Greasy Grooves in the Organ Trio Fold
Jimmy McGriff's organ bubbles over a loose, funky groove with plenty of room to stretch out.
Put the needle down and the first thing you hear is that thick Hammond organ swell, the bass sitting low and round, and drums keeping a loose, funky pulse that never really asks you to sit still. Groove Grease leans into the soul-jazz sound McGriff built his name on: a tight rhythm section, horns and flute adding color on top, and plenty of space for the organ to lean into long, rolling phrases. It's a party record more than a reflective one, and it doesn't pretend otherwise.
Recorded in 1971 and released on the Groove Merchant label, the session draws on a crew of working players. Richard Davis is listed on bass guitar and Marion Booker, Jr. on drums, with guitarists Everett Barksdale and Wayne Bennett filling out the texture. Murray Watson on trumpet and the flute players Johnny Board and Cliff Davis give the arrangements some bite and bounce. Nothing here reinvents the form, but the playing is confident and the grooves are solid from start to finish.
Where it sits in McGriff's catalog is a fair question. This isn't the place to start if you want his most celebrated work, but it's a good, honest entry for listeners who already enjoy the organ trio sound and want a looser, more muscular example of it. It's a solid record from a busy period, worth hearing for fans of the genre rather than a landmark in its own right.
Who's playing
Richard Davisbass guitar
Richard Evansbass guitar
Horace Ottelectric piano
Everett Barksdaleguitar
Wayne Bennettguitar
Murray Watsontrumpet
Johnny Boardflute
Cliff Davisflute
Jimmy McGrifforgan
Marion Booker, Jr.drums
Lawrence Killianpercussion
