George Duke (1946-2013) wore many hats throughout his long and varied career: keyboardist, composer, producer, arranger, singer.  His solo discography encompassed 40 albums while his collaborations included LPs with such jazz luminaries as Jean-Luc Ponty, Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, and Dexter Gordon.  He produced records for A Taste of Honey, Sister Sledge, Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, and Smokey Robinson.  Jazz was only part of the George Duke story, as his music joyfully fused the genre with the strains of soul, rhythm and blues, dance, and pop.  The Cherry Red family of labels has celebrated Duke with numerous releases over the years, from album reissues to anthologies.  Earlier this year, the Robinsongs imprint brought together Duke's Epic (1977-1984) and Elektra/Warner Bros. (1985-2000) tenures on a new 5CD box set, From Me to You: The Definitive Collection 1977-2000.

Duke's discography as a leader began at the German MPS label, where he recorded between 1966 and 1976.  Signing to Epic, he transformed him from a jazz pianist with a remarkably diverse background (including significant work with Frank Zappa throughout the '70s) into a full-fledged crossover fusion superstar.  Duke credited Zappa with broadening his musical horizons; the iconoclastic composer also was the first to compel Duke to play synthesizers.

At Epic, Duke reinvented himself.  Recording at studios including Paramount (his old stomping ground with Zappa) and his own Le Gonks, Duke enlisted an illustrious array of collaborators including Michael Sembello, Stanley Clarke, Sheila E., Bill Champlin, Josie Games, Zappa veteran Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jeffrey Osborne, and, on his 1980 LP A Brazilian Love Affair, Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim, and Airto Moreira.  He charted four consecutive top 20 R&B albums at Epic between 1977 and 1979, with the singles "Reach for It" and "Dukey Stick" making the top five of the R&B singles survey.  "Reach for It" as well as the later "Sweet Baby" (with Clarke) and "Shine On" would find Duke on the pop chart, too.

Sequenced in rough chronological order, The Definitive Collection generously samples each of Duke's Epic platters through 1984 primarily on its first 3 CDs, culling highlights from debut From Me to You (a whopping seven of its ten tracks), Reach for It, Don't Let Go, Follow the Rainbow, Master of the Game, A Brazilian Love Affair, The Clarke/Duke Project, Guardian of the Light, The Clarke/Duke Project II, Rendezvous, and the 1990 one-off reunion with Stanley Clarke, 3.  Mike Maurro's extended remix of "I Want You for Myself" - the original version of which can be heard on Master of the Game - is an added bonus here,

Duke's three Elektra albums (Thief in the Night, George Duke, and Night After Night) and five of his six Warner Bros. LPs (Snapshot, Illusions, Is Love Enough?, After Hours, and Cool) are similarly represented on The Definitive Collection with key tracks culled from each.  (The Muir Woods Suite, from 1997, has been overlooked.)  Once again, artists flocked to join Duke during this period - including his cousin Dianne Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams, James Ingram, Howard Hewett, Irene Cara, Kenny Loggins, and Stephanie Mills

The Elektra albums found Duke leaning heavily into then-contemporary production techniques, with sequencers, synthesizers, and drum machines shaping the sound on Thief in the Night.  Duke made use, too, of the Synclavier, a synth/sampling device also favored by Zappa.  While Duke's multitude of keyboards were most prominently heard, the human touch was also provided by such esteemed colleagues as drummer John Robinson, guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., and percussionist Paulinho da Costa.

George Duke, its simple title representing a fresh start, welcomed much of the same personnel as well as Napoleon Murphy Brock, bassist Byron Miller, and drummer Ndugu Chancler.  Though the techno-funk of "Broken Glass" (complete with appropriate sound effects and prominent vocoder) got the attention on the R&B chart, the heart of George Duke was the lush ballad "Good Friend."  Much in the vein of Dionne Warwick and Friends' "That's What Friends Are For," Duke welcomed an A-list of famous friends to take turns singing a verse, among them Jeffrey Osborne, Stephanie Mills, Irene Cara, Joyce Kennedy of Mother's Finest, Kenny Loggins, and Deniece Williams.  Ever busy, Duke waited over two years before releasing a third Elektra LP.  Night After Night (represented here by five songs including a revival of Skip Scarborough's "Love Ballad," a hit for both LTD and George Benson).  When the LP failed to catch on broadly despite an impressive No. 11 Jazz Albums showing, the piano man decamped from Elektra and set up shop at sister label Warner Bros. Records.  This era comprises most of CD 5 here.

Ever loyal, Duke enlisted many of his Elektra collaborators for Warner debut Snapshot including Paul Jackson, Jr., Ndugu Chancler, Byron Miller, and Paulinho da Costa as well as fellow jazz luminaries Hubert Laws, and Airto Moreira.  Sheila E. was on hand for drums, and Duke welcomed a young saxophonist whom he had championed, Everette Harp.  As a composer and a leader, Duke was reinvigorated as he lent somewhat more heavily into his jazz roots while still turning out a funky, rhythmic set.  The bubbly title track melded smooth jazz and New Jack Swing; the persuasive ballad "No Rhyme, No Reason" became the LP's most successful track (No. 24 R&B).  Snapshot was Duke's only album to top the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and also reached the top 40 in R&B Albums.  It set the stage for further success at the Warner label.

Illusions boasted appearances by Stanley Clarke on its sleek title track.  With flourishes of dance, reggae, and even rock, Illusions underscored that Duke's musical reach was far-ranging, indeed.  Is Love Enough? (1997) was anchored by the sultry title track sung by Rachelle Ferrell and Lori Perry.  Vesta Williams took the lead on "It's Our World," a tune developed from Duke's theme to the UPN sitcom Malcolm and Eddie.  Elsewhere, Duke and his by-now familiar supporting cast of musicians conjured a romantic mood (the sensual, slow-burning "Fill the Need" with vocals from Ferrell and veteran session singer Jim Gilstrap).  Love clearly was enough, as the album reached the top five of both the Jazz and Contemporary Jazz charts.  But Duke wasn't keen to repeat himself.  After Hours (1998) was his first purely instrumental album in two decades. "Rush Hour/Road Rage" and "From Dusk to Dawn" have been selected to represent this most elegant of albums.  One song from Cool (2000) brings the collection to a close: the modernized samba of "If You Will" featuring another old friend of Duke's, Brazilian singer Flora Purim.  Cool ended Duke's Warner Bros. tenure with his third consecutive Contemporary Jazz top ten LP.

From Me to You: The Definitive Collection is housed in a clamshell case and includes a 20-page booklet with liner notes by Charles Waring, who has penned essays for various Cherry Red reissues of Duke's work.  Oli Hemingway has remastered the audio.

When George Duke passed away in 2013 at the age of 67, he left behind one of the most striking discographies in jazz, R&B, funk, and soul.  This new box offers 87 examples of his sturdy craft and enormous musicality.  It's available now at the links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

George Duke, From Me to You: The Definitive Collection 1977-2000 (Cherry Red/Robinsongs ROBIN5BX74, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)

CD 1

1. From Me To You
2. Carry On
3. Up On It
4. Down In It
5. Sing It
6. You And Me
7. 'Scuse Me Miss
8. The Beginning
9. Lemme At It
10. Hot Fire
11. Watch Out Baby!
12. Reach For It
13. Just For You
14. Dukey Stick
15. We Give Our Love
16. Morning Sun
17. Yeah, We Going
18. Don't Let Go

CD 2

1. Movin On
2. The Way I Feel
3. Party Down
4. I Am For Real (May The Funk Be With You)
5. Pluck
6. Straight From The Heart
7. Say That You Will
8. Funkin For The Thrill
9. Look What You Find
10. I Love You More
11. Every Little Step I Take
12. I Want You For Myself (Original Mike Maurro Mix)
13. Games
14. Brazilian Love Affair
15. Summer Breezin'
16. Cravo E Canela
17. Up From The Sea It Arose And Ate Rio In One Swift Bite

CD 3

1. Sweet Baby - Clarke/Duke Project
2. Never Judge A Cover By Its Book - Clarke/Duke Project
3. I Just Want To Love You - Clarke/Duke Project
4. Finding My Way - Clarke/ Duke Project
5. Wild Dog - Clarke/Duke Project
6. Winners - Clarke/Duke Project
7. Shine On
8. Positive Energy
9. Dream On
10. Ride On Love
11. I Will Always Be Your Friend
12. You
13. Overture
14. Light
15. Reach Out
16. Celebrate
17. Give Me Your Love
18. Born To Love You
19. Heroes - Clarke/Duke Project
20. Secret Rendezvous

CD 4

1. Take It On
2. Got To Get Back To Love
3. Thief In The Night (Vocal Remix)
4. Jam
5. La La
6. Stand With Your Man
7. Island Girl
8. The Morning, You & Love
9. Broken Glass
10. Good Friend
11. Love Ballad
12. Brazilian Coffee
13. Say Hello
14. Rise Up
15. Guilty
16. C'est La Vie
17. 560 SL

CD 5

1. Keeping Love Alive
2. Snapshot
3. No Rhyme No Reason
4. 6 O'clock
5. Genesis
6. 500 Miles To Go
7. Illusions
8. Love Can Be So Cold
9. Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Clarke/Duke Project
10. It's Our World
11. Fill The Need
12. Is Love Enough
13. Rush Hour / Road Rage
14. From Dusk To Dawn
15. If You Will (Featuring Flora Purim)

CD 1, Tracks 1-7 from From Me to You, Epic PE 34469, 1977
CD 1, Tracks 8-13 from Reach for It, Epic JE 34883, 1977
CD 1, Tracks 14-18 and CD 2, Tracks 1-2 from Don't Let Go, Epic JE 35366, 1978
CD 2, Tracks 3-8 from Follow the Rainbow, Epic JE 35701, 1979
CD 2, Tracks 9-11 & 13 from Master of the Game, Epic JE 36263, 1979
CD 2, Track 12 from The Mike Maurro Peak Hour Remixes, Harmless HURTXCD127, 2015
CD 2, Tracks 14-17 from A Brazilian Love Affair, Epic FE 36483, 1980
CD 3, Tracks 1-6 from The Clarke/Duke Project, Epic FE 36918, 1981
CD 3, Tracks 7-12 from Dream On, Epic FE 37532, 1982
CD 3, Tracks 13-18 from Guardian of the Light, Epic FE 38513, 1983
CD 3, Track 19 from The Clarke/Duke Project II, Epic FE 38934, 1983
CD 3, Track 20 and CD 4, Tracks 1-2 from Rendezvous, Epic FE 39262, 1984
CD 4, Tracks 3-5 from Thief in the Night, Elektra 60398-2, 1985
CD 4, Tracks 6-10 from George Duke, Elektra 60480-1, 1986
CD 4, Tracks 11-15 & 17 from Night After Night, Elektra CD 9 60778-2, 1989
CD 5, Tracks 1-4 from Snapshot, Warner Bros. 9 45026-2, 1992
CD 5, Tracks 5-8 from Illusions, Warner Bros. 9 45755-2, 1995
CD 5, Track 9 from 3, Epic EK 46012, 1990
CD 5, Tracks 10-12 from Is Love Enough, Warner Bros. 9 46494-2, 1997
CD 5, Tracks 13-14 from After Hours, Warner Bros. 9 47073-2, 1998
CD 5, Track 15 from Cool, Warner Bros. 9 47660-2, 2000