Groove Holmes - American Pie

Year : 1972
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

"American Pie" is representative of influences to the British Acid Jazz movement in the nineties, whose the fatherhood could be return to Holmes. An album in the same way as his previous "Comin' On Home" released on Blue Note records, including stoned-soul grooves and heavy funk, his first recording for the label of Sonny Lester, "Groove Merchant". Titles include "American Pie" by Don McLean, the Sonny Rollins' standard, "St. Thomas", the demonstrative "Fingers" and a variation of the Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day". 

MUSICIANS : Richard "Groove" Holmes - organ - Larry Willis - electric piano - Gerald Hubbard - guitar - Jerry Jemmott - bass - Kwasi Jay Ourba - drums, congas, bongos

Buddy Rich - Roar Of '74

Year : 1974
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Contempory Jazz, Funk/Soul

The "Roar of '74" is the first of five albums released by the Buddy Rich Big Band on the crossover jazz label, "Groove Merchant", founded by band leader Sonny Lester. Drummer Buddy Rich goes on his Rhythm & Blues orientation (started in 1971 with "A Different Drummer" album), featuring guitarist Joe Beck, bassist Tony Levin, pianist Buddy Budson & soloist saxophonist Pat LaBarbera. Titles include jazz covers from Horace Silver (Nutville) with insane drum breaks, Duke Ellington (Prelude To A Kiss), the heavy funk "Big Mac", "Kilimanjaro Cookout" to the african expressions (arranged by Manny Albam), and the two pure Big Band style "Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters" & "Senator Sam". All tracks produced by Sonny Lester.

O'Donel Levy - Black Velvet

Year : 1972
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

First album from talented guitarist who plays several styles from Easy Listening, Smooth Jazz to Soul and Jazz Funk featuring saxophonist Arthur 'Fats' Theus. Titles include Rhythm & Blues cover songs (Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time, I'll Be There, You've Made Me So Very Happy), Jazz standards (I'll Close My Eyes, Misty) and two own compositions (Granny & Nature's Child). Produced by Sonny Lester.

O'Donel Levy_guitar

Alarza Lee Collins_bass

Chester Thompson_drums

Charles Covington_electric piano, organ

Arthur 'Fats' Theus_saxophone, flute

Billy Skinner_trumpet

William Thorpe_percussion

Nathaniel Rice Jr._congas

01. Watch What Happens
02. Granny
03. I'll Close My Eyes
04. Nature's Child
05. Love Story
06. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
07. I'll Be There
08. Misty
09. Call Me
10. You've Made Me So Very Happy

O'Donel Levy - Simba

Year : 1973

Label : Groove Merchant

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk

Rare  groove cult LP by jazz fusion guitarist O'Donel Levy composed in association with saxophonist, arranger Manny Albam  and featuring Steve Gadd, John Faddis, Eddie Daniels, the soilists Burt Collins &  Cecil Bridgewater. Titles include the wellknown Bad, Bad, Simba which appears on many compilations as the Pulp Fusion series and the incredible highly funky Playhouse with the unleashed solo flute of Daniels. All tracks arranged by Manny Albam and produced by Sonny Lester.

O'Donel Levy_guitar

Tony Levin_bass

Steve Gadd_drums 

Warren Bernhardt_keyboards 

Eddie Daniels_flute, piccolo flute, saxophone 

Bill Watrous_trombone 

Alan Rubin, Burt Collins, Cecil Bridgewater & Lew Soloff_flugelhorn

Burt Collins, Ernie Royal, Jon Faddis & Lew Soloff_trumpet

Jim Madison_percussion

01. Bad, Bad, Simba
02. Kilimanjaro Cookout
03. Playhouse
04. Sierra Lonely
05. Sad, Sad, Simba
06. Joni
07. Nigerian Knights

Jimmy McGriff - Groove Grease

Year : 1971
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Released the same year as Soul Sugar featuring the same band except Everett Barksdale who replaces Larry Frazier and Wyne Bennet in addition. Some great organ grooves and more Soul Jazz instrumentals than Jazz Funk with Jimmy's interpretations of standards as Canadian Sunset or There Will Never Be Another You.

Cliff Davis_ flute & tenor saxophone
Murray Watson_trumpet
Johnny Board_baritone saxophone
Horace Ott_electric piano
Everett Barksdale & Wyne Bennet_guitar
Richard Davis & Richard Evans_electric bass
Lawrence Killian_conga & tambourine
Marion J. Booker_drums

01. Groove Grease
02. The Bird
03. Plain Brown Bag
04. There Will Never Be Another You
05. Canadian Sunset
06. Mr. Lucky
07. Moonglow
08. Red Sails In The Sunset
09. Secret Love