Best known for his 1966 hit single of “Misty”. which brought soul-jazz to the pop charts, the aptly•nicknamed organist Richard “Groove” Holmes (1931•1991) was very much at home on the straight-ahead side. Get Up and Get It!, from 1961 which comprises half of this set, is as notable for the quality of the sidemen (guitarist Pat Martino. the late bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Billy Higgins, and Los Angeles-based tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards making a rare East Coast appearance) as it is for its first rate performances, with “Body and Soul” especially choice. Soul Mist!, which rolls in for the rest of Blue Groove, finds Holmes on three numbers in the trio setting that’s bit more familiar to his fans, with the late trumpeter Blue Mitchell and tenor saxophonist Harold Vick, on “There Is No Greater Love" and “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be,” only adding to the pure Groove.
Richard “Groove” Holmes (organ), Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Teddy Edwards, Harold Vick (tenor saxophones), Pat Martino, Gene Edwards (guitars), Paul Chambers (bass), Billy Higgins, George Randle, Freddy Waits (drums)
Tracklisting:
1. Get Up and Get It
2. Lee Ann
3. Body and Soul
4. Broadway
5. Groove's Blues Groove
6. Pennies from Heaven
7. Autumn Leaves
8. There Is No Greater Love
9. Denise
10. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
11. Up Jumped Spring
Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NU; March 15, 1966, July 7, 1966 and May 29, 1967.
Released 1994.