McDuff Swinging Hard with Burrell and Vick
McDuff locks in tight with Burrell's guitar and Vick's tenor, no wasted space, just groove.
Brother Jack McDuff was at the peak of his powers on the organ in the early sixties, and Somethin' Slick! (1963) captures him in his element—leading a tight, funky ensemble through soul-jazz standards and originals without pretense or excess. What makes this record stick is the interplay between McDuff's Hammond B3 and Kenny Burrell's guitar. Burrell doesn't play pretty; he locks into McDuff's grooves with a warm, deliberate tone that turns the organ-guitar dialogue into something lean and purposeful. Harold Vick on tenor saxophone adds another layer, moving between bluesy declarations and tight, syncopated figures that sit perfectly in the pocket. The rhythm section of Joe Dukes on drums and the bass player keeps everything moving forward without fuss. This isn't avant-garde or experimental. It's a soul-jazz working date where every player knows their role and executes it cleanly. McDuff had recorded plenty before and after, but this particular lineup and these particular grooves have an ease about them—the sound of musicians who understood exactly what they were after. For listeners curious about McDuff beyond his most famous sessions, this is a solid entry point: no gimmicks, no reach, just a well-oiled group playing music that swings.
Who's playing
Kenny Burrellguitar
Harold Vicktenor saxophone
Eric Dixontenor saxophone
“Brother” Jack McDuffHammond organ
Joe Dukesdrums
Where next?
More by Jack McDuff
All 29 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
