Customer Reviews

Cool

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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!!

George Duke's 2000 album Cool is a great collection of songs. As usual, George exhibits his excellent keyboard skills as well as his great vocals.

Things start out lovely with "Marin City", where he turns the played-out back-in-the-day topic into something original. There are also songs where he'll just let the instruments do their thing, like "Only You Understand" and "Whatever It Takes". Even slightly preachy songs work well, like "If He Ain't Mr. Right (Then He's Mr. Wrong)" and "Wake Up, Smell The Coffee".

Duets on this album are also winners. Songs like "The Times We've Known" and "She's Amazing" have great female vocals that work well with George's voice. But "Ancient Source" with Kim Johnson may turn some people off because, depending on how you look at it, it may sound a little too trendy. My only problem with it is that the background singing isn't the best. But this album is still worth your time. Cool is smooth sailing.

As you know from my reviews I am a HUGE George Duke fan.So
why then on 'Cool' did he have to present such a fantastic
concept by way of guest vocalists like the otherwise wonderful
Philip Baily on tunes like "Marin City"?This kind of material
really deserves the kind of treatment that only the simmering,
exotic fusion of "Ancient Source" recieves and THAT's the most
powerful song on the CD!Typical stabs at Brazillian music and
the attempts at sounding like R.Kelly,Babyface and Destiny's Child that make up the bulk of 'Cool' are okay but not up to
this great audiobiography of George Duke.Mabye he will one day
rediscover these songs and do them up right and funky because his new album 'Face The Music' is LIGHTYEARS ahead of this!

I was first introduced to George Duke over 25 years ago and I must say he still produces quality sound. The groove on this new CD is awsome and I can relate to the lyrics, because it gives a message as in all of Mr. Dukes music. It has been a pleasure to be a fan for all these years and I am disappointed to say that out of all the concerts, I have never seen him perform live. Maybe one day I will get the chance.

I love George Duke. This album does to me what music should do for everyone, it delivers a message and makes me feel good. George is a musical genius. He is truly "amazing".

In almost 20 years, I have yet to be disappointed by George Duke. I am always excited when he has a new release as he continues to demonstrate musical versatility as no one else in the business can. Cool is no exception, George's musicianship throughout this entire CD is exceptional. "Ancient Source" is one of my favorites as George seeks to educate us on the roots of our musical heritage and blends a solid groove with African chants in the background, Marin City is a short story of Duke's personal history, "She's Amazing" features Duke on lead, and while I sat in anticipation of Chante Moore's vocals until the very end, Chante sings a beautiful "ad lib" groove and George is playing piano with a fullness that sounds like six hands are stroking the instrument. "All About You" which features the Johnson Sisters is awesome, the horns are strong and these ladies are BAD! "Never Be Another" is a spiritual tune featuring Annointed and is beautifully done and "At A Glance" takes you home after a wonderful journey with the "Master of the Game".

All i can say if you want to start getting into Duke with his new stuff pick this up, and go back in time to all the old stuff being re-released! My song on this is 'Times We've Known' (what amazing words, ad libs and just a nice mellow grove). No matter how many times i listen to this, i just can not wait until the end when the Perri sisters just sang it from the heart. Get this CD you will be happy, from start to amazing finsih you will be wanting more. He is one of the few I am afraid to see in concert because being a great jazz, funk, r&B, or just a great singer, i may not hear enough of one. It would be nice to pick up a DVD of his conerts. If you want to know music pick this one up.

I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF GEORGE DUKE SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S WHEN HE PLAYED WITH FRANK ZAPPA. I HAVE ALL HIS OLD RECORDINGS, GOING BACK TO HIS STUFF WITH JEAN LUC PONTY, AND CANNONBALL ADDERLY, PRE-MOTHERS OF INVENTION. I BOUGHT THIS CD A LONG TIME AGO AND LISTENED TO IT A FEW TIMES. IT WAS OKAY, BUT NOT ONE OF HIS BEST. I HAVE LISTENED TO IT A FEW TIMES MORE SINCE THEN, AND IT IS A VERY UNEVEN MIX OF MUSIC,. SOME OF IT IS GREAT, AND OTHER PARTS ARE DISAPPOINTING, KNOWING WHAT THE MAN IS CAPABLE OF DOING AND THE MUSICIANS HE HAD TO WORK WITH. SOME OF THE SONGS SOUND AS IF THEY WOULD BE PLAYED ON ONE OF THOSE "SMOOTH JAZZ" STATIONS ON THE RADIO. BUT WHEN IT WORKS, IT IS REAL GOOD. ANYWAY, IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT BY NOE MEANS ANYWHERE NEAR THE BEST MUSIC THE MAN HAS RECORDED.