Funk Factory (feat. Michal Urbaniak & Urszula Dudziak

Funk Factory was released in 1976 on Elektra Records is the creation of famous Polish violinist Michal Urbaniak and his wife Urszula Dudziak in collaboration with the main cast of musicians who collaborated on Urbaniak’s “Fusion III”. This production seems to be a preview of what Urbaniak had in mind for his musical concept and career for the remaining of the 70’s and part of the 80’s. The vocal tracks (with lyrics) mark a drastic departure not only from the Columbia label but from his musical concept of the Fusion trilogy and pave the way for later funky-vocal oriented albums such as “Body English” also from 1976 and “Ecstasy” from 1978. Urbaniak’s high-flying electrified and modified violin sound is still as present as before but Urszula Dudziak’s wide-range vocals and sound effects are less of a driving force as they have given way to the somehow uneventful singing with dull lyrics. There are even a couple of tracks where Urbaniak doesn’t even seem to play. Nonetheless, the rest of the album, which is mainly instrumental, maintains the concept of the Fusion trilogy since at times these instrumental compositions sound like outtakes from those sessions and could easily be paired against some of Urbaniak’s best fusion, thus proving the point that most of any production by any artist contains material, such as the song “Funk It” (sampled below), which is worth considering if taken out of context from their original releases. The cast of musicians continue to stretch and provide further boundaries into improvisation and rhythmic accompaniment in a funkified manner. Personnel are: Michal Urbaniak on violin, Vi-tar and saxes, Urszula Dudziak on vocals and percussion, Wlodek Gulgowski on keyboards, Anthony Jackson and Tony Levin on bass, Steve Gadd and Gerry Brown on drums, Bernard Kafka on vocals, and John Abercrombie and Barry Finnerty on guitars. This album has been reissued thanks to the re-issuing label Wounded Bird Records.

Track Listing:

1. Watusi Dance (Instrumental)

2. Horsing Around

3. Rien Ne Va Plus

4. After All the World Goes Home

5. Next Please (Instrumental)

6. The Music in Me

7. Funk It (Instrumental) (Sampled Above)

8. Lilliput (Instrumental)

9. Sinkin' Low (Instrumental)

Buy Funk Factory at Amazon or Wounded Bird Records, or

George Duke - Follow The Rainbow

This funky 1979 release “Follow The Rainbow” brings Duke closer to pop and disco, but make no mistake, it really funks like a locomotive. You can feel the influence of Earth Wind & Fire, the gospel touch and the Zappa-esque humor mixed with jive from the neighborhood. This time the Brazilian influence is still present by the Latin percussion touch brings a new element into Duke's fusion melting pot. Like most of Duke’s releases, his jazz influences merge into the instrumental tracks and this release contains two amazing instrumentals, the Latin influenced “Festival” (sampled below) and “Corinne”, which evokes Ramsey Lewis’ “Sun Goddess”. Personnel includes Duke on keyboards, pianos, synthesizers, bassist Byron Miller, Ricky Lawson and Leon "Ndugu" Chandler on drums, Charles “Icarus” Johnson and Roland Bautista on guitars, Sheila Escovedo on percussion and vocals plus vocals by Napoleon Murphy Brook, Lynn Davis and Josie James plus horns by Jerry Hey on trumpet, Larry Williams on saxes and Eric Culver on trombone. This CD was only available as a Japanese import, but now it's readily available as noted below.

Track Listing:

1. Party Down

2. Say That You Will

3. Funkin' For The Thrill

4. Sunrise

5. Festival (sampled above)

6. I Am For Real

7. Straight From The Heart

8. Corine

9. Pluck

10. Follow The Rainbow

Buy it at George Duke’s Website (Cheapest),  or
Buy Follow the Rainbow at Amazon

George Duke - From Me To You

This is Duke’s first record for Epic Records. Duke himself states: “My first record for Epic. I tried to do a lot on this record! For me, the best tunes on this LP are the instrumental tracks. This was the first time I had a decent budget to do a record, so I went a little overboard - but I had grand plans! I wanted to demonstrate that I could orchestrate, write, sing, arrange, play keyboards and be funky, jazzy and heavy, all at the same time.” This album also marked a milestone in Duke’s career as it was the first time he collaborated with Stanley Clarke and Dianne Reeves. Zappa's influence is still felt quite heavily on several tracks and the musical diversity is still the backbone of Duke’s style. Personnel are: Personnel includes Duke on keyboards, pianos, synthesizers and vocals, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums, Stanley Clarke on electric and acoustic bass, Byron Miller on bass, Mike Sembello on guitar, Emil Richards on percussion plus vocals by Dianne Reeves, Maxime Willard Waters, Julia Tilman Waters and Jessica Smith. Horns played by Ernie Watts and Bill Green on saxophones, flutes and piccolos, Bobby Bryant and Walter Fowler on trumpets and Glenn Ferris and Lou McCreary on trombones. Read more...

Track Listing:

1. From Me To You

2. Carry On
3. What Do They Really Fear?
4. ‘Scume Me Miss
5. You and Me
6. Broken Dreams
7. Up On It
8. Seasons (sampled above)
9. Down In It
10. Sing It
Buy at George Duke’s Website or  

Buy it at Amazon

George Duke - My Soul - The Complete MPS Fusion Recordings

George Duke’s career expands four solid decades melting the boundaries of jazz, funk, R&B, rock, fusion and even humoresque songwriting. As an accomplished performer, keyboardist, producer and singer he has worked on and he has produced successful albums and tracks for Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Philip Bailey, Jeffrey Osborne, Deniece Williams, George Howard, Dianne Reeves, The Pointer Sisters, 101 North, Najee, Jeffrey Osborne, Take 6, Howard Hewett, Chante Moore, Everette Harp, Rachelle Ferrell, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau and Gladys Knight among others. His collaboration with Stanley Clarke even penned them the number one single “Sweet Baby” with The Clarke/Duke Project. He has also collaborated with some the best jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Billy Cobham, Flora Purim, John Scofield, Jean-Luc Ponty, Alphonso Johnson and he was a member of Frank Zappa’s band. But his solo career is where we find Duke at his best. His fusion of jazz, R&B, Brazilian rhythms, amazing song-writing and humor makes his solo albums treasures for any fan of these musical styles. His Fender Rhodes electric piano and his synthesizer sounds are unmistakable. Duke got his early career start at the European Label MPS and “My Soul - The Complete MPS Fusion Recordings” documents Duke’s chronological growth as a pianist, keyboardist, composer and producer on his six releases (less his 1966 MPS debut) grouped on four CDs. This testament of Duke’s career remains strong and compelling over three decades later. Six amazing albums put together, back to back, re-mastered and at a great price available at George Duke's website.

1971's “Solus (The Inner Source)” was a double album featuring two releases intended to be put out separately “Solus” and “The Inner Source” and it is the jazziest session of the box-set. It features bassist John Heard and drummer Dick Berk. Duke's collaboration with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley is evident as he mixes his trademark electric and acoustic pianos with the traditional jazz tendencies of his early career. On “The Inner Source” the influence of Duke’s participation on Cannonball Adderley’s band becomes apparent as Duke expands the band with Luis Gasca on trumpet and flugelhorn, Jerome Richardson on saxophone and Armando Peraza on congas.

“Solus / The Inner Source” - Original Track Listing:

1. Au-Right
2. Love Reborn
3. Peace
4. So There You Go
5. The Followers
6. Solus
7. Nigerian Numberuma
8. My Soul
9. The Inner Source
10. Life
11. Sometime Ago
12. Feels So Good (sampled above)
13. Manya
14. Sweet Bite
15. Twenty-five
16. Always Constant

Duke's next record, 1974's “Faces in Reflection” still features the trio format with bassist John Heard and drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, but the influence of Zappa begins to creep into the more complex, challenging and rhythmically aggressive compositions. Duke begins to increment the use of synthesizers, clavinets and electric pianos as he utilizes those to compliment the textures of the recording and to perform amazing solos. His vocals appear as layered textures.

"Faces in Reflection"- Original Track Listing:
1. The Opening (sampled above)
2. Capricorn
3. Piano Solo No. 1
4. Piano Solo No. 2
5. Psychocomatic Drug
6. Faces in Reflection No. 1
7. Maria Tres Filhos
8. North Beach
9. Da Somba
10. Faces in Reflection No. 2
Buy "Faces In Reflection" at Amazon or ITunes

On “Feel” (1974), Duke begins to show his stronger tendencies towards fusion based on funk and R&B while extending the use of synthesizers and vocals. "Feel" features the same trio of bassist John Heard and drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler as in “Faces in Reflection”, but this time personnel includes percussionist Airto Moreira, singer Flora Purim and guitar solos by "Obdewl'l X" (Frank Zappa, playing under a pseudonymous).

“Fell”- Original Track Listing:
1. Funny Funk
2. Love
3. The Once Over
4. Feel
5. Corea Jobege
6. Old Slippers
7. Theme from The Opera "Tzina"
8. Yana Aminah
9. Rashid (sampled above)
10. Statement

Buy "Feel" at Amazon or Buy it at Itunes

“I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry” expands the funk/R&B feel in grandiose form while keeping the jazz-rock fusion element present at all times. Duke’s songwriting has become more focused on the pop-form and the extensive use of guitars makes this release stand out as a milestone in Duke’ career. Duke’s amazing chops and his extensive use of layered and solo synthesizers complement the influence of Zappa. Personnel includes percussionist Ruth Underwood, trombonist Tom Fowler, bassist Tom Fowler, percussionist Airto Moreira, singer Flora Purim and drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler with guest appearances from guitarists George Johnson (The Brothers Johnson), Lee Ritenour, Daryl Stuermer (Jean-Luc Ponty, Phil Collins, Genesis) and Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

“I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry”- Original Track Listing:
1. Chariot
2. Look Into Her Eyes
3. Sister Serene
4. That's What She Said (sampled above)
5. Mashavu
6. Rokkinrowl, I Don't Know
7. Prepare Yourself
8. Giant Child Within Us – Ego
9. Someday
10. I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry

Buy “I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry” at iTunes

In 1975 Duke released “The Aura Will Prevail”, which resembles more the style of the album “Feel”. The power trio format returns with long-time partner drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler and the new addition to the band bassist Alphonso Johnson of Weather Report fame. Airto Moreria lends a large hand on the percussion department. Although this is a largely instrumental album with plenty of amazing solos and performances, Duke ventures again into the singing realm with great success and the rhythms contributed by Airto Moreira provide a beautiful back up for the Brazilian influenced compositions.

“Liberated Fantasies” released in 1976 is Duke's final fusion disc for MPS and as such it completes this cycle of Duke’s career by consolidating all the musical styles and influences that converged and paved the way for the rest of his career until nowadays. This melting-pot of fusion combines the jazz, the soul, the funk, the gospel, the Zappa-esque, the Brazilian, the keyboardist, the composer, the producer, the songwriter and the amazing pianist within Duke. Personnel includes Duke on keyboards, pianos, synthesizers and bass, drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, bassist Alphonso Johnson, Airto Moreria on percussion, George Johnson, Daryl Stuermer, David Amaro on guitars, Emil Richards on marimba plus vocals by Napoleon Murphy Brook, Janet Ferguson Holf, Bonnie Bowden Amaro, Rashid Duke and Ruth Underwood.

Buy "My Soul - Box Set" at Duke's Website

More MPS recordings at: MPS-Love, Promising Music or MPS Germany

John Lee & Gerry Brown - Still Can't Say Enough

Still Can't Say Enough is the third of four albums by the formidable rhythm section duo of bassist John Lee and drummer Gerry Brown. Just as their 1975's Mango Sunrise, this album is also produced by Skip Drinkwater. It’s a perfect fusion of jazz, rock and funk that features Reggie Lucas and Ray Gomez on guitars, Hubert Eaves, Harold Ivory Williams IV and Rob Franken on keyboards, Ian Underwood on synthesizers and Mtume on congas and percussion. A horn with jazz luminaries as Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis on trumpets, Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts on tenor sax, David Sanborn and Gary Bartz on alto sax, Barry Rodgers on trombone and Ron Cuber on baritone sax. Vocals are provided by Donald Liston Smith, Tawatha Agee and C.P. Alexander. Even thou I have included a Rip from vinyl generously provided by Smooth of the former blog My Jazz World, this album has finally seen the light on CD as it's been released as a Japanese import available at Amazon US, Amazon Europe and at Dusty Groove to name a few.

Track Listing:

1. Freeze It Up
2. Love The Way You Make Me Feel
3. Rise On (sampled above)
4. Funky Row
5. Talkin’ ‘Bout The Right One
6. Strut ‘N’ Get Up
7. Breakin’
8. Down The Way
9. Out The Box

Buy at Dusty Groove, Amazon US or Amazon EU.