Customer Reviews

Giants Of The Organ In Concert

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This two artists were virtually unknown to me - this CD was bought whilst browsing for the Hammond master, Mr. Jimmy Smith. The photo and the date '1973' both intrigued me so I decided to give it a try (it was also VERY cheap - though that was atually a turn-off).
What I found when I stuck it in my CD player was one of those CDs you dream about stumbling upon. The sound is VERY well mixed (even more so for a cheap CD) the performances are warm and rich in tone and variety. The two artists synch seamlessly together, as do the 'backing musicians', all sharing the musical canvas and the limelight equally. There is no rivalry evident here, and when they do go head to head (on track 6, Talk to Me) the result is 'sublime mastery' - as someone else said - the stereo is mixed so that each organist has their own channel and when you listen to track 6 you can't help but smile at the playfullness and charm these two exude.

One thing I should mention is that if you have even the slightest interest in '70s music, funk, soul, or you just love music with a capital 'G' ~ g r o o v e. Then buy this. Ironically many 'Jazz' fans ~ especially the self-appointed 'elitists' will argue this shouldn't even be filed in the jazz section... who cares. Good music is good music and this is one of the best CDs I own (I own a fair few).

The only downside to this is that there isn't nearly enough of the audience in the mix - that is unless they were sleeping...

The material is superb, but the audio quality is muddy and scratchy--like an overplayed LP or a slightly off-frequency FM station. If you are looking for a historical record of superb music and inspired playing by legends of the organ, this is your CD.

If you are a critical listener concerned with the quality of the sound stage and the image of each instrument, this CD will sorely disappoint you.

As the owner of a Jazz Organ club, and a performing organist this statement is probably a bit biased, but Jazz organ music is best when its heard live and uncut... Jazz organ summits have come and gone over the years between the greats, but what better pair than the bluesy almost Philadelphian Jersyites funky Groove Holmes and funky bluesmeister Jimmy McGriff? With split channels so you can hear who's playing what, this album includes a mix of the the groovy swinging bopped up 12 bar blues that you'd come to expect from any real Jazz organ group, to the wa wa embellished FUNK which a lot of the younger players are picking up on these days. Though the sound quality may not be overboard, and sometimes the organs soundlike they're going to explode from the heat, this is definitely a great listening experience... pure energy all the way... everyone is having fun and you feel like you're there... Easily recomended for the Jazz Organ Heads as well as organ loving funkateers ! ! !

If you dig this album, also check out Lonnie Smith's MOVE YOUR HAND and LIVE AT CLUB MOZAMBIQUE. (Sadly, my two favorite LIVE Jazz organ recordings are virtually impossible to find... WILD BILL DAVIS LIVE AT BIRDLAND and WILD BILL DAVIS LIVE AT COUNT BASIES ! ! !)

Yes, I know the title to this review is over the top. But so is this disc. I've been collecting greasy B-3 recordings for years now, and this little concert album is by far the best thing I've ever heard. Just listen to McGriff growl on "Brown Bread" or both McGriff and Holmes trade fourths on "Talk To Me" (with some nifty pitch bending by McGriff). ... It's unbelievable stuff. Sound quality is excellent. The whole band grooves. Get this disc now. You won't regret it.

I don't normally review music here, but in this case, I need to get this off my chest... I downloaded the MP3 version of this album after nearly a year of avoiding spending money on what has been reviewed here as a poorly engineered, muddy, noisy, just gawd-awful recording that brings shame to these great musicians. Let me tell you - DON'T BELIEVE THESE AUDIOFOOL REVIEWS!!! THIS ALBUM GROOVES!!! I've listened to this album in the living room, in the bedroom, on my computer and in my car. I am listening to this album as I write this. I can't find anything wrong with this album. My only regret is that I've missed nearly a year of audio pleasure because I believed these reviews! Look people, THIS ALBUM IS REDORDED LIVE, IN CONCERT, THE WAY MUSIC WAS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED. Do everyone a favor - put your gold-plated headphones down, leave your ego in your Barcalounger, and go to the nearest club. Listen. Enjoy. Buy artist's album. Enjoy more. Repeat next week. The only other thing I ask is that you people quit leaving out-of-context, uptight reviews in order to prove what great music afficionados you are.

I bought this CD anmd it is excellent. The audio quality is not excellent but very good considering, the venue and how it was probably recorded. Has to be in my top 5 favorite Hammond cd's. Live . Great playing by two legends . I highly recommend it. The only downside.. No liner notes

I'll agree with some other posters that the sound quality could have been better. But the musicianship and chemistry between McGriff and Holmes absolutely makes up for it and makes it a 5 star despite imperfect capture...it was live, it was 1973, what do you expect? Personally, my ears are more tuned to what the music makers are doing and feeling then what the audio guy was using.

I own a lot of Hammond albums and this one is as pulsing as any I've ever heard. It's fast, it's heavy, it's a pair of masters absolutely feeling their craft and having a lot of fun with it. That's what comes blaring through the speakers, and it's well worth the price!

If you don't have this in your collection you need help. This has to be one of the best CD's of it's type. Although the sound quality is not what you would like it to be, you can here real talent from these four artist. I say four because one of the real treats is hearing the duling guitars on several tracks. It's also good to here the experimenting that McGriff does with the organ so long ago. And Grove Holmes!!!! One of the best. Buy it right now.

This is one loose set of some of the FUNKiest live jazz put to wax. This is on the same level as Jimmy Smith's- Root Down (Essential Listening). All the tracks on here are long with alot of space for soloing, which is great when you got guy's like Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff & especially O'Donel Levy on guitar WOW! O'Donel's spacey wah-guitar solos backed with some funky conga breaks is heaven to my ears-priceless! Groove Merchant Funk- Get it!

This cd was not what I expected. Poorly engineered and lackluster performances by two Hammond B-3 giants. I had the album years ago, so maybe my tastes have changed.