Search - Richard Groove Holmes :: Comin on Home

A much sampled Blue Note album

Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 06/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Neither time nor remastering can hide the fact that this is an album of two parts; one part VERY funky ( and hence much sampled) and one half music that has dated quite considerably. When it's good, such as on "Groovin' for Mr G", "Down home funk" and Bobby Timmon's "This here" it's an excellent slab of churning bluesy material that really cooks. Elsewhere it contains material that illustrates the limitations of the line up. On "Theme from Love Story" and A.C.Jobim's "Wave" there's not enough 'Groove Holmes', and altogether too much space for Weldon Irvine on electric piano - the recorded sound of the piano is not that great, and Gerald Hubbard on guitar struggles for space. "Don't mess with me" has scat interventions from percussionist James Davis. The remastering might also have made more of the thunderous bass sound from Jerry Jemmott (Chuck Rainey replaces him on the Love Story theme). It was all recorded on one day in 1971 and perhaps could have benefitted from more arrangement time. That said, the three tracks that I mentioned at the top of the review probably make the mid price entrance fee worthwhile, and especially for the 4.10 of "Groovin' for Mr G" . Buy it and spot all the use that's been made of those tracks, down the years, by those crafty samplers!"

Worth It For "Mr. G." Alone

Dr. Pangloss | Decatur, GA United States | 03/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I concur with the reviewer that found some weak spots in the album, but it's so true that "Groovin'For Mr. G." is perhaps one of the best organ jams ever. Groove never got the level of attention like that of Jimmy Smith, but he ranks right up there with him and the likes of Milt Buckner and Jack McDuff. If you like B-3 organ, you gotta have some Groove Holmes in your collection"