A rare and surprisingly good live compilation of Groove Merchant Records.
Groove Merchant was an American jazz and R&B record label during the 1970s. It was run by producer Sonny Lester and distributed by Pickwick Records.
Notable artists included Chick Corea, O’Donel Levy, Buddy Rich, Jimmy McGriff, Lonnie Smith and Lionel Hampton.
Lester would later close Groove Merchant and restructure it as Lester Radio Corporation, or LRC; TK Records were distributors for a period. Lester still retains the rights to the Groove Merchant/LRC back catalog and independently distributes them on compact disc.(wikipedia)
Don’t be fooled by the title “Blues In Concert” … we mainly hear jazz and soul here …
And this live compilation contains contributions from well-known jazz musicians such as Junior Parker, Jimmy McGriff, Buddy Rich, Groove Holmes Sonny Fortune and Kenny Baron .., and their music is of course dominated by the organ … an instrument that I really like.
Junior Parker, Jimmy McGriff, Buddy Rich & Groove Holmes:
A new discovery for me the wonderful Dakota Staton … a really great singer.
So enjoy this trip !
Personnel:
Junior Parker, Jimmy McGriff & O’Donel Levy (Recorded liveAt The Golden Slipper, Newark, N.J. 1971)
Saint Jenkins (drums)
O’Donel “Butch” Levy (guitar)
Jimmy McGriff (organ)
Joseph Morris (saxophone)
Horace Ott (piano)
Junior Parker (vocals)
Arthur “Fats” Theus (saxophone)
William Thorpe (saxophone)
Ronald White (trumpet)
Buddy Rich, Sonny Fortune & Kenny Baron (Recorded live at Buddy’s Place, New York City 1974)
Mike Abene (piano on 05.)
Kenny Barron (piano on 06.)
Sonny Fortune (flute)
Anthony Jackson (bass)
Jim Maeulen (percussion)
Sal Nistico (saxophone)
Buddy Rich (drums)
Jack Wilkins (guitar)
Dakota Staton (recorded live at the Chicago Auditorium 197)
Pepper Adams (saxophone)
Jerry Dodgion (saxophone)
Joe Farrell (saxophone)
Dakota Staton (vocals)
Frank Wess (saxophone)
+
trumpet:
Burt Collins Cecil Bridgewater – Joe Newman Marvin Stamm
+
trombone:
Billy Watrous – Eddie Bert – Garnett Brown
Jimmy McGriff, George Freeman & O’Donel Levy (Recorded “Live” At The Cook County Jail, Chicago, October 1973)
Mickey Bass (bass)
Marion Booker Jr. (drums)
George Freeman (guitar)
O’Donel “Butch” Levy (guitar)
Jimmy McGriff (organ)
Groove Holmes (Recorded live in Concert Boston 1973 )
Leon Cook (guitar)
Groove Holmes (organ)
Mike Moss (drums) 
Tracklist:
Junior Parker*, Jimmy McGriff, O’Donel Levy:
01. I Need Love So Bad (Mayfield) 4.31
02. Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong (King) 4.28
03. Pretty Baby (Parker) 4.12
04. C Jam Blues (Ellington) 7.56
Buddy Rich, Sonny Fortune & Kenny Baron:
05. Jumpin’ At The Woodside (Basie/Hendricks) 7.13
06. Cardin Blue (Rich) 9.41
Dakota Staton:
07. Cry Me A River (Hamilton) 4.02
08. It’s The Talk Of The Town (Neiburg/Levinson/Symes) 4.52
Jimmy McGriff, George Freeman & O’Donel Levy:
09. Freedom Suite (Part 1) (McGriff) 8.54
Groove Holmes:
10. Groovin’ Groove (Holmes) 10.42
11. Rainy Day (Holmes) 11.04
Alternate frontcover:
ManyFantasticColors 