js “Groovin’ with Jug” is a nice set of jazz blues from two masters of the genre who only recorded together on this one occasion. Apparently Groove Holmes, who was very new to the scene with only one release to his name at that time, had a running gig in LA and Gene Ammons (aka “Jug”) was his guest one night and so impressed Richard Bock of Pacific Records that he invited them to record the next day. The studio session the following day was only partially successful and yielded three keepers, so they decided to take the recording gear to the club where they were able to get five more cuts. All of the recordings sound nice, the band sounds more relaxed live, but there is a little more clarity in the studio recordings where the rhythm guitar and B3 bass pedals can be heard more clearly.

The music on here is flawless bluesy hard bop that borders on the new soul jazz sound of the early 60s. Gene’s expertise on the tenor ranges from the soulful ballad “Willow Weep for Me” to high speed bop on “Juggin Around”. Holmes B3 solos are more in the blues idiom, guitarist Gene Edwards provides rhythm and a few solos and the tastefully under-stated Leroy Henderson minds the trap set. This is highly recommended for fans of blues jazz, put this on and get juggy wit it.