Duffy and his father a huge part of our lives. I sat in with Duff and Eddie Higgins back in Ft. Lauderdale. Duffy's dad Chubby discovered my mom back in NYC and helped her create the demo that she presented to Goodman and got the gig. I'm going to miss Duffy. I spoke with him months before he passed. Gone too soon Duff. Love you.
Duffy was kind enough to cut a studio session with me and he is on my CD, Motorcycle Territory. When he got off the drums he said, "We have the makings of a Power Trio!" We did a Jazz/ Rock fusion sound that is somewhat unique for Duffy. I just looked at the studio picture of he and I on my shelf and thought... let me check on him. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. One of the greatest powerhouse drummers of all time. His heart, his creativity, his generosity and his humor were so much like his music.... just great! It is an honor to have had the opportunity to play with him and to call him a friend. He was very good friends with my dad as well, vibist Joe Roland.
Imagine being 16 years old in 1980 and going to your first Basie concert and expecting to see one of your idols, Butch Miles, and instead you are seeing this big guy with big glasses. He absolutely blew me away! Pinned me against the back wall I was standing against. Stunned and amazed, I found a new idol. Duffy just killed it. Talked to him in around '88 when he was touring with the band again. He had a gallon milk jug filled with water that he was drinking on the break while heat a jelly filled donut. No kidding. I had to meet my idol during the break all sweaty, drinking out of that jug and eating a donut. Amazing.
I had the opportunity to take a couple of lessons and help setup drums for Duffy on several gigs. He told the most incredible stories about all the greats. He was nice to everyone and man could he swing. RIP Duffy
Duffy came to my high school jazz band to give us all lessons on how to play in that setting. He was a riot and a great teacher! He even sat in and played drums in our practices and played a few tunes in one of our performances, never forget that and the face he made when he was really swinging, open mouth and laughing
I met Duffy today at my high school, he personally talked to my band class and he's a really cool guy. All i know is that he can kick it on those drums man!!
the last time I saw drumming like that is every time Buddy Rich ever picked up the drumsticks. I agree a lost art and Jazz got away from that which is strange to me because to me, that IS the heart of jazz but everybody has their opinion that's just my $0.02. the sad thing is young people are clueless and have never been exposed to this form of music for the most part and at least the people who remember it and appreciate it were gifted with being from that time. It's a tragedy that music and art such as this has been pulled out of young people's education there is no excuse for this and they are truly robbed of one of life's most beautiful and precious commodities and the sad thing is they don't even realize it
Man, Duffy kills this song on this recording and to this day. I remember playing it with him just a couple of years ago. He could be the most tasteful drummer alive considering he is juggling dynamite. Dynamically, he is most definitely one of the masters
Holy cow! I just heard Duffy w/ a rehearsal band here in Nashville, and got the same incredible feeling from this vid. What a great musician, and big personality!
Back in 1970, when I was 17, I was in a rock band. Our guitarist’s mother (Lee Waltman aka Lee Scott), knew Duffy - may have even performed with him in Miam. One night our rock band was supposed to play a fraternity party when our drummer called in sick. Lee asked Duffy to fill in. He agreed, but we didn’t have any time for rehearsal. I, being the most musical in the group tried to best explain our evening’s rock repertoire. It was very funny when we started out with Grand Funk Railroad’s “Are You Ready” and Duffy instantly turned it into a jazz number. Eventually he gravitated to a rock beat, but the experience of performing with him was amazing. Thanks Duffy, Best Regards, Bernie Phillips
I have been watching other versions of Wind Machine and Duffy Jackson is the best drummer by far on this song, including Buddy Rich. (On this particular song) That's my opinion.
Duffy Jackson performed at Jacksonville State University a few weeks ago with the Jazz orchestra here and wow did I learn so much just from his hour masterclass. The performance he did with the jazz band here was the best concert ive seen in a very long time!!
Thank you for sharing. I do have the whole 1979 Soundstage. Sad that PBS won't put it on on DVD restored :(, but the footage you are posting is priceless and I'm glad your doing it!
No one one plays tis chart better than Buddy Rich! Period! Duffy has a lot of enthusiasm and showmanship which is exciting to watch. He does play this chart well and hats off to him, but better than Buddy. Only in his dreams. :-)
Whether you like it or Not Buddy Rich is not the be-all-and-end-all of drumming! Maybe he got more television time was more bombastic and a big-time show man. But he is not the final Authority on drums by any means! Eventually the drumming world will come to know this! Check out Joe Morello, and the video series great drummers parts 1 2 and 3!
That moment when the Count sits on the grand and chuckles to himself as he knows that the audience doesn't know what your cooking, but they finnah find out once Duffy gets the sign. Then the Count stands with pride to watch you rip the life out of those drum heads laughing histerically as the Count tries to warn em. Duffy was boundless energy. Monty Alexander knew it and everyone here watching this does too.
Notice the black tape arrow by the f-hole on Freddie Green's guitar. That was Freddie's way of showing ignorant sound engineers where to put the microphone. Nice first tenor solo by Kenny "The Shrimp" Hing
I've never heard Monty Alexander--the hardest swinger of all, next to Oscar--swing harder than when he was touring with a teen-aged Duffy Jackson. This one climbs, or pulls up slightly--rushing can occur for any number of reasons.
Does anyone know if there's a recording of this tune with Grady Tate on drums? I'd love to listen to that back to back with this. Honestly, my favorite part was the cross stick drive during the tenor solo. So much excitement!
So ALL of Count Basie's Band is 100% Cool. Cool Straight Face. BUT NOT DUFFY !! He can't help himself. He's On Fire ! The only guy with a different facial expression all through out the tune.
Is Duffy playing a double bass kit here? Not that he NEEDS two bass drums. Jesus H. Christ, what a foot he's got. But, I can't tell if it's a single bass drum or not. I saw Duffy playing Louie Bellson's REMO kit one time at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, on PBS, and Duffy stomped the shit outta Louie's drums. Hope he didn't break anything. LOL! GO Duffy!
+handidrummed Yep. I see them now. I should've said "...what FEET he has." Man...that tempo. Poor Freddie Green had to have an EKG run on him after that one. Duffy was working those guys!
I play bass in Duffy's band down here in Nashville. I've never seen him play a double set since he's been here. What a true pleasure to play with this man though.
@@isaachoward8363 Hey Isaac, I live in Nashville too and saw Duffy perform in a drum clinic/show at MTSU, back in 1988(?). He played a single bass drum, borrowed Yamaha kit. After seeing Duffy, I wanted to burn my drums. He is the nicest guy in the world. The stories he can tell, and they're all true!
Nice 1980 video of the Band, with Basie before his stroke, Kenny "The Shrimp" Hing back on board on tenor (replacing his successor Eric Alexander), and the joyous Duffy Jackson on drums (apparently before one of the saxophonists suggested he might want to look at the book now and then). This chart might seem to be a drum feature, but Duffy is a bit too loud under the solo.
