A master jazz organist, Brother Jack McDuff is known for his pearly right hand, his pumping left, and his innate sense of musical drama. Born in Champaign, Illinois in 1926, McDuff (whose real name is Eugene McDuffy) taught himself bass, piano, and finally organ. A boss of both blues and bebop, McDuff helmed a swinging quartet, featuring fleet guitarist George Benson, impassioned saxophonist Red Holloway, and the estimable Joe Dukes on drums, throughout the Sixties. The 12 tracks on this dynamically sequenced collection showcase Brother Jack and his soulmates on everything from Horace Silver's slinky "Opus de Funk" to the bluesy "Hey Lawdy Mama" and the rich, infectious original "Scufflin'." A testament to McDuff's versatility and pop acumen, this set covers material from six McDuff albums released on Prestige between 1965 and 1969. Among the standouts: Harold Vick's leisurely "Our Miss Brooks," a breakneck take on Ray Charles's "I Got a Woman," and the sanctified version of Oscar Peterson's "Hallelujah Time."

with Red Holloway, George Benson, Joe Dukes