Ed Wilson first encountered Jeff Duff when they were both booked to make a guest appearance on a new years day 2001 concert at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The unsuspecting Ed, armed with his mighty trombone may have been caught off guard by the flamboyant Duffo who was pirouetting around the stage dressed in a white sailor suit.But any doubts Ed may have had about Jeffs talent were instantly dismissed when he heard him launch into song. ''How can such a skinny guy have such a fat voice?'' Ed was heard to query. Jeffs baritone voice belies his fragile frame... powerfull, passionate and without imitation. His unique stage presence is such that he could stand motionless and still manage to engross an audience.
Although Jeff was well aware of Eds reputation, mostly from the ''Daly-Wilson'' big band period in the seventies he had never heard him perform live.... Not only was Duff knocked out by Eds dynamic playing but also by his brilliant arrangements. "When l heard Ed play his majestic arrangement of 'MacArthur Park' l was spell bound, l couldn't believe a song in which the lyric was such an integral part of the structure could be replaced by trombone and still deliver more emotion and power than the human voice....such is the magnitude of Eds trombone and arranging skills".
For some time Ed had been searching for a vocalist to complete a couple of big band projects he was arranging for, and so it came to be... Jeff was the voice!... the missing link!
ln theory the pairing of Ed with Jeff sounds pretty much like a recipe for disaster, the odd couple, but they have one common thread... class! An unlikely musical match, perhaps but just have a listen to the music and prepare to be blown away! This album is the result of their first encounter in the studio together. Using some of the finest musicians in Australia, playing some of the most challenging charts written, Jeff and Ed combine to make this debut one of the most spectacular Australian big band recordings of recent times. Most of the songs on this album are Australian classics but Ed has injected a new dynamic to the tunes with his sophisticated arrangements.
This is cool music...very cool music played and sung with a passion you won't hear on many recordings. This is cooler than cool!... hotter than hell!
Ladies & Gentlemen,the inimatable Jeff Duff & the mighty Ed Wilson Big Band...