Gene Ammons never really enjoyed whatever success he ought to have had as both a prolific and popular recording artist, producing over 40 LPs for Prestige alone. Prolonged problems with drugs, alcohol and prison took care of that. He would be dead aged 49. However his wayward lifestyle never seemed to affect either his instantly luxurious tenor sax sound or his persuasive story telling prowess. Blue Groove is exactly what it says on the tin. It might well be typical bar room fare, but when Ammons slips into ballad mode on ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’ and ‘The Masquerade Is Over’, he truly reveals his supremacy of the genre. However, the revelation here is Preachin' recorded less than a week later, and which proves to a bona fide classic. It could be that during his incarcerations Ammons experienced a profound religious awakening. How else to explain the 11 heartfelt sacred interpretations that include ‘Abide With Me’, ‘Blessed Assurance’, ‘What A Friend’ and ‘Holy Holy’ all of which are offered up by the often troubled Ammons in a deep meditative mood while Clarence ‘Sleepy’ Anderson pulls out the appropriate old-time religion organ stops. In contrast the only happy-clappy moment occurs during ‘The Light’. Definitely an authentic experience.