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. ~ Scott Yanow