After years of producing albums which were more
pop
/
funk
than
jazz
oriented,
George Duke
simmers down, leaves off the
R&B
vocals, and takes a little creative license on the self-proclaimed "mood record"
After Hours
. While his recent
Muir Woods Suite
showed off his affinity for
classical
music, here he's at his best on the meditative
Vince Guaraldi
-type trio
ballads
"Together as One"
and
"Sweet Dreams,"
which glide along on the
improvisational
and gently swinging graces of
Christian McBride
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler
. A whole project in this vein would have been welcome, but
Duke
charters other new territory, too; on the easy grooving
"The Touch"
and the almost new agey
"From Dusk Till Dawn,"
he borrows the actual Rhodes from
Joe Sample
but winds up perfectly simulating
Bob James
'
"Taxi"
vibe, especially on the exploratory solo on the latter tune. The untrained ear might swear it's an actual
James
recording, but
's a clever enough producer to go beyond strict imitation.
achieves an intriguing low-toned brew, as
Sheridon Stokes
' bass flute melody drifts gently over a hypnotic weave of
Larry Kimpel
's bass and
's Rhodes. And
switches off liberally from piano to synth to Rhodes on the frenetic,
McBride
Chancler
driven musical traffic jam
"Rush Hour/Road Rage,"
the only piece which recalls the zaniness of
's best hard hitting
, only with a tougher
fusion
approach. Sound effects of a closing car door and shoes on pavement form the open door for the more relaxing, but never dull, evening that is to follow. ~ Jonathan Widran