JAZZ REVIEW : Holmes Switches to Electronic Keyboards

In a way, Richard (Groove) Holmes has changed with the times. Once one of the top jazz organists, Holmes now plays two electronic keyboards instead of the hulking Hammond B-3 he used to command. At the Alleycat Bistro in Culver City on Thursday, where Holmes led a trio with Oliver Nevels on guitar and Larry Newsom on drums, the switch resulted in a wider variety of sounds and timbres--from ersatz trombone to plucked electric bass--but none as full and rich as that of his former instrument.

On the other hand, Holmes hasn’t changed, as he offered a pleasant, though predictable, program that you might have heard from him 30 years ago. His good taste in selections proved that being a little old-fashioned has its rewards too.

Throughout the opening set, the leader did his best to establish the “grooves” for which he received his moniker. Opening and closing with rousing blues numbers and sticking a boppish “I Got Rhythm” variant in the middle, Holmes filled up the rest of his show with evergreens like “Misty,” “Here’s That Rainy Day” and “I’ll Remember April.”

“Misty” was bolstered by a snappy back-beat, “April” swung along nicely at a medium tempo, and “When Sunny Gets Blue” and “Lil’ Darlin’ ” were done as toasty ballads. Holmes tended to emphasize the melody in his solos, but he also dropped in funky, bluesy figures, some repeated many times in a row. These repetitions created rhythmic excitement.

Holmes obviously had a great time on the bandstand, smiling as he played background parts, mouthing his solo lines, sometimes opening his eyes wide in seeming surprise at what he played.

Nevels, who displayed a solid tone and fluid, interesting ideas on both fast and slow tunes, and Newsom were able foils for Holmes, who closes tonight.