George Duke showed a great deal of promise early in his career as a jazz pianist and keyboardist, but has forsaken that form to be a pop producer. Inspired early on by Les McCann, he worked with a trio in San Francisco during the mid-'60s. In 1969, Duke accompanied Jean-Luc Ponty, recording with the violinist. After eight months with Don Ellis' Orchestra, he joined Frank Zappa for much of 1970. Duke spent 1971-1972 with Cannonball Adderley and then returned to Zappa for 1973-1975. In 1975, he worked with Sonny Rollins, co-led a group with Billy Cobham, and then formed a funk band (the Clarke-Duke Project) with Stanley Clarke. By the late '70s, he was completely outside of jazz, playing R&B and producing projects for pop artists. Although he has since expressed interest in returning to active playing, little of George Duke's post-1976 work is relevant to jazz. Scott Yanow| Source: www.soulwalking.co.uk | |
Reach for it (1977) Funk
Tracks: Beginning - Bring It on Home - Diamonds - End - Hot Fire - Just for You - Lemme at It - Ómi (Fresh Water) - Reach for It - Searchin' My Mind - Watch Out Baby!
Is Love Enough? (1997) Funk, Jazz
Tracks: Back From The Future (Postlude) - Back In The Day - Fill The Need - How About You? - I'm Falling - Into the Future (Prelude) - Is Love Enough - It's Our World - It's Summertime - Kinda Low - Laid Back Sunday - Love Songs - Thinkin' 'Bout You - This Place I Call Home - Time and Space (Interlude) - Whatever Happened To...
Face The Music (2002) Funk, Jazz
Tracks: Ain't It Funky Now - Another Way To Look At It - Chillin' - Close To You - Creepin' - Guess You're Not The One - Let's Roll - Mile Jog - My Piano - The Black Messiah (Part 2)
