By Joel Roberts
Blue Note must have had Jimmy McGriff and Richard
"Groove" Holmes in mind when it launched its "Rare
Groove" re-issue series. When it comes to groovin' it
just doesn't get much better than these two soul-jazz
organ masters.
McGriff and Holmes, both accolytes of the great Jimmy
Smith, were already well established in mainstream
jazz circles by the time these late '60s and early
'70s sides found them (and their record companies)
trying to reach out to broader pop audiences. Both men
are reasonably successful at staying true to their
jazz base while dipping their toes in the musical
currents of the day, which shouldn't be a surprise
since the two products of the Philly/South Jersey
rhythm and blues scene were always crowd pleasers who
knew how to give the people what they wanted.
McGriff's 1968 release is an uncomplicated blend of
bluesy jazz and Motown soul that manages to evoke that
troubled and glorious era all these years later. "The
Worm" produced one bonafide pop-jazz classic - the
title cut - a catchy, finger snappin' bit of Horace
Silver meets Wilson Pickett funk. For the pop fans,
there's also an instrumental take on Aretha Franklin's
"Think," while the old-timers get a revved-up dash
through "Take the 'A' Train."
McGriff is at his best laying down his bluesy solos in
front of the four-man horn section, which includes
trumpeter Blue Mitchell and tenor saxophonist Fats
Theus. Also on hand are a couple of highly
sophisticated drummers, Grady Tate and Mel Lewis, who
join guitarist Thornel Schwartz and electric bassist
Bob Bushnell in a stellar rhythm section. All in all,
"The Worm" makes for a tasty, hard to resist treat.
Holmes' 1971 release, "Comin' on Home," is a bit more
complicated. This mostly electric effort keeps one
foot in the blues and jazz arenas while moving in the
direction of fusion. There's plenty of excellent
playing here and some hot down-home blues, but some of
the extended solos and jams get tiresome, and the mix
- with electric piano, electic bass, organ and no
horns - can sound muddy.
Surprisingly, one of the best tracks here is Holmes'
take on "Theme from Love Story," one of the period's
more ubiquitous pop nightmares. Holmes and company
turn the saccharine movie ballad into a gently
rollicking piece of funk. They're also successful with
another unlikely candidate, Jobim's bossa nova
classic, "Wave." A more obvious choice for Holmes,
Bobby Timmons' "This Here," gets a nice treatment,
too.
Jimmy McGriff - The Worm
Personnel: Jimmy McGriff, organ; Mel Lewis,
Grady Tate, drums; Blue Mitchell, trumpet; Thornel
Schwartz, guitar; Bob Ashton, Danny Turner, Fats
Theus, saxophones; Bob Bushnell, bass.
Track listing:: The Worm, Keep Loose,
Heavyweight, Think, Lock It Up, Girl Talk, Blue Juice,
Take the A Train.
Richard "Groove" Holmes - Comin' on Home
Personnel: Personnel: Richard ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂGrooveÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Holmes,
organ; James Davis, percussion; Chuck Rainey, bass,
Weldon Irvine, electric piano; Ray Armando, conga;
Gerald Jemmott,
bass; Gerald Hubbard, guitar; Darryl Washington,
drums.
Track listing: GroovinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ for Mr. G, Theme from
Love Story, Mr. Clean, Down Home Funk, DonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt Mess With
Me, Wave, This Here.
