Greg Duncan (trumpet)
Tim Brey (organ)
Benjamin Byrd (guitar)
Mekhi Boone (drums)
Shirley Scott was known as the Queen of the Organ. She mixed elements of bebop, blues,
and gospel to record over 50 albums as a leader. The Philadelphia jazz all-star is famous
for her collaborations with many jazz greats, including Stanley Turrentine and Eddie
“Lockjaw” Davis.
Trumpeter Greg Duncan’s organ quartet pays tribute to Scott in this concert featuring an all-Philadelphia band of Duncan, Tim Brey, Mekhi Boone, and Benjamin Byrd. His group plays
contemporary and standard songs in the jazz organ tradition, and they have performed
at various clubs in Philly and Chicago. They were recently featured at the Duck Jazz
Festival and the Kennett Square Jazz Festival. Their debut album recorded in 2021, “Sound Duality”, is available on New Origins Records.
Greg Duncan is a composer and freelance jazz trumpet player currently based in Philadelphia. His
ensembles play contemporary straight-ahead jazz that grooves with a mixture of blues, swing, and even flamenco. He has toured all over the world with various groups and performed at top jazz clubs in Philadelphia, Chicago and Europe.
In 2006 and 2009, Duncan traveled and performed in Spain, where he picked up some flamenco sounds and incorporated them into his group. After living a year in Barcelona, Duncan returned to Chicago and in 2012 won a grant from the Illinois Arts Council to record a Flamenco Jazz album with his Latin Ensemble. “Chicago, Barcelona Connections” (New Origins Records) became a hit on the radio waves throughout the country and the world and continues to be his most popular recording. Later that year, Duncan won the SedaJazz composition contest in Valencia, Spain. His composition “Viento” earned top latin jazz composition out of submissions from Spain and various other countries.
His Latin Ensemble has performed at the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, opened for Benny Golson at the Riverfront Jazz Festival, collaborated with the Peoria Symphony, and played at various clubs and performing arts venues throughout the Chicago-land area. Duncan moved to Philadelphia in 2020 to become better acquainted with the East Coast scene and create music with his new Organ
Trio/Quartet and the latest version of his traditional quartet. He recently recorded his fourth album entitled “Sound Duality”, featuring both groups with a mix of original and contemporary songs.
As a freelance trumpet player, Duncan has performed with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Roger Ingram, Billy Harper, Justin Faulkner, Richie Cole, and many others. He has worked and resided as a professional musician for over 20 years in places like Chicago, Barcelona, Texas, Virginia, and
Philadelphia.