NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 12, 2008) — Jazz keyboardist, pop and R&B producer and 5-time GRAMMY Award winner
George Duke has renewed his endorsement agreement with Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs, Inc., and he has several new exciting projects on the horizon. On Aug. 26, George is releasing his fourth album on his own label, BPM, and his 37th solo album to date titled
Dukey Treats.
"My new CD is a celebration of old school with a new school twist seen through my mind's eye. The central idea was to make the album as funky as it is beautiful," says Duke. "There are several different major old school R&B styles represented on this album, all spread on a blanket of jazz and performed through my lens. Those of you that know me realize that I like my funk and R&B mixed with a heavy dose of jazz."
The new album features guest appearances by some of George's oldest friends, including bassists Christian McBride, Lynn Davis and Byron Miller, drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, guitarist Jef Lee Johnson, percussionist Sheila E., and trumpeter Michael "Patches" Stewart, among others.
"George is a fine producer and musician – a master of piano-driven funk and a synthesizer pioneer who is always evolving, always making music," comments Chris Gero, vice president of Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs, Inc. "He's had his hand in more albums than you can count, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for whatever future masterpieces are in store."
George has worked with Take 6, Frank Zappa, Gladys Knight, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Al Jarreau, Smokey Robinson, and many others. He has been producing albums since 1969 and has gone on to produce several albums that went on to become gold or platinum status such as Stardust by Natalie Cole,
Just For You by Gladys Knight,
Rhythm of Love by Anita Baker,
Let's Hear it for the Boy by Deniece Williams,
Footloose, and
Stay With Me Tonight by Jeffrey Osborne, among others.
He has won five GRAMMY Awards for producing albums, and he has been nominated another nine times.
Ten days before his new album comes out, George will be performing at the Sunset Jazz in the Vines Concert series at the Wilson Creek Winery of Temecula in California. He will be performing on a
MPC7 grand MIDIpiano provided by YCAA.
As usual, George has a very busy schedule for the remainder of the year. In September he will set sail for the Capitol Jazz Cruise, and in November he will set sail on the Dave Koz & Friends cruise featuring Tower of Power, Eric Benet, and Jonathan Butler, among many others. He will spend the rest of 2008 touring to support his new album and recording in the studio. He plays an
S90ES and
Motif ES8 synthesizer workstation.
