Artiste: George Duke
Album: Faces In Reflection
Spotlight Track: Capricorn
Label: MPS
Bass – John Heard
Drums – Leon Ndugu Chancler
Keyboards – George Duke
Before his Columbia days, George Duke rocked it on German label MPS with a few seminal albums that you ABSOLUTELY MUST MUST listen to before you die. Not quite the smooth, soul/funk stuff George is known for, on MPS he worked a groove that’s jazz/fusion/funk/soul/psychedelia, extremely experimental!
The year is 1974, old Georgy just got his hands on an ARP (god bless the ARP!!!) and that’s the end of it, the fella is a born master of synthesis! The whole album is a killer, especially on the keyboards, it’s trippy like Tron. The music on Faces is intense! George experiments with odd time signatures and various synthesizer textures, it’s also probably the first time he solos on a keyboard for a recording.
With tracks like North Beach and Faces In Reflection (title track, I like the non-vocal version), it was hard to choose which to feature on this week’s spotlight, finally I’ve picked Capricorn solely for the genius vocal arrangement and sick sick sick, mellow groove. Pure genius!
When I first asked Crispian to recommend a few tracks in the soul/jazz/funk genere, he sent an email which I still keep till today. I quote “George Duke – Don’t Let Go (if you don’t have this.. the funk has unfortunately not hit your fan! ; )”. Today I have 3 copies on LP and 1 on CD, thanks BRAH!
PS: George Duke on MPS you cannot miss: The Inner Source (SABA Records), Aura Will Prevail, Feel, I heard The Blues She Made Me Cry, and Liberated Fantasies. Peace!
Tangkap This!!!
-Kenny
