Record Reviews

GEORGE DUKE ~ THE COMPLETE 1970S EPIC ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979303225 (Barcode: 886979303225) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1977 - 1979 Released: 2012 American keyboardist / composer George DukeFind albums by this artist is definitely one of the most colorful, dynamic, brilliant and versatile musical personalities on the scene. With a career spanning five decades and activities covering such diverse sub-genres as mainstream Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Rock, Funk and Jazz-World Fusion, Duke made over the years an enormous impact on the development of contemporary music. Following a several years long association (early to mid 1970s) with the legendary German MPSFind albums on this label label, where Duke released his revolutionary early Fusion albums, he switched to the EpicFind albums on this label label (a subsidiary of ColumbiaFind albums on this label), where he recorded six albums between 1977 and 1979, all of which are included in this wonderful Box Set. The Epic recordings reveal Duke gradually moving away from the Jazz and even Fusion roots, replacing those by Funk and other popular music influences. Only the last album in this set ("A Brazilian Love AffairFind albums with this title") is different and presents Duke as a Jazz-World Fusion artist, with an obvious affinity for Brazilian music. On that album he is supported by several famous Brazilian musicians, including vocalist Milton NascimentoFind albums by this artist, percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, vocalist Flora PurimFind albums by this artist, guitarist Toninho HortaFind albums by this artist and many others, in addition to his American regulars. On all the albums he plays with an excellent group of musicians, which includes his long-time friend bassist Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist, drummer Leon Ndugu ChanclerFind albums by this artist, bassist Byron MillerFind albums by this artist, percussionist Sheila EscovedoFind albums by this artist and numerous others, including many brass players as well, which shows a clear influence of Earth, Wind & FireFind albums by this artist on Duke´s music at the time. Duke composed all the music on these albums (with very few minor exceptions) and he also utilizes his vocals, which is the most criticized issue regarding this music. As much as these albums were successful on the US market, they were treated with disrespect and sheer detest by his European and Japanese fans, who accused him of commerciality. The problem was of course, that this music should have not been compared to or judged by the same criteria as his earlier output, which was completely different stylistically. In retrospect this music still sounds great and lost nothing of its power and ingenuity, providing it is treated separately from Duke´s other output. The tunes are great, as are the performances, and one can´t resist the funky rhythms unless one is completely deaf or brain-dead. There are very few musicians, who display the same level of integrity and ingenuity as George Duke in everything they do over the years. He is the man and nobody can deny it!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

AIRTO MOREIRA ~ I`M FINE, HOW ARE YOU? WARNER BROS. 081227957056 (Barcode: 081227957056) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1977 Released: 2014 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by Brazilian drummer / percussionist / composer / bandleader Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist, recorded with a large group of Brazilian and American musicians, which includes keyboardist Hugo FattorusoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Charles JohnsonFind albums by this artist, trombonist Raoul de SouzaFind albums by this artist, bassist Byron MillerFind albums by this artist, and famous guests, who play on selected tracks, like bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tom ScottFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ruben RadaFind albums by this artist or Moreira’s wife Flora PurimFind albums by this artist (who sings on one track). The album presents eight tracks, four composed or co-composed by Moreira, one composed by Purim, and three co-composed by Rada and Fattoruso. The music is the usual wonderful amalgam of Brazilian rhythms and melodies, with a Jazzy tinge, splendidly performed by the entire crew. This album is distinctly on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, but nonetheless offers great musicianship and the familiar Brazilian flavor, which is always great fun to listen to. The last track, which features Pastorius, is particularly interesting to his many fans, as his playing here is absolutely stunning. Overall, fans of Jazz-World Fusion with Brazilian flavoring should love this album, as all his other recordings, and of course he is an absolute genius as far as mixing the Brazilian elements with Jazz is concerned.

Updated: 06/07/2024Posted: 05/07/2024

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend