GEORGE DUKE Vinyl & CDs

Review: The comprehensive five-CD set celebrating George Duke's illustrious solo career from 1977 to 2000 is a treasure box for fans and newcomers alike. Encompassing his prolific years with Epic Records and Warner Brothers, this collection features 87 tracks that showcase Duke's unparalleled versatility across genres. From funky hits like 'Dukey Stick' and 'Say That You Will' to the soulful grooves of 'Shine On' and the infectious rhythms of 'Sweet Baby' from the Clarke/Duke Project, every facet of Duke's musical genius shines through. Included are standout tracks from his Elektra Records era, including highlights from albums like 'Thief In The Night' and his self-titled 1986 release. Duke's ability to effortlessly traverse jazz, funk, soul and beyond shows his innovation in music. With insightful sleeve notes by journalist Charles Waring, this collection pays homage to Duke's legacy as a virtuoso who defied genre boundaries and left an indelible mark on the music world. His passing in 2013 marked the end of an era, but his music ensures that his influence will endure for generations to come.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** A couple of all time George Duke greats get the official remastered and reissue treatment here. The American songwriting legend's "I Want You for Myself' from 1979 gets a mighty Tom Moulton rework on the A side - which streamlines the essential groove of the original just nicely. On the flip, the sultry late night mood lighting of "Brazilian Love Affair" is funky, soulful and groovy in all the right amounts - the album of the same name from 1980 was hailed as his most popular. Duke was known primarily for thirty-odd solo albums, as well as his collaborations with other musicians - particularly Frank Zappa.

Review: Adhering strictly to a distinctly Chicagoan tradition in DJ sets - using razor and tape to prolong the most crucial parts and phrases of the track, to unseat and suspend ravers - house music legend Theo Parrish has always sprinkled his sets with his own, unique takes on classic and obscure disco, funk and soul. Some of these edits were available to fans in mid-noughts via Parrish's Ugly Edits series, which set the tone for the "edits series" format at large; but whereas most of these outfits have only adopted this approach by a sort of prescribed mimesis - their efforts adding up to precious little more than one, somewhat formless pale imitation - the OG Parrish here returns to the format with a punny new round-two (not Ugly Edits, but Lovely Edits) blowing said inane, bordering-on-AI-generated competitors out of the park with two new, fully-sample-cleared versions of two corresponding, utterly heated staples: BT Express' 'Peace Pipe' and George Duke's 'I Want You For Myself'.