Description

Vinyl Records London are on cloud nine, we are now spinning in a brand new copy in 12 Inch Vinyl from Joe Jackson ldquoI revere the Duke, but I didnrsquot want to make a reverent albumrdquo, Joe Jackson says of ldquoThe Dukerdquo, his new studio album dedicated to jazz legend Duke Ellington. ldquoThe Dukerdquo is indeed an unconventional salute to Ellington, demonstrating the timeless brilliance of his compositions while showcasing Jacksonrsquos skills as arranger, instrumentalistand singer. Itrsquos a deeply personal project for Jackson, whose affinity for Ellington has been an inspiration throughout his own threedecadeplus career.The album finds Jackson interpreting 15 Ellington classics over ten tracks, ingeniously combining several songs into medleys and filters the material through his own musical imagination.The result is a surprising yet seamless fusion of styles. Jacksonrsquos distinctive voice is featured on ldquoIrsquom Beginning To See The Lightrdquo, ldquoMood Indigordquo, and ldquoI Got It Bad And That Ainrsquot Goodrdquo, while ldquoIt Donrsquot Mean A Thing If It Ainrsquot Got That Swingrdquo fi nds him trading vocals with punk icon Iggy Pop. RampB diva Sharon Jones, meanwhile, shines with a soulful ldquoI Ainrsquot Got Nothinrsquo But The Bluesrdquo. In keeping with Ellingtonrsquos multiculuralism, Jackson also encouraged Iranian singer Sussan Deyhim toperform a soaring ldquoCaravanrdquo in Farsi, and Lilian Vieira, of the BrazilianDutch collective Zuco103, to create a sunny, sexy Portuguese version of ldquoPerdidordquo.The musicians include two contemporary jazz stars, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Christian McBride rock guitar hero Steve Vai on two tracks the album opens with a great instrumental ldquoduetldquo by Vai and Jackson drummer Ahmir lsquouestloversquo Thompson and other members of The Roots on all tracks and two of Jacksonrsquos old associates, guitarist Vinnie Zummo from Body and Soul and percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos. The album was recorded and mixed by the legendary seven time Grammy winner Elliot Scheiner.Though The Duke is technically a tribute album, itrsquos also very much a Joe Jackson album, consistent with his longstanding sense of musical adventure and his distinctivesounds.