Beschreibung:
Releasedate: 2005-06-28

For the past 35 years George Duke has been one of the least predictable jazz, funk and fusion keyboard players around.
And this new album simply titles 'Duke' shows that he hasn't changed. In the past decade and a half Duke's sound,as so many other musicians of his type has been forced to compete with many younger (and often less ambitious) singers and musicians who are more popular then he is. So to get it out of the way that is way modern R&B singer Eric Benet sings on "Somebody's Body", which is redeemed totally by Duke's wonderful piano stylings. Elesewhere this CD is a close to wonderful as Duke has ever been. On "Trust",the pulsating "T-Jam" and the more contemporary "Saturday Night" Duke delivers classic funk in his own unqiue style, just as he does on the midtempo "I Wanna Know", proving the man hasn't lost his touch. On "Sausalito" and the equally bouncy "Homeland" that Brazillian percussion gets going from Airto for yet another of Duke's trademarks but here,the tunes have a jazzier, more improvised feel to them.

Throughout 'Duke' George is heard on the acoustic piano rather then the fender rhodes or electric piano. Nowhere is this more evident then the uncharacteristically gospel-soul flavor of Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman", a much more upbeat flavor then on Wonder's more stark original. A cover of Burt Baccarach's "In Between The Heartaches" recieves a similar treatment.The most shocking is the 18 minute plus "Hybrids", on which Duke and his merry band work an eerier, Miles Davis-like fusion groove to it's very end.But of course halfway through the tune swings into classic Duke funk mode-the song is an excellent example of why people liked this guy so much to start with. And even when 'Duke' indulges in modern R&B for a few minutes he doesn't sit there too long to screw up even the song. So 'Duke' ends up being a much valued and appreciated addition to George Duke's ever growing collection of albums.And it is certainly always a joy to hear brand new music from him!

Tracks:
1. Trust
2. I Wanna Know
3. Superwoman
4. No One
5. T-Jam
6. Somebody's Body
7. Sausalito
8. Saturday Night
9. In Between the Heartaches
10. Hybrids
11. Homeland