Eugene McDuffy (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother"Jack McDuff or "Captain"Jack McDuff, was an Americanjazzorganist andorgan trio bandleader. He was most prominent during thehard bop andsoul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio. He is also credited with giving guitaristGeorge Benson his first break.
Born Eugene McDuffy inChampaign, Illinois, McDuff began playingbass, appearing inJoe Farrell's group.[1] Encouraged byWillis Jackson in whose band he also played bass in the late 1950s, McDuff moved to the organ and began to attract the attention ofPrestige while still with Jackson's group. McDuff soon became a bandleader, leading groups featuring a youngGeorge Benson on guitar,[2]Red Holloway on tenor saxophone and Joe Dukes on drums.[3]
Decreasing interest in jazz and blues during the late 1970s and 1980s meant that many jazz musicians went through a lean time.[5] But in 1988, withThe Re-Entry, recorded for theMuse label, McDuff once again began a successful period of recordings, initially for Muse, then on theConcord Jazz label in 1991.[1] George Benson appeared on his 1992Color Me Blue album.
Despite having health problems, McDuff continued working and recording throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and he touredJapan withAtsuko Hashimoto in 2000. "Capt'n" Jack McDuff, as he later became known, died ofheart failure at the age of 74 inMinneapolis, Minneapolis.[2] His first wife, the former Dink Dixon, died in the early 1980s. McDuff was married to his second wife Kathy; Kathy had two children.[6]
Brother Red: Red Holloway With Jack McDuff, George Benson, Joe Dukes (Prestige, 1994) (compilation ofCookin' Together + 3 tracks fromThe Dynamic Jack McDuff, and "Redwood City"...originally released on the various artists' compilationThe Soul Jazz Giants [Prestige 7791] in 1971)
Live! (Prestige, 1994) (compilation ofBrother Jack McDuff Live! +Brother Jack At The Jazz Workshop Live!)
Legends Of Acid Jazz: Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1997) (compilation drawn from six different McDuff albums; all material recorded July 1964)
Legends Of Acid Jazz: Jack McDuff – Brother Jack (Prestige, 1999) (compilation ofBrother Jack +Goodnight, It's Time To Go)
Silken Soul (Prestige, 2000) (compilation drawn from seven different McDuff albums)
The Soulful Drums (Prestige, 2001) (compilation ofThe Soulful Drums Of Joe Dukes +Hot Barbeque)
The Concert McDuff (Prestige, 2002) (compilation ofThe Concert McDuff + one track fromHallelujah Time!, two tracks fromThe Midnight Sun, and one track fromI Got A Woman)
The Last Goodun' (Prestige, 2002) (compilation drawn from seven different McDuff albums; material on first seven tracks [theOn With It! session] recorded December 1961)
Funk Pie (Recall [UK], 2002) [2CD] (compilation of Concord material)
The Best Of The Concord Years (Concord Jazz, 2003)
Prelude: Jack McDuff Big Band (Prestige, 2003) (compilation ofPrelude + 11 bonus tracks featuring McDuff's "large" groups, drawn from five different albums)
Willis Jackson With Jack McDuff – Together Again! (Prestige, 2003) (compilation ofTogether Again! +Together Again, Again)
The Prestige Years (Prestige, 2004) (compilation drawn from ten different McDuff albums)
Jack McDuff: Eight Classic Albums (Real Gone Jazz [EU], 2013) [4CD] (compilation ofBrother Jack;Tough 'Duff;The Honeydripper;Goodnight, It's Time To Go;Kirk's Work;Brother Jack Meets The Boss;Screamin';Stitt Meets Brother Jack)
Brother Jack McDuff: The Classic Albums 1960–1963 (Enlightenment [EU], 2020) [4CD] (compilation ofThe Honeydripper;Goodnight, It's Time To Go;Screamin';Somethin' Slick!;Crash!;Brother Jack McDuff Live!;Brother Jack At The Jazz Workshop Live!;Prelude)
Brother Jack McDuff/George Benson Quartet: The Legendary 1963–64 Concerts (Fingerpoppin' [EU], 2024) [2CD] (compilation ofBrother Jack McDuff Live!;Brother Jack at the Jazz Workshop Live!;The Concert McDuff)
