Cool

George Duke | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 19, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00004Y6NG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,885 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Marin City

2. Wake Up, Smell The Coffee

3. She's Amazing

4. If You Will

5. Never Be Another

6. Ancient Source

7. Only You Understand

8. If He Ain't Mr. Right (Then He's Mr. Wrong)

9. Sexy Cool

10. All About You

11. Whatever It Takes

12. The Times We've Known

13. At A Glance

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

George Duke wears shades on the back cover and calls his latest recording Cool, but "Busy" and "Scattered" might better fit this wild potpourri of R&B, pop, jazz, gospel, and Brazilian sounds. It feels as if he's taking a stand against the unwritten modern music biz rule that homogeny sells records, as each tune genre hops gleefully, capturing yet another facet of the keyboardist-producer's spirited personality. He goes into a Curtis Mayfield falsetto to sing us his autobiography on the retro-soul-minded "Marin City," and returns to that voice on "Ancient Source," an ode to the music of Africa featuring exotic chants and offbeat percussion. Once we have the background, Duke plays comedic social observer ("Wake Up, Smell the Coffee"); corny, hopeless romantic ("She's Amazing," sung soulfully with Chante Moore); a traveler to the joyous part of Rio ("If You Will," which features Duke's Rhodes dancing over samba grooves, vocal choruses, and the solo voice of Flora Purim); spiritual leader (playing keys behind the gospel group Anointed on "Never Be Another"); and adviser to the lovelorn with stars in their eyes on "If He Ain't Mr. Right (Then He's Mr. Wrong)."

Some of the tunes are catchy and fun, but few measure up to his vast catalog. More effective is Duke's Quincy Jones-like flair for inviting too many musicians to the party and then making the most of each invitee. It's always been clear, however, that Duke is a far superior keyboardist than vocalist, and it's unfortunate that most of his best solos here come midway through vocals that don't always catch fire. Two of the all-instrumental pieces--especially the meandering ambient piece "At a Glance"--fall short, but the brassy, snappy "Whatever It Takes" keeps the focus where it should be, on his melodic playing. More of this would create the cool Duke aspired to. --Jonathan Widran

From Jazziz

George Duke calls his latest recording Cool, but "busy" or "scattered" might be more apt titles for this wild potpourri of R&B, pop, jazz, gospel, and Brazilian sounds. It almost feels as if he's taking a stand against the music industry's insistence on homogeny. Each tune on this record hops gleefully from one genre to the next, and every leap captures yet another facet of the keyboardist/producer's spirited personality. He goes into a Curtis Mayfield falsetto to sing us his autobiography on the retro-soul-minded "Marin City," and returns to that voice on "Ancient Source," an ode to the music of Africa featuring exotic chants and offbeat percussion.

After we have the background, Duke plays comedic social observer ("Wake Up, Smell the Coffee"); corny, hopeless romantic ("She's Amazing," sung soulfully with Chanté Moore); a traveler to the joyous part of Rio ("If You Will," featuring Duke's Rhodes dancing over samba grooves, vocal choruses, and the voice percussion of Flora Purim); spiritual leader (playing keys behind the gospel group Anointed on "Never Be Another"); and advisor to the starry-eyed and lovelorn on "If He Ain't Mr. Right (Then He's Mr. Wrong)."

Some of the tunes are catchy and fun, but few measure up to those in his vast catalog. Still, he shares with Quincy Jones a flair for bringing way too many musicians to the party yet making the most of each invitee. It's always been clear, however, that Duke himself is a far superior jazz/funk keyboardist than vocalist, and it's unfortunate that most of his best solos are found midway through vocal tracks that don't always catch fire. The brassy snap of "Whatever It Takes," however, keeps the focus where it should be: on Duke's melodic playing. More cuts like this would have created the cool to which he aspired.

--- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Once again-Master of the GAME!, October 9, 2000

By 

Edward Saunders Jr. "hunnybeared" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool (Audio CD)

This artist is once again on top of his form! He displays his more than capable handling of different musical genres on this CD. He is a hopeless romantic, but that is good! I sometimes wonder if music critics realize that music is entertainment and should please try and remember that.... Back to George---all of the cuts are nice and have many different rhythms and melodies to pick up on as you listen to this CD again and again! Another great effort from the Big Poppa!!!!!

ed saunders jr.

Nashville, TN

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANCIENT SOURCE - THE SIX MINUTE EARGASM, October 3, 2000

By 

"sweetears" (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool (Audio CD)

George has assembled some of the best musicians and vocalists for this project and used them suitably for every composition. I like the fact that he is singing more as his voice moves in very distinctive waves that combined with his own keyboard playing are highly complimentary and even more so with the female vocalists on this cd. I can only say that when I picked up this cd and I listened to Ancient Source I thanked George and I thanked God for George (spirituality is everywhere!). This song is filled with surprise elements and it makes me dance with joy each and every time I listen to it. It is EARGASMIC! If the music is predictable and there's no real experience within why bother, right? All I can say is "You Go George." Musically it is all over the place and its warm, cool, intense and spacious. George has done it all during his career and his experience reflects itself in every song. There should be several r&b hits on this cd, particularly "Never Be Another" (oh my God!), along with some very good instrumentals "Whatever It Takes" (y'all heard any really good horns lately). It will take more than one listen however, and that's a good thing; that's what classics are made of.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LONG OVERDUE!!, June 13, 2001

By 

"funky2" (Portland Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool (Audio CD)

So happy that George Duke is back that I don't know what to do. One of the greatest talents in the industry, and he's back, keeping it real, keeping it flowing, keeping it funky, A must purchase!!