Recorded in 1961 and released on Prestige records in the same year, this was Brother Jack McDuff's fourth studio effort and the first featuring his regular partners Harold Vick on tenor saxophone, Grant Green on guitar and Joe Dukes on drums. Vick and Green would soon become two prominent figures in soul jazz while McDuff stands as one of the key organ players in the genre. This is an absolute soul-jazz gem!

"This 1961 date was organist Jack McDuff's first with his regular working band. That group included two players who would become synonymous with the organ combo, soul-jazz sound: tenor saxophonist Harold Vick and the up-and-coming guitarist Grant Green. Vick's tough, versatile, if not particularly distinctive, sound is well-suited to McDuff's needs. Green, however, is by far the more interesting contributor. On this date, his gifts are already well developed, including his skillful use of space and a singular ability to find or create a tune's rhythmic core. Unlike his 1960 debut, McDuff does without a bass player here, using his organ pedals instead, as he would in live performance. When his feet do the walking, McDuff becomes a complete player, locking in on grooves that could never be matched by a hired gun brought in on bass. The highlights are the McDuff originals: "Sanctified Waltz," a gospel-influenced piece that avoids the holy roller excesses that often encumber such numbers, and "McDuff Speaking," a full-tilt, soul-jazz gem." - Jim Todd, Allmusic