Richard ''Groove'' Holmes •‎ Night Glider

Review by Matt Collar

Night Glider is a solid early-'70s funk-jazz set from organist Richard "Groove" Holmes. Propelled by the catchy title track written by fellow keyboardist Horace Ott (who appears here), the album features mostly groove-oriented originals. However, two Carole King-penned tunes, "It's Going to Take Some Time" and "Go Away Little Girl," also add period flair with their mix of R&B soulfulness and singer/songwriter melodicism. Joining Holmes are such soul-jazz regulars as drummer Bernard Purdie, trombonist Garnett Brown, and saxophonist Seldon Powell. Rounding out the group are guitarist Lloyd Davis, bassist Paul Martinez, and conga/bongo player Kwasi Jayourba.

Biography

Richard Arnold “Groove” Holmes, Born Richard Arnold Jackson (Camden, New Jersey) was a jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of “Misty,” and is considered a precursor of acid jazz.

Holmes burst onto the music scene in the early 1960s (his first album, on Pacific Jazz with guest Ben Webster was recorded in March 1961). An African-American, literally a heavyweight (approximately 300 pounds) and physically rotund in stature, he gained immediate respect with an inimitable style of his own. His sound was immediately recognizable in the upper register, but even more so because of his virtuosity in creating, undoubtedly, the most rapid, punctuating, and pulsating basslines of all the jazz organists. His Prestige recording of “Live at the Front Room” recorded in Newark, New Jersey is one of the great jazz performances on the Hammond-B3. He (Holmes) seemed to make fire jump from the Hammond organ the night of that live recording. Though his recording years were relatively brief, as he died at the less than advanced age of 60, he established a recognition that is stellar within the community of notable jazz organ giants, i.e. Jimmy Smith (The Sermon), Brother Jack McDuff (A Real Good 'Un), Jimmy McGriff (I've Got a Woman). His style whether ballad, standard, or uptempo straight ahead, was always soulful, as his nicknamed implied, he was a “Groove.”

He recorded many albums for Pacific Jazz, Prestige Records, Groove Merchant and Muse Records.

Holmes died after a long struggle with prostate cancer, having performed his last concerts on a wheelchair. One of his last gigs was at the 1991 Chicago Blues Festival with his longtime friend, singer Jimmy Witherspoon.

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Reseña de Matt Collar

Night Glider es un sólido set de funk-jazz de principios de los 70 del organista Richard "Groove" Holmes. Impulsado por el pegadizo tema del título escrito por su colega teclista Horace Ott (que aparece aquí), el álbum presenta principalmente originales orientados al groove. Sin embargo, dos temas de Carole King, "It's Going to Take Some Time" y "Go Away Little Girl", también añaden un toque de época con su mezcla de soul de R&B y melodicismo de cantante/compositor. Se unen a Holmes habituales del soul-jazz como el baterista Bernard Purdie, el trombonista Garnett Brown y el saxofonista Seldon Powell. Completan el grupo el guitarrista Lloyd Davis, el bajista Paul Martínez y el conguero/bonguero Kwasi Jayourba.

Biografía

Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes, Nacido Richard Arnold Jackson (Camden, New Jersey) fue un organista de jazz que tocó en el género de hard bop y soul jazz. Es más conocido por su grabación de 1965 de "Misty", y se le considera un precursor del acid jazz.

Holmes irrumpió en la escena musical a principios de la década de 1960 (su primer álbum, en Pacific Jazz con el invitado Ben Webster se grabó en marzo de 1961). Afroamericano, literalmente un peso pesado (aproximadamente 300 libras) y físicamente rotundo en estatura, se ganó el respeto inmediato con un estilo propio inimitable. Su sonido era inmediatamente reconocible en el registro superior, pero más aún por su virtuosismo al crear, sin duda, los bajos más rápidos, puntiagudos y pulsantes de todos los organistas de jazz. Su grabación de prestigio de "Live at the Front Room" grabada en Newark, New Jersey es una de las grandes actuaciones de jazz del Hammond-B3. Él (Holmes) parecía hacer saltar fuego del órgano Hammond la noche de esa grabación en vivo. Aunque sus años de grabación fueron relativamente breves, ya que murió a la corta edad de 60 años, estableció un reconocimiento que es estelar dentro de la comunidad de notables gigantes del órgano de jazz, es decir, Jimmy Smith (El Sermón), el hermano Jack McDuff (A Real Good 'Un), Jimmy McGriff (I've Got a Woman). Su estilo, ya sea balada, estándar o uptempo, siempre fue conmovedor, como su apodo indica, era un "Groove".

Grabó muchos álbumes para Pacific Jazz, Prestige Records, Groove Merchant y Muse Records.

Holmes murió después de una larga lucha contra el cáncer de próstata, habiendo realizado sus últimos conciertos en una silla de ruedas. Uno de sus últimos conciertos fue en el Festival de Blues de Chicago de 1991 con su viejo amigo, el cantante Jimmy Witherspoon.

Tracklist:
1 One Mint Julep     4:55
2 Night Glider     5:20
3 Young And Foolish     4:22
4 Pure Cane Sugar     4:59
5 Flyjack     3:34
6 It's Going To Take Some Time     4:30
7 Go Away Little Girl     5:31

Credits:
    Bass – Paul Martinez
    Congas – Kwasi Jayourba
    Drums – Bernard Purdie
    Electric Piano – Horace Ott
    Guitar – Lloyd Davis
    Saxophone [Tenor] – Seldon Powell
    Trombone – Garnett Brown
    Organ – Groove Holmes
   
Label: Musidisc ‎– 500632
Released: 1994
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul, Blues
Style: Soul-Jazz

 

 

 

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