Groove Grease

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Groove Grease album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 9   Total Length: 33:28

eMusic Review 0

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Dan Epstein

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Soul jazz at its by-god funkiest.
2006 | Label: LRC Ltd. / IODA

Like most of his contemporaries, Hammond B-3 whiz McGriff got progressively funkier as the '60s turned into the '70s, and 1971's impeccable Groove Grease is one funky mutha of a soul jazz record. "The Bird" and the title track are justifiably revered by DJs everywhere, but even initially-less-promising prospects like "Red Sails in the Sunset," "Secret Love" and Henry Mancini's "Mr. Lucky" are totally turned out by McGriff's warm runs and Marion Booker's stupefyingly funky drum breaks.

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ONE OF HIS BEST

imnokid

Funky and greeezy. get it.

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Good Organ Playing

cwm2003

Jimmy set the bar pretty high for all that have followed in his footsteps. If you love Robert Walter and James Taylor Quartet, you'll love Jimmy McGriff.

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Gotta love the what the man did.

slip

I love the organ and everything it continues to do for funk music... love this album.

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Good 60-70's grooving!

seoulsalsero

Good album. Band 2, 8 and 9 are all goot 'get down' tunes with #2 being a bit more of a 'slow burn' type. Being an ex bass guitar player myself, I noticed the nice walking bass line in #3. #4 and #5 I thought were kinda 'vague'. They seemed more on the order of just some recorded practice with the organ obviously being 'the boss' and the other instruments just there for fill. Nothing the balance like you'd hear in Dave Brubeck trio (for example).

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Funky classic sound

wadestreet

This aptly named collection of tracks are as smooth as the fine female's backside portrayed on the album cover. Do yourself a great big favor and send your soul over the top with Jimmy's timeless organ riffs. Also check out his album Feelin' It for more new directions from the immortally funky artist.

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This Melts

ekk66

McGriff & Co. define B3 Funk on "The Bird" and this entire set just smokes with McGriff cascading funky riffs against the a deeply groovey rythm section anchored by bassist Richard Davis.

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Groove Grease - thats what it is!

Pip-t

This is a must for anone who ever appreciated the groovy sounds of organs from -or even in- the 70īs. Pick up the Seventies Cocktail Book, mix yourself a Lilac or even a GinnFizz, light some purple, orange and red candles, gather friends around your livingroom, put this on, and everybody will feel hip and surrounded by a good vibe.

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Can't miss

baconfats

From the buttcrack cover to the sinuous sax solos, Jimmy McGriff and his insistent Hammond couldn't miss with this Greasy Groove.

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This 1971 session finds McGriff continuing to do like so many other jazz musicians of the time: embrace and adapt to the emergence of funk and soul into mainstream music, and recontextualize it in a jazz arena. The results are an unsurprisingly delicious slice of jazz-funk made from the finest ingredients. The superb playing of Richard Davis on electric bass is unquestionably the anchor throughout the album’s nine slices, leaving McGriff and company to follow suit with loose (but not too far out) improvisation that’s as equally relaxing as it is invigorating. While McGriff’s adventurous side is slightly tamed, it’s that willingness to improv and blend together as a cohesive unit that makes Groove Grease such a tasty statement that is consistently fresh with repeated listenings. – Rob Theakston

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