1973 · Album
Night Glider
Recorded 1973, Bell Sound Studios, New York City · Groove Merchant
Groove Holmes in the Groove Merchant Years
Holmes swings hard over [Pretty Purdie]'s relentless pocket and [Paul Roland Martinez]'s solid foundation.
Night Glider arrived in 1973 with little fanfare—a solid small-label release that never achieved wide recognition but has aged well enough to reward listeners who dig into the Groove Merchant catalog. It wasn't a blockbuster and didn't reshape anyone's idea of what the organ trio could do, but it's a straightforward, unpretentious record that lets its three players work without pretense.
Holmes was deep into his career by this point, well past the soul-jazz peak of the 1960s, but still capable of driving a session with real authority. What makes Night Glider worth hearing is the rhythm section: Pretty Purdie on drums brings the pocket and swing he was known for, locking into grooves that never feel stiff or overstretched, while Paul Roland Martinez on bass keeps the bottom anchored and walking. The organ sits right where it should—upfront, grooving, offering enough color and movement to hold attention without overreaching. The tunes are straightforward blues and soul-inflected material, exactly what this trio needed to play well together.
This isn't the place to start with Holmes, and it's not his peak—earlier Blue Note sessions have more polish and ambition. But Night Glider works as a document of a skilled organist in his element, playing with musicians who knew how to lock in and ride a groove. It's the sound of professionals doing what they do best, without apology or decoration.
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