Groove Holmes Brings Soul to the Organ
A soulful, funk-tinged organ record that swings hard without pretension or apology.
Welcome Home is Richard "Groove" Holmes doing exactly what his nickname promises: laying down the kind of organ groove that makes you want to move. The album has a warm, earthy sound — Hammond B3 pushed forward in the mix, anchored by Wilton Felder's electric bass and Paul Humphrey's steady drums, with horns layered in tight and smart. It's soul-jazz with funk undertones, the kind of record that works as well in a dimly lit lounge as it does on a late-night drive. There's no pretense here, just musicians playing directly to your body rather than your intellect.
Holmes was already an established organist by 1968, comfortable in his groove and confident enough not to overplay. The horn section — Teddy Edwards on tenor, Tom Scott and Anthony Ortega on altos, Chuck Findley on trumpet — trades lines with warmth rather than aggression. Mike Anthony and George Freeman on guitars add texture without crowding the pocket. The rhythm section never rushes; every track sits solidly in its own pocket. This is the middle ground between jazz sophistication and R&B immediacy, and Holmes navigates it with ease.
Welcome Home isn't a landmark record or a pivot point in Holmes' career, but it's exactly the kind of solid, unpretentious session that defined much of his output in this era. If you're familiar with Holmes' work, this fits cleanly into his catalog. If you're new to him and wondering where to start, consider checking out his earlier records first — but this is good, honest organ music that doesn't require any special knowledge to enjoy.
Who's playing
Wilton Felderelectric bass guitar
Mike Anthonyguitar
George Freemanguitar
Teddy Edwardstenor saxophone
Anthony Ortegaalto saxophone
Tom Scottalto saxophone
Chuck Findleytrumpet
Paul Humphreydrums
Richard “Groove” Holmeskeyboard
