BROTHER JACK MCDUFF
Brotherly Love (Concord)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Most of Brotherly Love is drawn from Bro. Jack McDuff's last recording session, at which he was joined by guitarist Pat Martino, saxophonist Red Holloway, bassist Frank Gravis and drummer Grady Tate, making it a suitably all-star affair. Also included are two cuts from a 1996 festival performance that matched McDuff with his protege, Joey DeFrancesco, on battling B-3s, with Andrew Beals and Jerry Weldon on sax, John Hart on guitar, and Rudy Petchauer on drums.

Regardless of the lineup, Brotherly love is filled with the kind of hard swinging, blues drenched music that made Brother Jack McDuff one of the most beloved performers in soul jazz for four decades. It helps, of course, that he was one of the most talented, too, not only as a musician, but as a leader who provided an incubator in the 60s for the talents of a young guitarist named George Benson.

It's commonplace to look back to those Benson-era bands when discussing Jack McDuff's legacy, but Brotherly Love is recorded evidence that he was playing strong and soulful jazz up to the very end.

Track List:

Hot Barbeque * Vas Dis * Kettle Of Fish * Georgia * Santa Amilia * April In Paris * Time's Marchin' On * Pork Chops & Pasta * Rock Candy

© 2001 - Shaun Dale