Richard Groove Holmes - Soul Message (1965/2007/2014) [Official Digital Download]

Many Eastern and Midwestern musicians helped sustain the West Coast jazz scene in the ’50s and ’60s, but the only one among them who made an impact in Southern California on Hammond organ was New Jersey native Richard “Groove” Holmes. This was Holmes’s first recording for Prestige, and it both confirmed his status as one of the B-3’s leading practitioners and elevated his profile with the crossover success of "Misty".

Armed with a talented and totally sympathetic rhythm section, a program that emphasized jazz classics (including the first cover version of Horace Silver’s “Song for My Father”) plus two infectious originals, and a unique sound that created excitement without flamboyance and allowed the brilliant bass lines created by his skillful pedal work to shine through with clarity, Holmes turned Soul Message into the signature album of his celebrated career.

Organist Richard "Groove" Holmes hit upon a successful formula on this Prestige session (reissued on CD in the OJC series), mixing together boogaloo rhythms with emotional solos. His double-time version of "Misty" became a big hit, and the other selections, including Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" and a pair of soulful originals, are in a similar vein. The lone ballad of the set ("The Things We Did Last Summer") is a fine change of pace. With the assistance of guitarist Gene Edwards and drummer Jimmie Smith, Groove Holmes shows that it is possible to create music that is both worthwhile and commercially successful.

Tracklist:

01 - Groove's Groove
02 - Daahoud
03 - Misty
04 - Song For My Father
05 - The Things We Did Last Summer
06 - Soul Message

Recorded on August 3, 1965 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
All transfers were made from the analog master tapes to digital at 24-bit resolution.
Remastered by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio in 2006.

Musicians:
Richard "Groove" Holmes - organ
Gene Edwards - guitar
Jimmie Smith - drums

A Note From Rudy Van Gelder:
I was the engineer on the recording sessions and I also made the masters for the original LP issues of these albums. Since the advent of the CD, other people have been making the masters. Mastering is the final step in the process of creating the sound of the finished product. Now, thanks to the folks at the Concord Music Group who have given me the opportunity to remaster these albums, I can present my versions of the music on CD using modern technology. I remember the sessions well, I remember how the musicians wanted to sound, and I remember their reactions to the playbacks. Today, I feel strongly that I am their messenger.

Thanks to the Original customer!