This boisterous album takes us back to Seattle in 1972, with organ maestro ‘Brother’ Jack McDuff leading a full band through an evening of grooving full-on jazz. McDuff’s arrangements expertly orchestrate the tension and release that’s so important to this music.
Jack McDuff emerged onto the organ jazz scene in the early 1960s, recording albums for Prestige (including the 1961 classic The Honeydripper) and Atlantic. He also gave young guitarist George Benson his first break. Benson moved on in 1965, replaced by Vinnie Corrao. As the 1960s turned into the 1970s organ jazz was perhaps fading in popularity, small club dates became a necessity as did the inclusion of popular tunes of the day. That’s where we find McDuff and colleagues at The Gallery in Seattle on Wednesday 13th September 1972, three days into a week’s residency at the opening of a national tour. (Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes appeared the week before, so the proprietors clearly liked their organists.)
Although McDuff was often to be heard leading organ trios, he was keen to appear with horn players too. Here we find the usual trio line-up augmented by two tenor saxophonists and (sitting in for the second half) an unknown trumpeter. The ephemeral nature of this recording is confirmed by the fact that one tune is itself listed as ‘Unknown’! The reel-to-reel tape is from the collection of Jim Wilke, Seattle jazz DJ legend and instigator of many live recordings for radio broadcast, which are now appearing on the excellent Real To Reel label. As always in this series, the accompanying booklet is packed with information, recollections and photos.
The show opens with Theme From Electric Surfboard, released by McDuff as a single the previous year. A quietly brooding groover, the theme sees saxophonists Leo Johnson and Dave Young swapping phrases with the organ as Vinnie Corrao holds down an ostinato backing guitar line. The composition is quite sophisticated with swelling Lesley speaker reverb adding to the drama, releasing into the first solo. This is a key feature throughout the album; McDuff was a great arranger and used all his options to create variety, building tension with long notes, drum breaks, repeated phrases and then releasing into the next part of the tune with a great shove in the back for the incoming soloist.
Here the first soloist is McDuff himself. He’s using a sound that seems to be a plinky distorted Fender Rhodes piano but no – it’s a curious and individual setting of drawbars on his Hammond B3 organ. McDuff sets out for well over six minutes of exploration with just Corrao’s guitar line and Ron Davis’ drums for company. Davis is exemplary here and throughout the album, holding the beat and also adding variety. The horns step in occasionally to set up another break, and it’s back to it – very entertaining and bewitching simple.
Next up is my personal favourite track, a take on the nursery rhyme Three Blind Mice. Coltraneish chords announce the number, with the tune played in crunchy harmony by the horns and organ, falling into a drum break – and we’re off again! This time the solos are over a 12-bar blues sequence, a staple of the organ jazz canon. Everyone gets a turn; Corrao neat and fluent on guitar, McDuff back on a more conventional organ sound, Johnson displaying Eric Dolphy-ish intonation and tone (if not dexterity), and Young with softer sound and a tendency to fall over himself playing fast. In short there’s a reason why these two reedsmen are not recalled as being in the Premier League but they are effective and lively in this club setting. Davis’ drums get the honour of teeing up all the solo sections.
The album proceeds with Bill Withers’ classic Ain’t No Sunshine (a hit the previous year), another full and interesting arrangement with Leo Johnson taking a smooth flute solo. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You is a cue for a swelling (sentimental) organ intro before Johnson leads the melody on tenor and makes the most of his cadenza. Blues 1 & 8 swings along in textbook fashion before the saxophonists take their turns; full marks to the label for being clear about who is playing where in the stereo spread. The second set sees more McDuff originals including The Jolly Black Giant and Middle Class Folk Song, the latter shuffling along reflectively.
This is a wonderful chance to step back in time to the autumn of 1972 and sit in on a live and cooking session with one of the top jazz organists of all time.
Double LP released 14 April 2024 / CD and digital album released 17 May 2024 including a bonus track
