Bringin' It Home
Organist Jack McDuff may be known mostly for introducing the world to guitaristGeorge Bensonin the early 1960s, but he's also always been a funky jazz organist of the first rank. Both sides of McDuff's legacy are on display on his newBringin' It Home, and the result is a blues, jazz, and funk-drenched album that sounds like it was cut at a smoky after-hours party. With Benson guesting on three tracks, and saxophonistRed Hollowayand guitaristMark Whitfieldon several more,Bringin' It Homehas the feel of a family reunion where everyone knows each other and every lick is tasty. Benson's stunning solo on "Summertime" is enough to reestablish his place in the jazz guitar pantheon, and Holloway's playing is fiery throughout. Whitfield holds his own and then some with a head-turning solo on "Girl Talk." But the real star is McDuff, whose sumptuous Hammond B-3 style dominates whether providing a backdrop for his capable sidemen or stepping out with tasty solos on tunes likeEddie Harris's "Cold Duck Time" or his own "The Scratch."--Ezra Gale