I say I think cause the documentation sucks). Again, DG has it from Japan for 25 clams ...

Eric

Damn,

It's probably worth buying the import from Dusty's (the bastards!) just for that cool cover alone.