Lee Ritenour -][- RHYTHM SESSIONS – [Concord Records, 2012] –

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Composer, Concord Records, Dave Grusin, Demetrius Nabors, George Duke, Guitarist, Hans de Wild, hick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Marcus Miller, Michael Feinberg, Producer, Selim Munir, Stanley Clarke, Wesley Ritenour

Lee Ritenour, RHYTHM SESSIONS

Lee Ritenour -][- RHYTHM SESSIONS – [Concord Records, 2012] –

In a career that spans five decades and more than 40 albums, guitarist Lee Ritenour has developed a keen understanding of the symbiotic balance between the frontman and the supporting players, between the wisdom of experience and the enthusiasm of youth. On Rhythm Sessions, he surrounds himself with a cadre of high-profile veterans and promising newcomers all of whom reaffirm the vital role played by the rhythm section in any worthwhile musical endeavor.

Ruslan -][- RUSLAN – [Roxboro Entertainment Group, 2011] –

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Berklee School of Music, Composer, George Duke, Pianist, Roxboro Entertainment Group, Ruslan, Stanley Clarke, Ukraine, Uman

Ruslan, RUSLAN

Ruslan -][- RUSLAN –Mp3– [Roxboro Entertainment Group, 2011] –

The young pianist Ruslan has already traveled the world, playing with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop music. Born in Uman, in what is now Ukraine, Ruslan’s musical heritage comes from a family rich with generations of musicians. He was exposed early in his youth to American Jazz and improvisation, and began to see music as a mission in itself, a source of passion. Ruslan’s family moved to Israel when he was ten, where he continued his music studies.

THEY’RE BAAAACK! Clarke / Duke4 BRING IT! Tour Announced

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African American, George Duke, Stanley Clarke

George Duke and Stanley Clarke

On June 16, 2012, Stanley Clarke and George Duke pick up where they left off musically with the Clarke Duke 4- “Bring It!” Tour.

It’s been six years since they last toured together and both are looking forward to the Clarke remarks, “I’m looking forward to these performances, because the most fun I have touring is with George. We have a good time together. We’re both older and more experienced. Our repertoire is more all-encompassing and much more diverse.”

DMS featuring George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn Summer Tour

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African American, David Sanborn, George Duke, Jazz, Marcus Miller

George Duke, Marcus Miller & David Sanborn unite for a scorching summer concert tour!

Duke, Miller & Sanborn

St. Louis, MO (April 27, 2011): Fans of the crossroads where funk and jazz intersect are marking their calendars for an explosive one-of-a-kind concert package touring the U.S. this summer. For the first time, keyboardist George Duke, bassist Marcus Miller and saxophonist David Sanborn are uniting to perform as one band under the moniker DMS. Each an accomplished soloist and composer in his own right, this trio of music legends will be gifting the masses with a generous set list comprised of ferocious funk, serious jazz, to-the-bone blues and anything else they feel like playing that night. Launching May 28th at the House of Blues near Orlando, Florida, the DMS tour will be sponsored by Jazz Cruises, producer of The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Michael White -][- X FACTOR & WHITE NIGHT [Elektra/Wounded Bird]

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African American, George Duke, Jazz, Michael White, Patrice Rushen, Violin, Wayne Henderson

The folks at Wound Bird strikes again with two re-issues from the seventies by this fabulous violinist named Michael White! If anyone know’s where I can find “X FACTOR & WHITE NIGHT” via MP3 format for purchase please hit me up in the comments. Thanks in advance! —Rob Young

Michael White - X FACTOR

Michael White -][- X FACTOR – [Elektra/Wounded Bird, 1978]

An overlooked soulful gem from Michael White – one of his smoother albums, but with a tight sound that really makes the whole thing great! The set was produced by George Duke, and it’s got the same feel as some of Duke’s best work of the time – soaring, soulful, with a style that blends fusion and soul – and which often features vocals.

White plays his usual electric violin, and the album also features work by Patrice Rushen, Greg Phillinganes, and Duke himself performing as Dawili Gonga on keyboards. Titles include “Smile In Your Eyes”, “You Are My Heartbeat”, “Love Call”, “The Red Planet”, “Well Do It Then”, and “Let Love Be Your Magic Carpet”. © 1996-2011, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Michael White - WHITE NIGHT

Michael White -][- WHITE KNIGHT – [Elektra/Wounded Bird, 1979]

An album that’s quite different than Michael White’s early solo work, but also quite nice too – although in a completely different way! On this set, White’s working with jazz funk legend Wayne Henderson – crafting a smooth approach to the groove that’s very much in keeping with the rest of Henderson’s At Home productions of the time. Most tracks have vocals, either lead by Alexandra Brown, or chorus/backing style by singers that include Angela Winbush, Augie Johnson, Jim Gilstrap, and Miki Howard.

White’s still playing violin, but the real appeal is the overall Henderson groove – helped out a bit here by some work by Don Mizell. Titles include “I Was Made To Love Him”, “I Like It”, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, “Never Be The Same”, “Of All Reasons”, and “So Good To Me”. © 1996-2011, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

..:: SOURCE: Dusty Groove.com ::..

George Duke Revisits The Sounds Of The Golden Age Of Funk And Soul On Déjà Vu

Tags

African American, Funk, George Duke, Keyboards, Piano

George Duke | Déjà Vu – [BPM/Heads Up International, 2010]

Features guest performances by trumpeter Nicholas Payton, flutist Hubert Laws and saxophonist Bob Sheppard

George Duke - DejaVu

When keyboardist-composer-producer George Duke made a return trip to the heyday of funk on his 2008 recording, Dukey Treats, he reminded his fans and the music press of exactly what made the good old stuff so good. DownBeat called it “a wild and crazy album, especially if you’re nostalgic about the guitar-scratching, double-clutching rhythms of James Brown and George Clinton and the bedroom ballads of Stevie Wonder and Aaron Neville.” The Philadephia Enquirer called it simply “a valentine to funk.”

Duke returns to that same wellspring for Déjà Vu, his new recording on BPM/Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. Set for release on August 10, 2010, the album revisits the synthesizer sound that characterized some of his most memorable recordings from the golden age of funk and soul.

George Duke | Face The Music

Tags

George Duke, Jazz, Keyboards, Piano. African American

The incomparable, sensational, dynamic and fun loving artistry of George Duke is armed with the juice that takes an alternate route back to his roots on this phenomenal recording called “Face The Music.” Yep, brother GD from the first note does it brilliantly ! ~ Rob Young | The Urban Flux

George Duke | Face The Music – [BizarrePlanet Entertainment, 2002]

George Duke, Face The Music

The first few seconds of crowd noise on the debut release from legendary funk/jazz keyboardist George Duke’s label might lead the listener to believe it’s a live recording. But it’s just a clever interpolation. Duke fashioned “The Black Messiah” as a cool, soulful, brass-tinged meditation on the musical splendor of his mentor Cannonball Adderley, and so bookends the tune with original sounds from a date the keyboardist did with the sax icon in the early ’70s — complete with an authentic Adderley prattle to the audience about his young cohort.

The essence of the recording — which features diverse elements of everything Duke, from gospel to African rhythms to pop vocals — is the keyboardist jamming with his tight rhythm section, featuring Christian McBride (unique because Duke rarely uses upright on his projects), guitarist Jeff Lee Johnson, and drummer John Roberts. Duke allows for a lot of tight solo action, beginning with McBride’s bright solo dance on “Chillin’.”

George Duke | Feel

Tags

African American, George Duke, Keyboards, Male Vocals, Piano

Alright music lovers, today is the day I’ve searched deep in the vaults of The Urban Flux for another rare and timeless treasure filled with the octaves of retro-jazz, funk and fusion sounds of keyboard master, producer and vocalist George Duke titled “Feel.” By chance, if you missed this jewel it’s time to unlock the time machine and click on the link to “Feel” to revisit one of the most beloved and celebrated visionaries in modern music Mr. George Duke. ~ The Urban Flux

George Duke | Feel – [Verve Reissues, 1973/2008] – Jazz/Funk/Fusion Classic

George Duke, Feel

Well after years of waiting, this 1974 masterpiece finally came out on CD! Well I didn’t totally do without it, I transferred my record onto tape and then onto CD some years ago, but now it’s cleaned up, packaged and on the shelves and should definitely sell out! This is George Duke at his best, uniquely Dukey, very funky music with the most amazing keyboard solos and keyboards in general. Talk about ‘feeeel’! ‘Bend it like Duke’ would be apt but his feel is also about unbelievable phrasing and choice of notes. (we should not speak of speed, bad word but he flies too!) Check out the solos on “Feel” and “Yana Aminah“, sung by Flora (the latter solo is jazz like only Duke can do it)

The line-up has Ndugu (Leon Chancler) on drums (check out his drumming on Weather Report’s fabulous Tale Spinnin’), John Heard on bass (?), Airto and Flora and Obdewl’l X, the mystery guitarist who ‘rocks’ on song 2 😉 Well Zappa did have Duke playing on the incredible “Overnite Sensation” album so i guess that’s fair. Speaking of funny names, wasn’t it Duke who went by “Dawili Gonga” somewhere sometime?! The remastering is impeccable in addition to it being a great recording to start with. A recommend here, speaking of amazing Duke solos, check out Stanley Clarke’s “Journey to Love“, a great album with one of the best synthesizer solos of all time (and lots more). And of course, after you listen to this one, buy a “A Brazilian Love Affair“. Coming back to this CD, just buy it!! —APU Sista

Source: Amazon.com

George Duke at Montreal Jazz Festival

Tags

African American, Billy Cobham, Drums, George Duke, Jazz Fusion, Keyboards

Welcome to our “Video of The Week,” featuring the multifaceted keyboardist George Duke with legendary drummer Billy Cobham, Brian Simpson, and bassist  Larry Kimpel at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Freddie Hubbard -||- SKAGLY – [Columbia Records, 1980 | Review]

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African American, Billy Childs, Carl Burnett, Columbia Records, Freddie Hubbard, George Duke, Hadley Caliman, Jazz, Larry Klein, Trumpet

Freddie Hubbard, SKAGLY

Freddie Hubbard -||- SKAGLY –Mp3– [Columbia Records, 1980 | Review]

Perhaps, like a lot of you, the eighties were a transition point musically and thankfully, my taste matured significantly and began to evolve beyond the dreadful late seventies “disco” era.

On this occasion, I have the pleasure to review the esteemed and legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard who began his career in the late fifties and early sixties with brothers Wes and Monk Montgomery. One of the most distinguish moments of his career are based around his Blue Note recording days. They’re probably his best, they say, at least from a jazz purists perspective. However, for those of us who aren’t as deep have a diverse platter and believes that some of Freddie’s contemporary recordings are of importance as well.