Total running time; 288 minutes
Disc 1
Tracks 1-5 "Groove" 1961 (Pacific Jazz)
Tracks 6-11 "Groovin' With Jug" 1961 (Pacific Jazz)
Disc 2
Tracks 1-6 "Somethin' Special" 1962 (Pacific Jazz)
Tracks 7-14 "After Hours" 1962 (Pacific Jazz)
Disc 3:
Tracks 1-8 "Tell It Like It Tis" 1962 (Pacific Jazz)
Tracks 9-17 "Book Of The Blues Vol 1" 1964 (Warner Bros)
Disc 4
Tracks 1-6; "Soul Message" 1965 (Prestige)
Tracks 7-11; "Living Soul" (Recorded Live! At Count Basie's) 1966 (Prestige)
"Classic Albums Collection" on CD brings together a carefully curated selection of classic recordings by jazz organist Richard Holmes, presenting an ideal overview of his soulful, groove-driven style. Across these original albums, listeners experience Holmes' hallmark Hammond B-3 sound: deep, bluesy lines, warm harmonies and a driving swing that bridges straight-ahead jazz, soul-jazz and blues. The collection is designed both for long-time fans who want key albums in one place and for newcomers seeking a compact introduction to Holmes' most representative work. High-quality audio transfers and a coherent track sequence underscore the musical evolution and stylistic breadth that made Holmes a respected name in the jazz organ tradition.
Enlightenment, the manufacturer, specializes in reissuing important catalog recordings in focused multi-album sets. Their concept is to make historically and artistically significant works accessible again in affordable, thoughtfully compiled editions, often gathering several original albums into one cohesive package. With releases like this, Enlightenment is known among collectors for offering substantial listening value, clear documentation where available, and a strong emphasis on musical continuity within each box set.
Richard "Groove" Holmes was a prominent jazz organist whose reputation rests on his powerful Hammond B-3 sound and his ability to blend gospel, blues and hard-swinging jazz into an immediately recognizable style. Over the course of his career he worked with leading jazz musicians and contributed to the popularization of soul-jazz in the 1960s and beyond. His recordings from this period helped establish the organ trio as a modern jazz format and left a lasting imprint on later generations of keyboard players. This collection highlights Holmes in a variety of settings that showcase his lyrical improvisations, rhythmic drive and deep sense of groove, underlining why his classic albums continue to be held in high regard by jazz aficionados.
Modern
32.361
- AcidJazz/DanceJazz 107- Avantgarde/Free 983- Bebop 109- Bossa Nova 340- Cool 75- Hard Bop 155- Jazz Rock/Fusion 748- Latin Jazz 998- Other Modern Jazz 27.381- PopJazz/SmoothJazz 795- World-&Ethno-Ja. 447
