Jack McDuff


Eugene McDuffy, known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. He was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio. He is also credited with giving guitarist George Benson his first break.

Career

Born Eugene McDuffy in Champaign, Illinois, McDuff began playing bass, appearing in Joe Farrell's group. Encouraged by Willis Jackson in whose band he also played bass in the late 1950s, McDuff moved to the organ and began to attract the attention of Prestige while still with Jackson's group. McDuff soon became a bandleader, leading groups featuring a young George Benson on guitar, Red Holloway on tenor saxophone and Joe Dukes on drums.
McDuff recorded many classic albums on Prestige, including his debut solo Brother Jack in 1960; The Honeydripper, with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and guitarist Grant Green; Brother Jack Meets the Boss, featuring Gene Ammons; Screamin’, with alto saxophonist Leo Wright and guitarist Kenny Burrell; and Brother Jack McDuff Live!, featuring Holloway and Benson, which includes his biggest hit, "Rock Candy".
After his tenure at Prestige, McDuff joined the Atlantic label for a brief period, and in the 1970s he recorded for Blue Note. To Seek a New Home was recorded in England with a line-up featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon and some of Britain's top jazz musicians of the day, including Terry Smith on guitar and Dick Morrissey on tenor saxophone.
Decreasing interest in jazz and blues during the late 1970s and 1980s meant that many jazz musicians went through a lean time. But in 1988, with The Re-Entry, recorded for the Muse label, McDuff once again began a successful period of recordings, initially for Muse, then on the Concord Jazz label in 1991. George Benson appeared on his 1992 Color Me Blue album.
Despite having health problems, McDuff continued working and recording throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and he toured Japan with Atsuko Hashimoto in 2000. "Capt'n" Jack McDuff, as he later became known, died of heart failure at the age of 74 in Minneapolis, Minneapolis. His first wife, the former Dink Dixon, died in the early 1980s. McDuff was married to his second wife Kathy; Kathy had two children.

Discography

As leader

;Prestige RecordsBrother Jack -with Bill Jennings Tough 'Duff -with Jimmy Forrest, Lem Winchester The Honeydripper -with Jimmy Forrest, Grant Green Goodnight, It's Time to Go -with Harold Vick, Grant Green On With It! -with Harold VickBrother Jack Meets the Boss -with Gene Ammons Stitt Meets Brother Jack -with Sonny Stitt Screamin' -with Leo Wright, Kenny BurrellSomethin' Slick! -with Kenny BurrellCrash! -with Kenny BurrellBrother Jack McDuff Live! -with Red Holloway, George BensonBrother Jack at the Jazz Workshop Live! -with Red Holloway, Harold Vick, George BensonPrelude -with Benny Golson's big soul bandCookin' Together -with Red Holloway, George Benson, Joe DukesThe Dynamic Jack McDuff -with Benny Golson's big soul bandThe Concert McDuff -with Red Holloway, George BensonSilk and Soul -with Red Holloway, George BensonHot Barbeque -with Red Holloway, George BensonWalk On By -with Red Holloway, Harold Ousley, Pat MartinoHallelujah Time! The Midnight Sun Soul Circle I Got a Woman Steppin' Out
;Atlantic RecordsA [Change Is Gonna Come (Jack McDuff album)|A Change Is Gonna Come] Tobacco Road Do It Now! Double Barrelled Soul -with David "Fathead" Newman
;Cadet/GRT RecordsThe Natural Thing Getting Our Thing Together -with Richard EvansGin and Orange The Heatin' System Check This Out The Fourth Dimension Magnetic Feel Sophisticated Funk
;Blue Note RecordsDown Home Style Moon Rappin' To Seek a New Home Who Knows What Tomorrow's Gonna Bring?
;Other labelsKisses Having A Good Time Live It Up Lift Every Voice And Sing The Re-Entry -with Cecil Bridgewater, Houston Person Another Real Good 'Un -with Cecil Bridgewater, Houston Person Jack-Pot Live At Parnell's Ain't No Sunshine: Live in Seattle
;Concord Jazz RecordsColor Me Blue -with George BensonWrite On, Capt'n The Heatin' System It's About Time -with Joey DeFrancescoThat's The Way I Feel About It -with Chris Potter Blues -with Gene HarrisBringin' It Home -with Red Holloway, George Benson Brotherly Love -with Red Holloway, Pat Martino

LP/CD compilations

Brother Jack McDuff's Greatest Hits Brother Jack McDuff Plays For Beautiful People The Best Of Brother Jack McDuff Live! The Best Of Brother Jack McDuff & The Big Soul Band -with Benny GolsonRock Candy George Benson/Jack McDuff Crash! Jack McDuff Featuring Kenny Burrell Brother Red: Red Holloway With Jack McDuff, George Benson, Joe Dukes Live! Legends Of Acid Jazz: Jack McDuff Legends Of Acid Jazz: Jack McDuff – Brother Jack Silken Soul The Soulful Drums The Concert McDuff The Last Goodun' Funk Pie The Best Of The Concord Years Prelude: Jack McDuff Big Band Willis Jackson With Jack McDuff – Together Again! The Prestige Years Jack McDuff: Eight Classic Albums Brother Jack McDuff: The Classic Albums 1960–1963 Brother Jack McDuff/George Benson Quartet: The Legendary 1963–64 Concerts

As sideman

With Gene AmmonsTwisting the Jug -with Joe Newman Soul Summit -with Sonny Stitt Soul Summit Vol. 2 -with Etta Jones
With George BensonThe New Boss Guitar of George Benson -with Red Holloway, Joe Dukes
With Joshua BreakstoneRemembering Grant Green
With Kenny BurrellBluesin' Around
With Hank CrawfordDouble Cross
With King CurtisOld Gold
With Lou DonaldsonA Man With a Horn
With Joe DukesThe Soulful Drums of Joe Dukes -with Red Holloway, George Benson
With Grant GreenGrantstand -with Yusef Lateef
With Al GreyMe 'N' Jack -with Jerry Weldon
With Roy HargroveThe Vibe
With Gene HarrisAlley Cats
With Willis Jackson
With Etta James and Eddie "Cleanhead" VinsonBlues in the Night Volume One: The Early Show -with Red Holloway, Shuggie OtisThe Late Show: Blues in the Night Volume 2 -with Red Holloway, Shuggie Otis
With Bill JenningsEnough Said! Glide On
With Roland KirkKirk's Work
With Carmen McRaeFine and Mellow: [Live at Birdland West] -with Red Holloway, Phil Upchurch
With Mike PachelliMeeting Point
With Houston Person
With Betty RochéSingin' & Swingin' -with Jimmy Forrest, Bill Jennings
With Shakey Jake
With Dave SpecterLeft Turn On Blue -with Lynwood Slim
With Sonny StittSoul Shack The Best of Sonny Stitt With Brother Jack McDuff The Best of Sonny Stitt With Brother Jack McDuff/For Lovers
With Winston WallsBoss of the B3
With Joe WilliamsNothin' but the Blues -with Red Holloway, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Phil Upchurch
With Jimmy WitherspoonThe Blues Is Now -with Melvin Sparks
With KankawaOrgan Meeting