RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES — Welcome Home (review)

RICHARD Album · 1968 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
“Welcome Home” isn’t one of Holmes’ best albums, but on the other hand, its not near as commercial as some of his later efforts. Basically you get a mix of bluesy jazz and RnB pop covers on here, not far from your typical 60s soul jazz side. The album opens strong with the swingin “Groovin Time”. When it comes to the masters of the B3, Jimmy Smith may have the high speed licks, and Brother Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff may have the funky RnB, but no one swings like Groove Holmes. Side one closes out nicely with the soulful RnB of “Oklahoma Toad” and a mid-tempo swing blues called “Upward Bound”.

Side two also starts strong with the funky RnB of “The Madison Time”, but then the album looses its drive and closes out with four pop tunes of varying quality with Marvin Gayes’ “Sunday Mornin” being the best, and the theme from “The Odd Couple” being the cheesiest. I think fans of Groove Holmes and fans of 60s soul jazz would be happy with this record, you have three or four great cuts on here, and even the pop tunes are well done and plenty soulful. Another plus on here is the great recorded sound and production, its all a classic 60s analog vibe without a trace of 70s fuzak or smooth jazz.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Tim Daisy & Chris Corsano : Natural Clatter Jazz Related Improv/Composition
TIM DAISY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solace Of The Mind Avant-Garde Jazz
AMINA CLAUDINE MYERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Winther / Andersson / Watts : Steep Steps Post Bop
CARL WINTHER
Buy this album from MMA partners
About (or On)First Visit 21st Century Modern
ELLERY ESKELIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
To Walk On Eggshells 21st Century Modern
RUSS JOHNSON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Royalty For Real
SUSANNE ALT
js· 4 hours ago
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio Dream a Dream
SATOKO FUJII
js· 2 days ago
Wojciech Jachna Squad - Ad Astra (Promo Teaser)
WOJCIECH JACHNA
snobb· 6 days ago
Nitty Gritty
RUSS SPIEGEL
js· 6 days ago
Never in a 100.000.000 Dreams
SUPERSISTER
js· 6 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed