La, la, la. Hello YAHOO. I have been recently getting some
of the most magical tunes, ever by a jazz artist. It took me a
while just to find out, what the man's name was. When all the
long, people were saying his name. Unless you live under
a rock, his name is "George Duke". Perhaps the greatest
contemporary jazz artist ever. Do you agree ? Do you know
of any, who are just as good ? Hit me up, please.
Best answer wins.
2007-06-13 03:01:43 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Jazz
I've been a fan since his Zappa days, even more so now since hes into jazz.
"Greatest contemporary jazz artist ever"? I don't know about that. Actually my personal favorites are the "legends" like John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Django Reinhart, Miles Davis, Billie Holliday,etc.
My current contemporary jazz artist favorite is maybe Larry Carlton. But I think his best stuff was a long time ago.
Magical tunes? Thats very descriptive. I don't remember ever hearing "magical tunes". If thats an accurate description, what Duke CD is in your player? I want a copy.
2007-06-13 04:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by Stratobratster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love George Duke's playing and I was a fan of his since before he was with Zappa. I saw him live with Zappa twice, including once on my birthday when I sat right above him and got to see his every move! He is really good! His recordings as a leader are uneven and I think he sometimes tries TOO HARD to find his own direction. Duke is a great player in many genres but I don't rate him as the "greatest contemporary jazz artist ever". Herbie Hancock comes pretty close, though! So do McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans. My vote would go to "TOM"-- Antonio Carlos Jobim. He's great at composition as well as playing and his family is carrying on the tradition!
2007-06-14 07:22:28 · answer #2 · answered by David A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, George is a Monster! Played with Zappa years ago,but I think he was on the staff at Laney or Merritt College in Oakland,Ca I have a couple of his CD's. Check out the Jr. Colleges mentioned and see if he's on the staff. I tried to take some of his solo's off the cd's.. So many great players these days. He's just one of many.. Ray Obiedo(spelling) is a guitarist/keyboard player from the Bay Area too. He plays more latin jazz,but very good player. Mark Levine is another great player from the B.A too. I've never checked but I'm sure he has a website.. If your into guitarists, check out Mike Stern. For years I teethed on Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Wes Montgomery.. then I heard Stern.. Stern, Vic Wooten and Dennis Chambers are Magical.. . See their clips on Youtube.
2007-06-13 08:32:22 · answer #3 · answered by xjaz1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
George Duke is definitely one of my favorite artists. I've been a fan of his for over 30 years. In fact, he's one of the reasons I became a jazz musician (piano/keyboards).
Why limit him to contemporary jazz? He's a master musician.
By the way, there is no single "greatest" contemporary jazz artist. Jazz is an art-form, and as is true with most art-forms, its very personal. Duke may be your greatest, and let's leave it there.
2007-06-15 19:21:03 · answer #4 · answered by therainbowseeker 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, started listening to George long ago starting with his work in Frank Zappa's band and moving later to his own band(s) on LPs.
Keyboardists that I still listen / follow Hancock, Tyner, Medeski.
2007-06-13 09:20:24 · answer #5 · answered by fsclaol 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love George Duke. I saw him in concert once, and I had a ball.
2007-06-13 16:45:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, hes really cool, as mentioned above was in some of zappas line ups for a while
2007-06-17 00:13:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋