Search - George Duke :: Face the Music

Face the Music
George Duke
Face the Music
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

To quote an early George Duke album title, these 10 tracks are "liberated fantasies," as for the first time in 25 years he's not recording for a multinational corporation. Free to display all sides of his musicianship, ins...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: George Duke
Title: Face the Music
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Bizarre Planet
Release Date: 9/3/2002
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style: Smooth Jazz
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 823159510127, 608917702521, 829410604550, 766483263744

Synopsis

Amazon.com
To quote an early George Duke album title, these 10 tracks are "liberated fantasies," as for the first time in 25 years he's not recording for a multinational corporation. Free to display all sides of his musicianship, instead of aiming for one subset of jazz or the other, Duke has easily produced his best album in a decade. He digs into his fusion past with "Let's Roll" and "Another Way to Look at It," and there's his mid-'70s "Dukey Stick" persona, jamming with bassist Christian McBride on the deep funk of "Creepin'" and the aptly titled James Brown-influenced "Ain't It Funky Now." His take on '90s music that satisfied both the smooth jazz and contemporary jazz crowd are also prevalent on both "Guess You're Not the One" and the ballad "Close to You," which features his underrated falsetto voice. Duke even lifts a monologue from his late mentor, Cannonball Adderley, on "Black Messiah," a tune that has the feel of the late '60s, when the soul-jazz era was morphing into fusion. Face the Music is Duke turning into a mirror and the music produced can paraphrased by the title of an early album, Faces in Reflection. --Mark Ruffin

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CD Reviews

WOW!...
duce | Stone Mountain, GA | 11/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the ONE for George. The CD where he has total freedom to do whatever he wants to do and you hear it in every single track. He picked the BEST musicians in the business and went wild! Black Messiah is a pretty smooth tune with an old feel from the old "smoky room" jazz club days, Chillin is an awesome song with a nice "tap your foot rhythm"...My Piano clearly demonstrates why he is the "Master of the Game", Let's Roll is too much for the normal ear...you will not believe your ears. The balance of this CD is as exceptional as the beginning. The most noticable quality of this CD is, of course, the unbelievable musicianship and how this band he assembled ignited some of his most exceptional piano playing. This was GOOOOODDDD! Man, I'm glad he's producing under his own label. This is a must for any jazz enthusiast."
A PEAK!!!!!
Andre' S Grindle | Bangor,ME. | 11/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's taken me well over ten listens to this album to appreciate
just how FANTASTIC every cut on "Face The Music" is!The opening
"Black Messiah" showcases slow burning funk using acoutsic bass
and Duke's understand GRAND piano playing.And that "understatement" carries over into a series of long,superbly
crafted funk such as "Ain't It Funky Now","Let's Roll" and a
fantastic nod to his elaborate MPS days on "Another Way To look
At It".As as always a certain Brazillian flavor touches several
of these numbers.You'd think that after all these years Duke
would start to run out of steam but he's only getting better!"
Great CD - Too bad it took almost 5 months before I heard it
Andre' S Grindle | 02/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps its because George recorded this one on his own independent record label. Who knows... However, had I not been out to LA (where I heard it played often) I would not have even know about the CD as it has gotten no airplay on any stations in the New York area. At least I have not heard anything yet! What a shame. The world of Jazz has been so tired and boring lately and this is the shot in the arm it needed. Cool and funky innovative grooves throughout with some nice contemporary jazz songs. It's a shame I don't hear it in NY. Also, I was a little disappointed with the liner notes - no copyright date information or the kind of information you would like to see on each song, but overall, a really a great CD to add to your collection."