Al Jarreau: My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Al Jarreau (v)
Marcus Miller (b)
John ‘JR’ Robinson (d)
Stanley Clarke (b)
Paul Jackson Jr (g)

Label:

Concord Records

October/2014

RecordDate:

date not stated

This is a beautifully put together tribute from vocalist Al Jarreau to his great friend, keyboardist, composer and producer, George Duke, who sadly passed away in August last year. Following the scene-setting opener ‘My Old Friend’, from Jarreau's classic 1981 album Breakin' Away, the album presents nine reinterpretations of Duke's back catalogue traversing Brazilian jazz, fusion, funk and R&B. The stellar line-up of guest vocalists includes Duke's cousin Dianne Reeves, Lalah Hathaway, Jeffrey Osborne and Kelly Price. Jarreau revisits ‘Backyard Ritual’, the Duke-penned track from Miles's Tutu, and is joined by that album's co-producer Marcus Miller on bass, bass clarinet and programming. Renamed ‘Churchyheart (Backyard Ritual)’, it channels the minimalist funk sound-world of the original with Mike Cottone taking on muted trumpet duties. Duke's 1980 homage A Brazilian Love Affair is mined for ‘Summer Breezin'’ and ‘Brazilian Love Affair’, while things are brought up to date with ‘You Touch My Brain’ from Duke's 2010 album Déjà Vu which is given a wry New Orleans-style makeover here courtesy of Jarreau's duet partner, Dr John.

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