Ain’t No Sunshine (RSD 24)

Ain’t No Sunshine is a previously unissued concert recording from one of the greasiest and funkiest hammond B3 organists of all-time, Brother Jack McDuff. The album features his then working band saxophonists Leo Johnson and Dave Young, guitarist Vinnie Corrao and drummer Ron Davis.

This hand-numbered, limited-edition to 2,000, double-LP set was transferred from the original tape reels and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl. The deluxe package includes an extensive 4-page booklet with essays by archival producer and label owner/producer/musician Cory Weeds, plus passages from Hammond organists Delvon Lamarr, Larry Goldings and Brian Charette; and rare photos and memorabilia. LP mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

A marvellous bandleader and organist as well as capable arranger, “Brother” Jack McDuff has one of the funkiest, most soulful styles of all time on the Hammond B-3. His rock-solid basslines and blues-drenched solos are balanced by clever, almost pianistic melodies and interesting progressions and phrases. McDuff began as a bassist playing with Denny Zeitlin and Joe Farrell. He studied privately in Cincinnati and worked with Johnny Griffin in Chicago. He taught himself organ and piano in the mid-’50s, and began gaining attention working with Willis Jackson in the late ’50s and early ’60s, cutting high calibre soul-jazz dates for Prestige. McDuff made his recording debut as a leader for Prestige in 1960, playing in a studio pickup band with Jimmy Forrest. They made a pair of outstanding albums: Tough Duff and The Honeydripper. McDuff organized his own band the next year, featuring Harold Vick and drummer Joe Dukes. Things took off when McDuff hired a young guitarist named George Benson.