I’ve harbored a kind of weird fantasy since the seventies. What would it have been like if former Mothers of Invention guitarist/provocateur Frank Zappa had teamed up with Godfather of Funk George Clinton, and co-joined their ever-changing group of backing musicians? (I told you it was a weird fantasy).
One listen to The Essential George Duke has given a small part of that fantasy wings. When Duke is at his best, he creates something of a bridge between Zappa and Clinton, melding the eccentric squeaks, pops, and funk-like vocal harmonies Zappa was so fond of with the funky rhythms that take me back to one of Parliament’s many concerts in Central Park.
The former Zappa and jazz session keyboardist has always had a bag of tricks up his sleeve. He avoided being savaged by jazz purists, a la Herbie Hancock, because of his mastery of "blues" piano and his contributions to the "fusion" movement still stands tall today as the finest examples of the genre. But his pedigree alone defies all critical review of his music. Much of his best work is still unavailable on CD, including Columbia/Epic's From Me to You and his collaboration with the late Noel Pointer and Earl Klugh on "Mirabella" from the live album Blue Note Live at the Roxy.
However, this album features a great deal more than Duke’s compositional and musical ability. It is also a vocal-driven vehicle to reach a pop audience who may not be aware of Duke’s unfathomable reach into all genres. Listen closely and you can hear Chic, Earth Wind & Fire, and of course, Parliament/Funkadelic in the arrangements, and he succeeds in forming those influences into something of his own.
But "Sunrise" is the sleeper of this album, with Duke soulfully mixing the gospel sensibilities of Philip Bailey with a lush, beautifully arranged harmonic vocal and instrumental mix which transforms Duke’s reputation as a brilliant back up musician into that of a tremendously gifted composer/arranger.
Article comments
1 - John Owen
Did a vehicle come from somewhere, out there? Just to land in the Andes? And was it round, and did it have...a motor? Or was it something, differ-ent?
Larry, good review. I have always thought that George Duke's solo work showed more promise than perfection, and it's a bit of a shame that the Essential doesn't do a better job of finding the gems. At least they included "Reach For It" and "Dukey Stick."
It really is too bad, though, that the Zappa Family Trust seems to not be into the idea of letting anyone use Frank's music... a REAL essential George Duke would contain "Inca Roads" for sure!!