Jeff Duff
Encyclopedia
Geoff "Jeff" Stephen Duff, or Duffo, (born 1956) is one of Australia's most eccentric performers; he began his musical career in Melbourne in 1971 as lead singer of jazz-rock fusion band Kush, and later fronted various self-named groups. Duff relocated to London in 1978 as "the waif-like androgynous oddball Duffo". His single, "Give Me Back Me Brain" peaked in the top 100 on the United Kingdom (UK) mainstream charts in 1979. He returned to Australia in Sydney in 1986 and continued performing and recording in various styles of music—his 1999 compilation
, Martian Girls Are Easy is described by music historian
, Ian McFarlane as showing "satirical, new wave origins of "Give Me Back Me Brain", through the soulful classical arrangement of Lou Reed’s "Walk on the Wild Side", dipping into funk on the way and then back to his glam roots."
, Victoria, Australia. As lead singer, he formed Kush in 1971 with Ron Anderson on piano
and saxophone
, Stephen Ball on keyboards
, Colin Chapman on trumpet
and horns, Tom Cowburn on guitar
, harmonica
and backing vocals, John Ellis
on clarinet
, flute
and saxophone, Rob Matthews on bass guitar
, and Graham McDonald on drums
. They released covers of "Peter Gun", "MacArthur Park
" and "Walk on the Wild Side" as well as originals such as "(Livin' on) Easy Street".
From 1978 until 1988, as Duffo, he lived in London enjoying a successful recording/concert career working with some of the world's finest musicians. His keyboard player and arranger for most of this period was Sev Lewkowicz
. Duff toured extensively throughout Europe and gained a reputation for his flamboyant live performances. He returned to Sydney in 1988 and found instant success with an award winning video, which accompanied his recording of the song 'Walk on the Wildside'.
Duff also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a main role in the Australian science Fiction movie Sons Of Steel
, released in 1989.
Since then he has continued to set trends, performing and recording either as a solo artist or with his eclectic mix of bands, most notably the classically inspired Jeff Duff Orchestra, the jazz-rock of Jeff Duff & the Prophets, jazz swing of The Jeff Duff Big Band, the jazz-pop quartet Duffo and his glam rock combo The Alien Sex Gods. Duff is also vocalist with Australian trombonist Ed Wilsons Big Band[Daly Wilson Big Band] with whom he has recorded a couple of albums.
Duff also has a number of new cds being released in 2007. Among them are a couple of jazz albums;an exciting project written and recorded with keyboard wizz-kid Paul Searles [skunkhour] and a few tracks on a new blues album by the 'Hoochie Coochie Men' which features members from legendary British rock bands Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
Aztec Music is also releasing Duff's classic 70's vinyl albums with his jazz rock band Kush on CD for the first time including Snow White & the Eight Straights.
In 2005, Duff performed a sold-out season of this show at the Opera House Studio in Sydney. He has since performed the show in Melbourne, Queensland and recently performed a sold out season of the show at the 2006 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Duff performs regularly at Sydney's premier live music venues including the Basement & the Vangurd alternating shows between his different combos. More at home on stage than off, Duff is constantly creating new performance challenges. He juxtaposes his sophisticated twenty piece Big Band swing repertoire with the raunchy glam rock of his hugely successful Alien Sex Gods shows.
and Frank Sinatra
. The show features, dancers, singers, audiovisuals and a nine-piece band. Ground control to Frank Sinatra Duff's stage show has produced two albums: Ground Control to Frank Sinatra and Lost in the Stars.
Duff is currently writing & recording a new show based on the music of his favourte singer Scott Walker.
Jeff's direct homage to Bowie is a show called 'ZIGGY'. which is a very successful concert production featuring members of Jimmy Barnes band, Noiseworks & Leo Sayer's band.The ZIGGY show is scheduled to perform at the Sydney Opera House in 2010.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Martian Girls Are Easy is described by music historian
Music history
Music history, sometimes called historical musicology, is the highly diverse subfield of the broader discipline of musicology that studies the composition, performance, reception, and criticism of music over time...
, Ian McFarlane as showing "satirical, new wave origins of "Give Me Back Me Brain", through the soulful classical arrangement of Lou Reed’s "Walk on the Wild Side", dipping into funk on the way and then back to his glam roots."
Early career
Jeff Duff was born in 1956 and grew up in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia. As lead singer, he formed Kush in 1971 with Ron Anderson on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, Stephen Ball on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Colin Chapman on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and horns, Tom Cowburn on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and backing vocals, John Ellis
John Ellis
-Politics:* Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey 1884–1885, Kingston 1885–1892* John Ellis , Irish Fianna Fáil politician...
on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and saxophone, Rob Matthews on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Graham McDonald on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. They released covers of "Peter Gun", "MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park (song)
"MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's...
" and "Walk on the Wild Side" as well as originals such as "(Livin' on) Easy Street".
From 1978 until 1988, as Duffo, he lived in London enjoying a successful recording/concert career working with some of the world's finest musicians. His keyboard player and arranger for most of this period was Sev Lewkowicz
Sev Lewkowicz
Sev Lewkowicz is a musical composer, producer, arranger and keyboard player based in the United Kingdom...
. Duff toured extensively throughout Europe and gained a reputation for his flamboyant live performances. He returned to Sydney in 1988 and found instant success with an award winning video, which accompanied his recording of the song 'Walk on the Wildside'.
Duff also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a main role in the Australian science Fiction movie Sons Of Steel
Sons of Steel
Sons of Steel is an Australian sience fiction/fantasy, musical, movie written, directed and music directed by Gary L. Keady and produced by James M. Vernon. The film is based on an original short called "Knightmare", written, co-directed and music directed by Gary L. Keady and co-directed by Yahoo...
, released in 1989.
Since then he has continued to set trends, performing and recording either as a solo artist or with his eclectic mix of bands, most notably the classically inspired Jeff Duff Orchestra, the jazz-rock of Jeff Duff & the Prophets, jazz swing of The Jeff Duff Big Band, the jazz-pop quartet Duffo and his glam rock combo The Alien Sex Gods. Duff is also vocalist with Australian trombonist Ed Wilsons Big Band[Daly Wilson Big Band] with whom he has recorded a couple of albums.
Releases
Duff has recorded 25 albums and is working on album number 26.Duff also has a number of new cds being released in 2007. Among them are a couple of jazz albums;an exciting project written and recorded with keyboard wizz-kid Paul Searles [skunkhour] and a few tracks on a new blues album by the 'Hoochie Coochie Men' which features members from legendary British rock bands Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
Aztec Music is also releasing Duff's classic 70's vinyl albums with his jazz rock band Kush on CD for the first time including Snow White & the Eight Straights.
Performances
Duff is a regular performer on Australian television and continues to headline some of Australia's leading Jazz festivals including Melbourne Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Casino Jazz, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival.In 2005, Duff performed a sold-out season of this show at the Opera House Studio in Sydney. He has since performed the show in Melbourne, Queensland and recently performed a sold out season of the show at the 2006 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Duff performs regularly at Sydney's premier live music venues including the Basement & the Vangurd alternating shows between his different combos. More at home on stage than off, Duff is constantly creating new performance challenges. He juxtaposes his sophisticated twenty piece Big Band swing repertoire with the raunchy glam rock of his hugely successful Alien Sex Gods shows.
Recent projects
Duff's Ground control to Frank Sinatra project merges the styles of David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. The show features, dancers, singers, audiovisuals and a nine-piece band. Ground control to Frank Sinatra Duff's stage show has produced two albums: Ground Control to Frank Sinatra and Lost in the Stars.
Duff is currently writing & recording a new show based on the music of his favourte singer Scott Walker.
Jeff's direct homage to Bowie is a show called 'ZIGGY'. which is a very successful concert production featuring members of Jimmy Barnes band, Noiseworks & Leo Sayer's band.The ZIGGY show is scheduled to perform at the Sydney Opera House in 2010.