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GEORGE DUKE

Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States


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George Duke picture
George Duke biography
January 12, 1946 (San Rafael, California, USA) - August 5, 2013

When he was just four years old, his mother took him to see Duke Ellington in concert. I don't remember it too well, says George, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!' He began his piano studies at age seven, absorbing the roots of Black music in his local Baptist church. That's where I first began to play funky. I really learned a lot about music from the church. I saw how music could trigger emotions in a cause-and-effect relationship.

By the age of sixteen, George had played with a number of high school jazz groups. He was heavily influenced by Miles Davis and the soul-jazz sound of Les McCann and Cal Tjader. Attending the San Francisco Conservatory Of Music and majoring in trombone and composition with a minor in contrabass, he received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1967.

George with Al Jarreau formed a group which became the house band at San Francisco's Half Note Club. George later received a Masters Degree in composition from San Francisco State University and briefly taught a course on Jazz And American Culture at Merritt Junior College in Oakland. It was about this time that George began to release a series of jazz albums on the MPS label.

One night, on a local jazz station, George heard a record by the violinist Jean-Luc PONTY. When he found out that Jean-Luc was coming to California to record, he sent a tape to Dick Bock at World-Pacific Records, along with a note saying There is no other pianist for this guy but me. From those sessions The George Duke Trio was born. They toured Europe and played at The Newport Jazz Festival.

The group's first gig in a rock-oriented venue came in early 1969. In attendance were Cannonball Adderly, Quincy Jones, Frank Zappa, and the unexpected presence of an electric, rather than acoustic, piano on-stage. The Ponty -Duke performance wowed the crowd, and ushered in the West Coast counterpart of the Eastern fusion revolution sparked by Miles Davis, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. Before '69 was out, George joined Frank ZAPPA (as he put together a new Mothers Of Invention line up) and toured for an entire year. He appeared on a number of Zappa's albums in the early and mid-1970s, including Chunga's Revenge, 200 Motels, Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Apostrop...
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GEORGE DUKE discography


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GEORGE DUKE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.68 | 3 ratings
The George Duke Quartet: Presented By The Jazz Workshop 1966 Of San Francisco
1966
2.02 | 6 ratings
Save The Country
1970
3.00 | 6 ratings
The Inner Source [Aka: Solus]
1973
4.21 | 15 ratings
Faces In Reflection
1974
4.15 | 17 ratings
Feel
1974
4.00 | 15 ratings
I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry
1975
3.14 | 17 ratings
The Aura Will Prevail
1975
3.05 | 9 ratings
Liberated Fantasies
1976
3.20 | 6 ratings
From Me To You
1977
2.97 | 11 ratings
Reach For It
1977
2.71 | 8 ratings
Don't Let Go
1978
3.91 | 5 ratings
The Dream [Aka: The 1976 Solo Keyboard Album]
1978
3.14 | 9 ratings
A Brazilian Love Affair
1979
3.00 | 7 ratings
Follow The Rainbow
1979
2.80 | 11 ratings
Master Of The Game
1979
2.44 | 7 ratings
Dream On
1982
2.36 | 5 ratings
Guardian Of The Light
1983
2.42 | 3 ratings
Rendezvouz
1984
3.00 | 2 ratings
Thief In The Night
1985
2.09 | 2 ratings
George Duke
1986
3.00 | 3 ratings
Night After Night
1989
1.38 | 4 ratings
Snapshot
1992
2.40 | 6 ratings
Illusions
1995
3.13 | 6 ratings
After Hours
1998
2.21 | 5 ratings
Cool
2000
3.08 | 3 ratings
Face The Music
2003
2.08 | 3 ratings
Duke
2005
5.00 | 1 ratings
In A Mellow Tone
2006
2.05 | 2 ratings
Dukey Treats
2008
3.02 | 4 ratings
Déjà Vu
2010
3.00 | 1 ratings
Dreamweaver
2013

GEORGE DUKE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 1 ratings
Muir Woods Suite
1996
2.00 | 3 ratings
Muir Woods Suite
1996

GEORGE DUKE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

GEORGE DUKE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
The Collection
1991
5.00 | 1 ratings
Greatest Hits
1996
4.00 | 2 ratings
Is Love Enough?
1997
4.00 | 1 ratings
The Essential George Duke
2004
4.00 | 1 ratings
Jazz Moods: 'Round Midnight
2004
4.50 | 2 ratings
My Soul: The Complete MPS Fusion Recordings
2008
0.00 | 0 ratings
Original Album Classics
2010
0.00 | 0 ratings
Brazilian Fusion
2013

GEORGE DUKE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Brazilian Love Affair / Heaven Sent You (split with Stanley Clarke)
1991
0.00 | 0 ratings
Life And Times
1995

GEORGE DUKE Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Duke by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 2005
2.08 | 3 ratings

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Duke
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars George Duke makes a step in becoming more laid-back and smoothie cocktail of R&B, smooth jazz and crossover jazz. While no vocal track captured my attention, the rendition of Superwoman is quite well done with playful piano and similar vocals to Wonder. "Hybrids" is a monstrous instrumental track full of crossover jazz jamming, hearing great trumpet solo, keyboard trippy playing. No clear overall structure but several motives glued together. Something that jazz fans were looking for. On the fusion side, there is little energetic or jazz-rock music. Not a bad album but hardly an outstanding one as "Facing the music" was in 2002.
 Face The Music by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.08 | 3 ratings

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Face The Music
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars One of the best late Duke albums comes with "Face the music". There is the groovy cozy feeling characteristic to all late GD albums. Secondly, it contains a couple of good compositions and moves. What should we think of the great "Creepin'" with unusual chord sequence, creepy feeling and kind of RIO vocals, maybe an idea from the Zappa times? We have excellent dynamic funk with perfect instrumentation on the 11-minute workout "Ten mile jog". Jazz purists may welcome the acoustic bass by Christian McBride on some tracks but it is also changed to the funky electric bass. Horn section play creatively, too. And the master itself, delivers some of the most motivated keyboard chops in his late career, be it on "Let's roll" with electric piano and with classic piano on "Chillin'". Most songs are long but not boring thanks to the lively instrumentation. Fusion fans will be pleased by several keyboard/bass/drums interactions although not at the very adventurous level. Recommended.
 After Hours by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1998
3.13 | 6 ratings

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After Hours
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars The orthodox George Duke fan must have been pleased when listening to the first seconds of the album, a well constructed contemporary fusion leaves the speakers and two jazz stars contribute - Christian McBride on the bass and the old fellow Chancler left of the chain. The second reason to please is the absence of radio-friendly smooth crossover jazz/pop in favour of fully instrumental tracks. Duke can pull off a dynamic solo however he is equally strong in contributing atmospheric mellow tracks with electric or acoustic piano. This music may not be demanding but well suitable "After hours" to reflect while listening to an intelligent music. There are actually good melodies, too, such as on the catchy "Anticipation". Yes, Duke has prepared plenty of enchanting keyboard moments, mainly on pianos. One complaint could be the absence of more upbeat tracks but at least the flow is coherent. Non-essential but one of a kind in Duke's discography.
 Illusions by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1995
2.40 | 6 ratings

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Illusions
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars Duke continues with contemporary R&B/smooth jazz on this album, which fares slightly better than "Snapshot". He even adds 4 or 5 good instrumentals that sound inspired. The music flows nicely, is subdued but not dull and at least keyboard performance is convincing. So where's the catch? After hearing the album, you won't remember much of it as there aren't any compositional strengths despite production and playing experience. To me, instrumentals stand out and so some instrumental performances in the vocal tracks such as the upbeat and powerful "Life and times". From instrumentals, let's mention the atmospheric advanced piano licks in "Money", the reflective "No greater love". Good but little to find for progressive ears.
 Snapshot by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1992
1.38 | 4 ratings

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Snapshot
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars Duke made a biggest sudden shift in his music - this time it is from the 80's R&B to a competent smooth jazz underlined music. Not betting on melodies anymore, it is more about feeling and atmosphere. Thankfully, music sounds more natural with the exception of tuned drums. There's no rush, each song has a room for the players to provide understated expression, in the best case it's a tasteful piano. On the flipside, the album goes on for too long given the material strength even though there is a certain track diversity - Latin instrumental, smooth jazz or contemporary R&B. The album is mainly recommended to those interesting in the revived Duke playing abilities
 George Duke by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1986
2.09 | 2 ratings

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George Duke
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars George Duke and George Benson had similar careers in the 80's - going pretty well in the first part of the 80's, both top instrumentalists, great vocalists and experiencing the career low point in the second half of the 80's getting drowned in the dated music settings. Duke experiments with synths, loops and effects. I suppose there are even no acoustic instruments here on the album, drums have the typical mid-late 80's sound. This does not help elevate the already pedestrian material. First better song comes with "Good friend", a female vocal sung romantic song. "So mean to me" has a good keyboard solo, for 80's. "Stand with your man" is an attempt at funk, lively bass. "The morning, you and love" is a radio-suitable ballad with a clean melody and flow. "African Violet" is the sole instrumental piece, moderately developed and calming.
 Rendezvouz by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1984
2.42 | 3 ratings

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Rendezvouz
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars Rendezvous is an album of contrasts to me. On one hand, several slick R&B numbers that could have belonged to a C- category artists be it not for Duke vocals and a occasional hint of keyboard playing. On the other hand, Duke returned to instrumentals - and I don't care if they are fusion or pop-related as long as they are good. "Thinking of you" is one of them - unpretentious mellow with lead synths, well played. With "Better ways", we have one of the better sung tracks, quite rocking and funking actually - not sure who sings though. The sub-par album ends on a higher note: Firstly, "Your note" inspired by his previous albums - a good melody and instrumentation for mid 80's. "Ipanema lady" brings us even more back in time, end of 70's with "Follow the rainbow" or "A Brazilian love affair" albums - a shiny instrumental with some ambition, finally! I like the prog-inspired symphonic synth ending.
 Guardian Of The Light by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1983
2.36 | 5 ratings

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Guardian Of The Light
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars Judging by the album title and song names, it could turn out to be a conceptual album. Since I never pay attention to the lyrics and focus solely on music, I can say that there isn't any concept included in music here. The only sign of musical concept is at the very start - a nice upbeat funky instrumental called "Overture".

What follows is a typical mixture of mid-tempo pop R&B numbers and ballads. You can hear more importance set on production as opposed to natural instruments from the past. Vocals have become the centerfield of songs, be it Duke or guest vocalists. The result is a typical 80's well-produced R&B set that will please your ears as it's undemanding and soothing.

 Dream On by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1982
2.44 | 7 ratings

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Dream On
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

2 stars The first 80's album by Duke has an ambitious title and star-filled line-up with high collective chops. Despite these prerequisites, it is the weakest album Duke has recorded to that time. The first thing to quickly notice is the lack of first-rate material and restrained instrumental playing. The sound turned into the 80's funk, losing Latin edges. Duke's voice is competent and I would say that it's for the first time when it overshadows his, by now, sparse, keyboard playing. What used to be his trademark - keyboard quality behind the R&B/funk material is now an insignificant quality. We hear a radio-friendly material, more punchy or emotional ("I will always be your friend"). Highlights include rythmically interesting "Positive energy" with outstanding vocals and instrumentation, perhaps the jazziest tune here.
 A Brazilian Love Affair by DUKE,GEORGE album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.14 | 9 ratings

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A Brazilian Love Affair
George Duke Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars The most Brazilian Latin oriented album by Duke, even conventional funk had to retreat from the stage. To my pleasure, not only sounds the album as return to a great shape but also Duke feels revived when he plays keyboards. Maybe a higher inspiration thanks to a cast of Latin musicians. The album flows nicely, there aren't any great melodies; however it is well produced, executed and brings positive vibes. The combination of Latin-inspired Rhodes/electric piano, muscular bass and tight drumming is irresistible. Out of a couple of instrumentals, "Brazilian sugar" with a great trombone solo stands out; in addition, there are other numerous instrumental details in other tracks. "Sugar loaf mountain" even digs into Latin fusion with expressive drumming a la Mezzoforte a couple of years later.

Duke confirms that he was still hell of an instrumentalist at this stage and was able to combine various elements to create a work of high artistic quality.

Thanks to snobb for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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