Jack McDuff - Hallelujah Time!

Styles: Soul Jazz
Year: 1967
Time: 30:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 61,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:44) 1. Almost Like Being In Love
(5:14) 2. East of the Sun
(3:18) 3. Au Privave
(8:03) 4. Undecided
(3:49) 5. Hallelujah Time
(4:14) 6. The Live People

A killer 60s album from Brother Jack McDuff cut at a time when he was one of the most hard-hitting players on the Hammond! The set has a great lineup Red Holloway plays tenor on all cuts, except for "The Live People", which features him and Harold Ousley playing back to back and Joe Dukes is on drums throughout, and the guitar parts are handled by Pat Martino and George Benson all players who really take off under the leadership of McDuff! Cuts include "Au Private", "East of the Sun", "The Live People", and "Hallelujah Time"
© 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.https://www.dustygroove.com/item/7978/Jack-McDuff:Hallelujah-Time

Personnel: Jack McDuff - organ; Red Holloway (tracks 1-5), Harold Ousley (track 6) - tenor saxophone; George Benson (tracks 2-5), Pat Martino (tracks 1 & 6) - guitar; Joe Dukes - drums

Hallelujah Time!

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Brother Jack McDuff - Tobacco Road

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:44
Size: 77.2 MB
Styles: Soul-Jazz
Year: 1967/2005
Art: Front

[1:59] 1. Teardrops From My Eyes
[2:55] 2. Tobacco Road
[3:49] 3. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[5:08] 4. Can't Get Satisfied
[2:37] 5. Blowin' In The Wind
[4:10] 6. And The Angels Sing
[2:35] 7. This Bitter Earth
[5:54] 8. Alexander's Ragtime Band
[4:33] 9. Wade In The Water

Brother Jack McDuff recorded an enormous number of albums during the '60s, so it can be difficult to figure out where to start digging a little deeper into his output (which Hammond B-3 fans will definitely want to do). 1967's Tobacco Road stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. First, unlike many of his groove-centric albums, it's heavy on standards and pop/rock tunes (seven of nine cuts), which make for excellent matches with McDuff's highly melodic, piano-influenced style. What's more, about half of the album finds McDuff leading a large ten-piece ensemble arranged and conducted by J.J. Jackson, including a soulful horn section that sounds straight out of Memphis or Muscle Shoals (though this was recorded at Chess studios in Chicago). McDuff himself handles the arrangements on the rest of the material, which is done in a guitar/sax/drums quartet. The LP's style is fairly unified, though -- no matter what format, the tunes are given fantastically funked-up treatments that sound surprisingly natural. And these aren't grooves where everyone just settles back and stays in the pocket; McDuff attacks the arrangements with wildly funky rhythms and solos, and there's a polyrhythmic sense of interplay that recalls the best Southern soul. Arguably the most distinctive track is a cool, grooving quartet version of "The Shadow of Your Smile," complete with snaky bassline and airy flute solos from Danny Turner. Unfortunately, none of the tracks are all that long, in keeping with the jukebox/radio orientation of McDuff's Atlantic period, but that won't prevent soul-jazz fans from thoroughly enjoying Tobacco Road.

Tobacco Road

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Brother Jack McDuff - Do It Now!

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:45
Size: 92,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Snap Back Jack
(4:45)  2. Mush Melon
(5:12)  3. Summer Samba
(5:30)  4. Do It Now
(8:17)  5. Strolling Blues
(6:30)  6. Pleasant Moments
(4:36)  7. Mutt & Jeff

A marvelous bandleader and organist as well as capable arranger, "Brother" Jack McDuff has one of the funkiest, most soulful styles of all time on the Hammond B-3. His rock-solid basslines and blues-drenched solos are balanced by clever, almost pianistic melodies and interesting progressions and phrases. McDuff began as a bassist playing with Denny Zeitlin and Joe Farrell. He studied privately in Cincinnati and worked with Johnny Griffin in Chicago. He taught himself organ and piano in the mid-'50s, and began gaining attention working with Willis Jackson in the late '50s and early '60s, cutting high caliber soul-jazz dates for Prestige. McDuff made his recording debut as a leader for Prestige in 1960, playing in a studio pickup band with Jimmy Forrest. They made a pair of outstanding albums: Tough Duff and The Honeydripper. McDuff organized his own band the next year, featuring Harold Vick and drummer Joe Dukes. Things took off when McDuff hired a young guitarist named George Benson. They were among the most popular combos of the mid-'60s and made several excellent albums. McDuff's later groups at Atlantic and Cadet didn't equal the level of the Benson band, while later dates for Verve and Cadet were uneven, though generally good. McDuff experimented with electronic keyboards and fusion during the '70s, then in the '80s got back in the groove with the Muse session Cap'n Jack. While his health fluctuated throughout the '90s, McDuff released several discs on the Concord Jazz label before succumbing to heart failure on January 23, 2001, at the age of 74. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jack-mcduff-mn0000118853/biography

Personnel: Brother Jack McDuff - organ, arrangements; Melvin Sparks - guitar;  Danny Turner; tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Leo Johnson - tenor saxophone, flute

Do It Now!

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Betty Roché - Singin' & Swingin'

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:35
Size: 71,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Come Rain or Come Shine
(3:40)  2. A Foggy Day
(3:57)  3. Day by Day
(3:21)  4. When I Fall in Love
(3:04)  5. Blue Moon
(2:59)  6. Where or When
(2:12)  7. September Song
(4:14)  8. Until the Real Thing Comes Along
(3:13)  9. Billie's Bounce

Betty Roché should have been much more famous. She had two barely documented periods with Duke Ellington's orchestra and recorded three excellent albums as a leader from 1956-1961 (all of which are available on Cd), but then faded away into complete obscurity. This reissue (which is mistakenly given the incorrect date of January 24, 1961, which was actually Roché's following release) matches the singer with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, organist Jack McDuff (near the beginning of his career), guitarist Bill Jennings, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Roy Haynes. Roché performs nine famous standards, coming up with fresh variations in her phrasing to such numbers as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Moon," and "Billie's Bounce." Recommended, as are all of the other recordings in her slim discography.

~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/singin-swingin-mw0000615285

Personnel: Betty Roché (vocals); Bill Jennings (guitar); Jimmy Forrest (tenor saxophone); Jack McDuff (organ); Roy Haynes (drums).

Singin' & Swingin' 

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Jack McDuff - Goodnight, It's Time To Go

Styles: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 36:11
Size: 33,4 MB
Art: Front

( 6:18) 1. Goodnight, It's Time To Go
( 4:53) 2. Sanctified Waltz
( 6:24) 3. Mcduff Speaking
(10:52) 4. A Smooth One
( 7:42) 5. I'll Be Seeing You

This 1961 date was organist Jack McDuff's first with his regular working band. That group included two players who would become synonymous with the organ combo, soul-jazz sound: tenor saxophonist Harold Vick and the up-and-coming guitarist Grant Green. Vick's tough, versatile, if not particularly distinctive, sound is well-suited to McDuff's needs. Green, however, is by far the more interesting contributor. On this date, his gifts are already well developed, including his skillful use of space and a singular ability to find or create a tune's rhythmic core. Unlike his 1960 debut, McDuff does without a bass player here, using his organ pedals instead, as he would in live performance. When his feet do the walking, McDuff becomes a complete player, locking in on grooves that could never be matched by a hired gun brought in on bass. The highlights are the McDuff originals: "Sanctified Waltz," a gospel-influenced piece that avoids the holy roller excesses that often encumber such numbers, and "McDuff Speaking," a full-tilt, soul-jazz gem.~ Jim Todd https://www.allmusic.com/album/goodnight-its-time-to-go-mw0000865700

Personnel: Jack McDuff - organ; Harold Vick - tenor saxophone; Grant Green - guitar; Joe Dukes - drums

Goodnight, It's Time To Go

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Jack McDuff - Legends of Acid Jazz

Styles: Jazz,Funk,Soul
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:40
Size: 159,7 MB
Art: Front

( 4:53) 1. Scufflin'
( 3:16) 2. Au Privave
( 3:49) 3. Hallelujah Time
( 6:59) 4. Misconstrued
( 8:18) 5. Lew's Piece
( 6:57) 6. Opus de Funk
(10:26) 7. Our Miss Brooks
( 5:13) 8. East Of The Sun
( 8:33) 9. I Got A Woman
( 4:02) 10. Hey Lawdy Mama
( 3:44) 11. From The Bottom Up
( 3:26) 12. Lexington Avenue Line

While these 12 selections were originally released on six different albums between 1965 and 1969, all of them were cut during July 1964: nine at a New York studio session, and three (embellished by Benny Golson big-band arrangements) live at Stockholm. Thus it makes for a thematically coherent compilation, every track featuring a young George Benson on guitar and Joe Dukes on drums; Red Holloway plays tenor sax on all but two songs. It's top-drawer soul-jazz, recommended to those who might find some of McDuff's other releases too homogenous, as his B-3 travels through diverse moods here: the uptempo blues of "Scufflin'," the slow-burning funk of "Our Miss Brooks," R&B/soul in the cover of "I Got a Woman." The closing "Lexington Avenue Line" is the oddest track, though quite a good one, sounding like a movie soundtrack theme with its dramatic strings.~ Richie Unterberger https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-legends-of-acid-jazz-mw0000025212

Personnel: Organ – Jack McDuff; Drums – Joe Dukes; Guitar – George Benson; Tenor Saxophone – Red Holloway

Legends of Acid Jazz

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Willis Jackson With Jack McDuff - Together Again

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:54
Size: 156,4 MB
Art: Front

( 4:05) 1. Gil's Pills
( 4:40) 2. Angel Eyes
( 5:00) 3. Three Little Words
( 4:10) 4. Glad 'a See Ya'
( 7:35) 5. Medley - September Song, Easy Living, Deep Purple
( 5:25) 6. Dancing on the Ceiling
( 6:54) 7. It Might as Well Be Spring
(10:12) 8. This'll Get to Ya
( 7:06) 9. Tu'gether
( 4:50) 10. Jambalaya
( 2:05) 11. Backtrack (Twistin' Train)
( 3:08) 12. Without a Song
( 2:40) 13. Snake Crawl

Organ jazz from the late fifties and early sixties had a tendency to be predictable, yet it still provided a template for churning out catchy tunes, many of which became hit singles. Once again Fantasy has mined its seemingly inexhaustible supply of the stuff for this record, which once again pairs a couple of previous releases together on one CD. Like most of the other discs in this format (many by McDuff himself), there’s some filler, but enough greasy soul on this 1960 reissue to keep one satisfied. Jack McDuff and Willis Jackson were two musicians who mined the soul jazz craze for all it’s worth, and despite a few curveballs, they knew not to tinker with a formula that works. These two had played together before and had a deep understanding of each other’s styles. McDuff is one of the best organists to emerge after Jimmy Smith and is more than capable of sustaining a groove by pumping out chords (although he prefers to leave the bottom end to a bassist instead of using the pedals). Jackson, although not a great tenor player, is capable of stringing together a series of licks into an acceptable solo.

However, the real treat here is Bill Jennings, a guitarist whose country-inflected licks bring to mind a mix of Charlie Christian and Chet Atkins. Jennings is the real reason to check out the record, and his nimble solos on “Angel Eyes” and “Gil’s Pills” easily make up for the shortcomings of a group who sometimes seem to be on autopilot, constructing tunes on what has proved workable in the past. Unfortunately, the last six tracks feature Jackson almost exclusively, and Jennings and McDuff seem to be watching the clock, content to vamp and do little else. Other than the hit single “This’ll Get To Ya,” which is a suitably shallow groove for airplay, the rest of the tunes fail to generate any real heat.

Jackson shows a strong Ben Webster influence, but he lacks the inventiveness necessary to sustain the spotlight on even the shortest of tunes. “Backtrack” and “Snake Crawl” are fine enough but seem like deliberate efforts to climb the charts. Despite its shortcomings, though, Together Again! is a satisfactory release for those who like their organ jazz cut and dry.~David Rickert https://www.allaboutjazz.com/together-again-fantasy-jazz-review-by-david-rickert

Personnel: Jack McDuff-organ; Willis Jackson-tenor sax; Bill Jennings-guitar; Tommy Potter, Wendell Marshall, Milt Hinton, Jimmy Lewis-bass; Al Johnson, Buck Clarke, Bill Elliott,Frank Shea-drums.

Together Again

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Jack McDuff - Sanctified Samba (Live in New Jersey)

Styles: Soul Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:17
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:50) 1. Sanctified Samba
(5:11) 2. Whistle While You Work
(6:37) 3. It Ain't Necessarily So
(6:40) 4. Rock Candy
(7:42) 5. A Real Goodun'
(8:16) 6. Undecided

A marvelous bandleader and organist as well as capable arranger, "Brother" Jack McDuff has one of the funkiest, most soulful styles of all time on the Hammond B-3. His rock-solid basslines and blues-drenched solos are balanced by clever, almost pianistic melodies and interesting progressions and phrases. McDuff began as a bassist playing with Denny Zeitlin and Joe Farrell. He studied privately in Cincinnati and worked with Johnny Griffin in Chicago. He taught himself organ and piano in the mid-'50s, and began gaining attention working with Willis Jackson in the late '50s and early '60s, cutting high caliber soul-jazz dates for Prestige. McDuff made his recording debut as a leader for Prestige in 1960, playing in a studio pickup band with Jimmy Forrest. They made a pair of outstanding albums: Tough Duff and The Honeydripper. McDuff organized his own band the next year, featuring Harold Vick and drummer Joe Dukes. Things took off when McDuff hired a young guitarist named George Benson. They were among the most popular combos of the mid-'60s and made several excellent albums. McDuff's later groups at Atlantic and Cadet didn't equal the level of the Benson band, while later dates for Verve and Cadet were uneven, though generally good. McDuff experimented with electronic keyboards and fusion during the '70s, then in the '80s got back in the groove with the Muse session Cap'n Jack. While his health fluctuated throughout the '90s, McDuff released several discs on the Concord Jazz label before succumbing to heart failure on January 23, 2001, at the age of 74. ~ Ron Wynn and Bob Porter https://www.iheart.com/artist/jack-mcduff-31483/

Sanctified Samba (Live in New Jersey)

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Jimmy Witherspoon with Brother Jack McDuff - The Blue is Now

Styles: Jazz Blues
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:08
Size: 76,6 MB
Art: Front
(3:53) 1. Sweet Slumber
(2:48) 2. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
(4:23) 3. Past Forty Blues
(2:25) 4. S.K. Blues
(3:03) 5. Late One Evening
(3:31) 6. Part Time Woman
(2:17) 7. Good Rocking Tonight
(5:20) 8. I Won't Tell a Soul
(3:13) 9. My Baby's Quit Me
(2:11) 10. My Money's Long This Morning, Baby

Jimmy Witherspoon recorded a series of excellent albums for Verve in the late '60s. Unfortunately, these have not received the attention they deserve, and are frequently relegated in Witherspoon's huge catalog. The Blues Is Now is arguably the finest of these recordings, and Witherspoon's voice is in top form and hugely expressive. Like all of the artist's albums of the decade, it's not the most consistent of listening experiences, but that's of little interest when songs and performances are as good as "My Baby's Quit Me" and Witherspoon's own "Late One Evening." A light-night blues classic, this is Witherspoon at his most relaxed and assured and is a joy to listen to.~ Thomas Ward https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-blues-is-now-mw0000312591

Personnel: Jimmy Witherspoon — Vocals; Jack McDuff — Organ; Danny Turner — Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor); Leo Johnson — Flute, Sax (Tenor); Melvin Sparks — Guitar; Jymie Merritt — Bass; Ray Appleton — Drums

The Blue is Now

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Roy Hargrove Quintet - The Vibe

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:12
Size: 141,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. The Vibe
(7:02)  2. Caryisms
(5:02)  3. Where Were You?
(6:33)  4. Alter Ego
(5:07)  5. The Thang
(4:53)  6. Pinocchio
(6:03)  7. Milestones
(5:43)  8. Things We Did Last Summer
(6:27)  9. Blues For Booty Green's
(7:45) 10. Runnin' Out Of Time

The last of trumpeter Roy Hargrove's recordings to feature his longtime altoist Antonio Hart also includes pianist Marc Cary, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Gregory Hutchinson and guest spots for the tenors of Branford Marsalis and David "Fathead" Newman, plus trombonist Frank Lacy and organist Jack McDuff. Hargrove (still just 22) was already on his way to being one of the better hard bop-based trumpeters in jazz, as he shows on group originals, James Williams' "Alter Ego," Wayne Shorter's "Pinocchio," "Milestones," and "The Things We Did Last Summer." A fine example of Hargrove's rapidly emerging style. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-vibe-mw0000071800

Personnel: Trumpet – Roy Hargrove; Alto Saxophone – Antonio Maurice Hart; Bass – Rodney Thomas Whitaker; Drums – Gregory Hutchinson; Organ [B3] – 'Cap'n' Jack McDuff; Piano – Marc Anthony Cary; Producer – Larry Clothier; Tenor Saxophone – Branford Marsalis, David "Fathead" Newman; Trombone – Ku-Umba Frank Lacy

The Vibe

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Brother Jack McDuff - That's The Way I Feel About It

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:17
Size: 127,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:15)  1. The Age Of Aquarius
(8:49)  2. Blooze In G
(6:14)  3. Theme From Mission Impossible
(8:04)  4. That's The Way I Feel About It
(3:59)  5. Six A.M.
(4:53)  6. Saturday Night Fish Fry
(5:32)  7. Old Folks
(7:46)  8. Flamingo
(4:42)  9. Moody's Mood For Love

At times, McDuff demonstrates how soul-jazz organ stars used to make albums back in their '60s heyday, playing then-current pop hits like "The Age of Aquarius" and the theme from Mission: Impossible (which, thanks to cinema, was a hit all over again in 1996 when this CD was made). We also hear McDuff trying out his vocal cords for the first time on Louis Jordan's "Saturday Night Fish Fry"; actually, he merely talks the lyrics over the rhythm section -- and at 70, he's entitled to this charming lark. Otherwise, this is another fine, home-cookin' soul-jazz session, with McDuff's Hammond B-3 burning at its usual low-intensity, high-blues-content level. Chris Potter dances around the organ on flutes, Andrew Beals and Jerry Weldon offer solid solos on alto and tenor respectively, and the rest of the Heatin' System runs the gamut from Latin to soul-deep grooves. Fans of the genre can buy with peace of mind. ~ Richard S.Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/album/thats-the-way-i-feel-about-it-mw0000024437

Personnel:  Jack McDuff: Hammond B3 (+ vocals on "Saturday Night Fish Fry");  John Hart: Guitar;  Andrew Beals: Alto Sax;  Jerry Weldon: Tenor Sax;  Kip Reed: Electric Bass (except last track);  Rudy Petschauer: Drums

That's The Way I Feel About It

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Brother Jack McDuff - A Change Is Gonna Come

Styles: Soul Jazz
Year: 1966
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:23
Size: 86,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:19)  1. Down In The Valley
(3:07)  2. A Change Is Gonna Come
(3:34)  3. Hotcha
(2:35)  4. What'd I Say
(4:42)  5. No Tears
(2:36)  6. Gonna Hang Me Up A Sign
(5:52)  7. Minha Saudade
(4:20)  8. Same Old, Same Old
(7:15)  9. Can't Find The Keyhole Blues

This album is an elegant mix of soul and sambas, interspersed with a pair of distinctly blues-focused pieces. Jack McDuff's Hammond B-3 organ surges and trills and rocks, at times seeming to talk as the lead instrument on renditions of works as different as Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." His calls and responses with the five-man brass section on several of the tracks here comprise another highlight, but even the slow numbers, such as "No Tears," offer virtuoso playing by McDuff. The tempo and texture shifts throughout keep this record continually interesting to the listener, and the range of influences, from jazz to gospel with side trips into the blues (culminating with a seven-minute epic in the latter genre), gives a lot of great playing for everybody.~ Bruce Eder https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-change-is-gonna-come-mw0000378740

Personnel:  Jack McDuff - organ;  Johnny Grimes, Harold Johnson - trumpet;  Richard Harris - trombone;  Danny Turner - alto saxophone;  Arthur Clarke, George Coleman - tenor saxophone;  Buddy Lucas - baritone saxophone James Oliver - guitar;  Cornell Dupree - guitar, congas;  Jimmy Tyrell - bass;  Joe Dukes, Bernard Purdie - drums;  Warren Smith - percussion

A Change Is Gonna Come

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George Benson - The New Boss Guitar Of George Benson

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:20
Size: 92,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Shadow Dancers
(4:42)  2. The Sweet Alice Blues
(6:52)  3. I Don't Know
(3:05)  4. Just Another Sunday
(4:30)  5. Will You Still Be Mine
(6:41)  6. Easy Living
(4:02)  7. Rock-A-Bye
(5:37)  8. My Three Sons

George Benson was only 21 when, on May 1, 1964, he recorded his first album as a leader, The New Boss Guitar of George Benson. At that point, the guitarist had yet to become a huge name in jazz, although many of those who knew him for his work with Jack McDuff's group (which he joined in 1962) agreed that he showed great potential. Benson still had some growing to do in 1964, but even so, this is an impressive debut. The guitarist had developed a distinctive, recognizable sound on his instrument, and he plays with both feeling and technique on five Benson originals (including the sly "Shadow Dancers," the exuberant "Rock-A-Bye," and the earthy blues "I Don't Know") as well as interpretations of "Easy Living" and "Will You Still Be Mine." Benson, of course, had an insightful teacher in McDuff, who plays both organ and piano on this hard bop/soul-jazz date. Tenor saxophonist Red Holloway, another member of McDuff's early-'60s group, is also on board, as are bassist Ronnie Boykins and drummer Montego Joe. In 1964, Benson's best work was yet to come; nonetheless, this album is historically important as well as rewarding. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-new-boss-guitar-of-george-benson-mw0000690477 

Personnel: George Benson (guitar); Red Holloway (tenor saxophone); Jack McDuff (piano, organ); Ronnie Boykins (bass); Montego Joe, Joe Dukes (drums).

The New Boss Guitar Of George Benson

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King Curtis - Night Train

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:54
Size: 147,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:45)  1. Fever
(4:53)  2. Honky Tonk
(2:36)  3. So Rare
(2:33)  4. Tippin' In
(2:23)  5. You Came a Long Way from St. Louis
(3:00)  6. Tuxedo Junction
(2:48)  7. The Hucklebuck
(3:00)  8. Lean Baby
(3:57)  9. Harlem Nocturne
(3:00) 10. Night Train
(2:54) 11. Soft
(4:11) 12. Free for All
(3:53) 13. Easy Like
(2:17) 14. Hot Saxes
(2:18) 15. I'll Wait for You
(2:22) 16. The Party Time Twist
(2:36) 17. Low Down
(2:09) 18. Keep Movin'
(2:13) 19. (Let's Do) The Hully Gully Twist
(2:59) 20. Slow Motion
(2:31) 21. Firefly
(2:25) 22. Something Frantic

King Curtis, R&B's great tenor sax player, rides grooves like a cowboy does unruly steeds. Curtis blows ferociously but is always in control, unlike Junior Walker, whose sax seems to be cussing you out at times (which is Walker's charm). Accompanied by several noted jazz artists Jack McDuff (organ), Eric Gale (guitar), Willie Rodriguez (bongos, conga), and Ray Lucas (drums) Curtis serenades and balms on "Harlem Nocturne," bops-u-silly on "Honky Tonk," and boogies on "The Hucklebuck" and "(Let's Do) The Hully Gully Twist." But those are only a small part of the 22 tracks, all of which emphasize Curtis' patented groove and powerful exhortations. 

Engineer Rudy Van Gelder keeps the sound squeaky clean and the levels balanced. Excellent party or card game music. ~ Andrew Hamilton https://www.allmusic.com/album/night-train-mw0000644718  

Personnel: King Curtis (alto & tenor saxophones); Billy Butler, Eric Gale (guitar); Jack McDuff (organ); Bob Bushnell (bass); Ray Lucas (drums); Willie Rodriguez (bongoes, congas).

Night Train

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Brother Jack McDuff - Down Home Style

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:54
Size: 89.1 MB
Styles: Jazz, Funk, Soul
Year: 1969/2004
Art: Front

[4:46] 1. The Vibrator
[5:06] 2. Down Home Style
[4:16] 3. Memphis In June
[3:34] 4. Theme From Electric Surfboard
[3:45] 5. It's All A Joke
[4:08] 6. Butter (For Yo' Popcorn)
[5:14] 7. Groovin' (On A Sunday Afternoon)
[8:02] 8. As She Walked Away

Jay Arnold (ts), Brother Jack McDuff (org), Charlie Freeman (g), Sammy Greason (d), recorded in Memphis, TN, June 10, 1969.

A set of gritty electric funk and soulful blues, Down Home Style is an excellent showcase for Brother Jack McDuff's gripping, funky style. Inspired more by the tight grooves of Stax Records than bebop, Down Home Style features McDuff leading a small group through a number of R&B grooves, ranging from the stuttering "The Vibrator" and dirty funk of "Butter (For Yo Popcorn)" to the slow blues of "Memphis in June." Occasionally, the group is augmented by a punchy horn section, but the record is designed as a showcase for McDuff's wild, intoxicating Hammond organ, and he runs with it, demonstrating every one of his tricks. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Down Home Style mc
Down Home Style zippy

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Jack McDuff - Another Real Good 'Un

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:02
Size: 105.4 MB
Styles: Soul jazz
Year: 1990/2009
Art: Front

[7:31] 1. Another Real Good'Un
[8:49] 2. Summertime
[4:41] 3. Off the Beaten Path
[5:33] 4. Long Day Blues
[6:58] 5. Rock Candy
[7:16] 6. I Can't Get Started
[5:11] 7. I Cover the Waterfront

HOUSTON PERSON, tenor sax; JACK McDUFF, organ; RANDY JOHNSON, guitar; CECIL BROOKS III, drums. Recorded at Englewood Cliffs, N.J., July 18, 1990.

Another Real Good 'Un is a latter-day Brother Jack McDuff session which finds the organist joined by tenor legend Houston Person, as well as (at various times) alto/tenor saxophonist Ron Bridgewater, trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, drummers Buddy Williams and Cecil Brooks III, and guitarists Randy Johnston and John Hart. It's one of McDuff's better comeback albums, as he keeps the groove pumping throughout the record, swinging soulfully and interacting nicely with the other soloists. 32 Jazz reissued the session in 1999, Savoy Jazz in 2003. ~Steve Huey

Another Real Good 'Un

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Brother Jack McDuff - To Seek A New Home

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1970
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:15
Size: 76,7 MB
Art: Front

( 6:42)  1. Yellow Wednesday
( 4:50)  2. Come And Carry Me Home
( 5:31)  3. Mystic John
( 6:01)  4. Hunk O' Funk
(10:09)  5. Seven Keys For Seven Doors

A great little album that has McDuff soloing on Hammond, over larger funkier arrangements very much in the manner of his sublime Moon Rapping set, also recorded for Blue Note. Arrangements are by JJ Jackson and Jerry Long and McDuff will blow your mind as he navigates the mix of time changes, theme changes, and rhythm changes over the course of the long tracks on the set. Includes the sublime sample cut "Hunk O Funk", plus "Mystic John", "Seven Keys For Seven Doors", and "Yellow Wednesday". (Liberty/UA pressing. Cover has some wear & aging. Label has some marker.) © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/3114/Jack-McDuff:To-Seek-A-New-Home

Personnel:  Brother Jack McDuff - organ, piano;  Martin Drover, Terry Noonan, Bud Parks – trumpet;  John Bennett, Adrian Drover – trombone;  David Statham, Willie Watson - french horn;  Norman Leppard, Dick Morrissey, Jack Whitford, Dave Willis – reeds;  Typhena Partridge – harp;  J.J. Jackson - piano, percussion;  Chris Parren - electric piano;  Terry Smith – guitar;  Peter Chapman, Larry Steele - electric bass;  Trevor Armstrong, Phil Leaford – drums;  Debrah Long, Jerry Long - vocals

To Seek A New Home

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Gene Harris - Ballad Essentials

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:26
Size: 155,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Sweet And Lovely
(4:37)  2. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
(6:29)  3. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
(6:26)  4. This Masquerade
(5:13)  5. At Last
(6:46)  6. Everything Happens To Me
(6:35)  7. Black And Blue
(5:26)  8. When You Wish Upon A Star
(5:02)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
(8:05) 10. That's All
(6:43) 11. Angel Eyes

Gene Harris had no peer as a blues pianist. Just as Fred Hersch is the king of ballads, Harris was the king of the blues. But let’s consider his ballad prowess: he recorded many, and some of his best are collected on Concord Jazz’s newest addition to the Ballad Essentials series.  Harris manages to infuse all of his ballad performances with enough blue notes to endow the pieces with his unmistakable personality. That is not such a challenge with pieces like "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" while "When You Wish Upon a Star" might be a bit tricky in less talented hands. But his are not less talented hands. Mr. Harris has recorded copiously for Concord Jazz, providing a large library of songs from which to choose. His performance with Scott Hamilton on "At Last" is telepathic and with Brother Jack McDuff on "You Don’t Know What Love Is" Harris meets a blues soulmate. But, in the end, it is all Gene Harris. Mr. Harris remains one of the most accessible jazz pianists ever; and we, the listeners, are fortunate that he has left such a broad recorded legacy for us to enjoy. Ballad Essentials is a sensitively assembled collection revealing an under-appreciated site of Gene Harris. 

~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/gene-harris-ballad-essentials-gene-harris-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Jack McDuff (Hammond B-3 organ); Ron Eschete (guitar); Lester Hughes, Paul Humphrey (bass); Harold Jones (drums).

Ballad Essentials

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Jack McDuff - Sophisticated Funk

Styles: Piano, Jazz Funk
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:57
Size: 92,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:57)  1. Dit Da Dit
(6:42)  2. Ju Ju
(4:44)  3. To Be Named Later
(4:46)  4. Summer Dream
(3:25)  5. Jack's Boogie
(5:46)  6. Mini Pads
(5:13)  7. Electric Surf Board
(3:21)  8. Mannix Theme

Sophisticated...maybe. Funky...not so much. This forgettable effort from Jack McDuff veers far too close to smooth jazz territory for comfort swapping his signature Hammond B-3 for keyboards, McDuff settles for a fusion sound suggesting a particularly tepid CTI session, with none of the swagger and groove of his most memorable records. Saxophonist/flutist Joe Harrell is similarly tentative, although one must blame Billy Jones' overly slick arrangements there's really not much chance of salvaging cuts like "Mini Pads" and "'Mannix' Theme." Definitely don't judge this one by its lurid cover it's as tame as a de-clawed house cat. ~ Jason Ankeny http://www.allmusic.com/album/sophisticated-funk-mw0001002142

Personnel:  Jack McDuff - organ, piano, electric piano;  Joe Farrell - saxophones, flute;  Brian Cuomo – piano;  Robert Banks, Walter Morris – guitar;  Billy Jones - guitar, percussion;  Frank Prescod - electric bass;  Joe Corsello, Ted McKinsey, Clarence Oliver, Arnold Ramsey, Scott Schoer – drums;  Craig Derry, Scott Saunders - congas, percussion

Sophisticated Funk

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Jack McDuff - The Prestige Years (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:40
Size: 180.1 MB
Styles: Soul jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[8:13] 1. The Honeydripper
[2:59] 2. Brother Jack
[4:49] 3. Sanctified Waltz
[8:55] 4. Yeah, Baby
[5:00] 5. Mellow Gravy
[6:01] 6. He's A Real Gone Guy
[6:22] 7. Candy
[7:00] 8. Tough 'Duff
[2:23] 9. Grease Monkey
[6:46] 10. Jive Samba
[2:59] 11. Organ Grinder's Swing
[7:18] 12. Screamin'
[2:56] 13. Hot Barbeque
[6:54] 14. Opus De Funk

Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright; Bass – Wendell Marshall; Drums – Bill Elliot, Joe Dukes; Guitar – Bill Jennings, Eddie Diehl, George Benson, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell; Organ – Brother Jack McDuff; Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons, Harold Vick, Jimmy Forrest, Red Holloway; Vibraphone – Lem Winchester.

The history of jazz is full of great musicians who died tragically young; Clifford Brown, Bix Beiderbecke, Eric Dolphy, Fats Navarro, Charlie Christian, Booker Little, and the seminal Charlie Parker were among the many legendary improvisers who died in their twenties or thirties. But when Jack McDuff passed away on January 23, 2001, at the age of 74, his fans could take some comfort in knowing that he had lived a long and productive life. The soul-jazz/hard bop organist left behind a huge catalog, which is why best-of releases like The Prestige Years and The Best of the Concord Years are sorely needed. While the latter is devoted to McDuff's Concord Jazz recordings of the '90s and early 2000s, this 79-minute CD focuses on his Prestige output of 1960-1965. Although McDuff only spent a fraction of his career at Prestige and was still keeping busy 35 years after leaving the label, Prestige was the company that put him on the map as a recording artist -- and most soul-jazz enthusiasts would agree that he recorded some of his most essential work there. The Prestige Years bears that out; "Rock Candy," "Yeah, Baby," and McDuff's 1960 version of Joe Liggins' "The Honeydripper" are required listening for anyone with even a casual interest in gritty, down-home organ combos. The list of musicians who join McDuff on these recordings reads like a who's who of '60s soul-jazz; Gene Ammons, George Benson, Red Holloway, Jimmy Forrest, and Grant Green are among the major names appearing in the credits. The Prestige Years is far from the last word on McDuff's long recording career -- for that matter, it's far from the last word on his Prestige output. But if one is seeking an introductory overview of McDuff's five years at that label, The Prestige Years wouldn't be a bad investment at all. ~Alex Henderson

The Prestige Years (Remastered)

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