Prelude - Brother Jack McDuff

 

Prelude

Prelude

Brother Jack McDuff

Orchestrations Arranged & Conducted by Benny Golson

Produced by Peter Paul and Lew Futterman

Prestige 7333

Jack McDuff - Organ

Red Holloway, Tenor Sax

George Benson - Guitar

Joe Dukes - Drums

From the back cover: After Jimmy Smith gained wide recognition as an organist, many people began thinking that the organ could be 'made' to swing, but to include it as part of a group or orchestra would be foolish and damaging to the music. The image of the organ changed during the nineteen fifties and as the 'sixties progressed toward the 'seventies, a number of critics were claiming that the organ, as part of a larger jazz scene had gone about as far as it was going to go. The countless organ trios that are still heard in nightclubs have made no progress toward integration within a larger musical framework.

There are also those jazz-organists who have been content to make their living by pounding out essentially noisy solos without ever trying to widen their musical careers. Jack McDuff has never banged on the organ or has he been prone to limit his musical growth or experience.

Benny Golson has fashioned the nine arrangements presented here realizing that McDuff has the talent to play them and not just on top or with them. As with a soloist and rhythm section, there must be a complete accord between all the functioning parties. There is nothing as deadening to the artistic or listening sense as music that is presented with a 'star' that outshines all the surrounding planets.

Benny Golson, who has done everything from starring with Dizzy Gillespie to co-leading the Jazztet with Art Farmer, indicates here that his long and varied experience and education has given him the ability to program music for many instruments which make up an orchestra while keeping the considerations of the soloist upper-most in his mind. The peculiar problems of writing for an organ and many diverse-sounding instruments has been solved by the ingenious use of both the high and low tones on the spectrum of sound as well as full use of the rich middle tone of both the organ and orchestral instruments. - Notes: Michael Gold (Apr. 1964)

From Billboard - October 24, 1964: McDuff's organizing in a big band setting is sheer musical delight. The marriage is a rewarding one a McDuff masterfully relates to the environment. He speaks not only blues, but lively jazz, meaningfully performed. Try "Mean To Me," "A Kettle Of Fish," "Put On A Happy Face" and you'll hear what we mean.

A Kettle Of Fish

Candlelight

Put On A Happy Face

Prelude

Mean To Me

Carry Me Home

Easy Living 

Oh, Look At Me Now

Dig Uncle Will