Encouraged by Willis Jackson in whose band he also played bass in the late 50s, McDuff moved to the organ and began to attract the attention of Prestige Records while still with Jackson's group. McDuff soon became a bandleader, leading groups featuring a young George Benson, Red Holloway on saxophone and Joe Dukes on drums.
McDuff recorded many classic albums on Prestige including his debut solo Brother Jack in 1960, The Honeydripper (1961), with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and guitarist Grant Green, and Brother Jack Meets The Boss (1962), featuring Gene Ammons, and Screamin’ (1962).
After his tenure at Prestige, McDuff joined the Atlantic Records label for a brief period and then in the 70s recorded for Blue Note. To Seek a New Home (1970) was recorded in England with a line-up featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon and some of Britain's top jazz musicians of the day, including Terry Smith on guitar and Dick Morrissey on tenor sax.
The decreasing interest in jazz and blues patent during the late 70s and 80s meant that many jazz musicians went through a lean time and it wasn't until the late 80s, with The Re-Entry, recorded for the Muse label in 1988, that McDuff once again began a successful period of recordings, initially for Muse, then on the Concord Jazz label from 1991. George Benson appeared on his mentor’s 1992 Colour Me Blue album.
Despite battling health problems, McDuff continued working and recording throughout the eighties and nineties. 'Captain' Jack McDuff, as he later became known, died of heart failure at the age of 74 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
And the Angels Sing
Jack McDuff Lyrics
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The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak, and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word
Suddenly, the setting is strange
I can see water and moonlight beaming
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
Through it all your face that I adore.
You smile, and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss, and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart.
The opening lines of Jack McDuff's song "And The Angels Sing" describe the transformative power of love. The singer finds that when they meet their beloved, they are enveloped in the heavenly music of angels. The singer feels that their partner's every word is imbued with a musical quality that surpasses their understanding. It is as if their lover's very presence brings harmony and beauty into the world.
As the song progresses, the singer experiences a shift in their perception of reality. Suddenly, they find themselves transported to new, wondrous places - to the ocean under the moonlight, to cozy winter nights bathed in candlelight. Throughout these experiences, their lover remains a constant source of joy and comfort. Their smile alone can elicit the sweetest of melodies from the angels, and the touch of their lips sends ripples of music echoing through the singer's heart.
Overall, "And The Angels Sing" is a powerful tribute to the transformative power of love. It suggests that when we are with the right person, we can transcend our ordinary reality and experience something truly celestial.
Line by Line Meaning
We meet, and the angels sing
It's as if angels are singing the sweetest song when we first meet
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
The feeling is so magical and beautiful that even angels couldn't make a sweeter song
You speak, and the angels sing
It's as if my every word is music to your ears
Or am I breathing music into every word
Perhaps it's me who's making every word sound so sweet to you
Suddenly, the setting is strange
The situation I'm in takes on a surreal feeling
I can see water and moonlight beaming
I have a vivid image of the sparkling water and ethereal moonlight
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore - Then
The waves crashing on a distant shore add to the mysterious atmosphere
Suddenly, I see it all change
Like a dream, the scenery changes dramatically
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming
I see a cozy winter night, with candles casting a warm glow
Through it all your face that I adore.
Despite the changing scenarios, your face remains constant and beloved
You smile, and the angels sing
Your smile is so radiant, it's as if angels are singing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
Even though the sound is barely audible at first
We kiss, and the angels sing
Our kiss fills the air with such magic that the angels join in song
And leave their music ringing in my heart.
The song of the angels echoes in my heart long after we part ways.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ZIGGY ELMAN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind