Description

True to Jacksons word, ldquoThe Dukerdquo is a decidedly unconventional salute to Ellington, demonstrating the timeless brilliance of his classic compositions while showcasing Jacksons sublime skills as an arranger, instrumentalist and vocal interpreter. Although its only the second time hes recorded an album not comprised of his own compositions, ldquoThe Dukerdquo is nonetheless a deeply personal project for Jackson, whose longstanding affinity for Ellingtons pioneering spirit has served as a key inspiration throughout his own threedecadesplus career. ldquoThe Dukerdquo finds the iconoclastic English singercomposerarrangerkeyboardist and fivetime Grammy nominee interpreting 15 Ellington classics over the course of ten tracks, interspersing melodic and rhythmic elements of various compositions in a manner thats consistent with Ellingtons own freewheeling approach. Rather than emulating the songs original bigband settings, Jackson filters the material through his own musical imagination while exploring an assortment of unexpected grooves and textures. The resulting album is a seamless fusion of sounds and styles, whose abundant sense of playfulness is consistent with Ellingtons boundarybreaking attitude. Ellington didnt consider his own arrangements to be sacred, Jackson notes. He constantly reworked them, sometimes quite radically. So I think my approach is in the spirit of the man himself. 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 finds 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 to perform a soaring ldquoCaravanrdquo in Farsi, and Lilian Vieira, of the BrazilianDutch collective Zuco 103, to create a sunny, sexy Portuguese version of ldquoPerdidordquo.The albumrsquos striking mix of electronic and organic textures is especially evident on instrumentals like ldquoIsfahanrdquo, ldquoRockinrsquo In Rhythmrdquo, ldquoThe Moocherdquo, and ldquoBlack and Tan Fantasyrdquo. The musicians include two contemporary jazz stars, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Christian McBride rock guitar hero Steve Vai drummer Ahmir lsquouestloversquo Thompson and other members of The Roots and two of Jacksonrsquos old associates, guitarist Vinnie Zummo and percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos. The album was recorded and mixed by the legendary, 7 time Grammy winner Elliot Scheiner Steely Dan, Sting, Bob Dylan. When I started this, Jackson says, It felt a little daunting like, how am I gonna pull this off But it started to pick up momentum, and took on a life of its own. I got to work with people I never thought Id be able to get, and they were all extremely enthusiastic and supportive of the project. It all came together in a way that surpassed my expectations. And its been a hell of a lot of fun. Joe Jackson CD is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £5.35