Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 225 - Fender Rhodes Electric Piano Masters: Overseas Edition Part I

George Duke, the player who made the Rhodes Piano sing

Previously, this report was related to the CX-3 virtual organ, the sound engine of the Nautilus.
This time, I will return to the feature on the Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, or Rhodes Piano players, which I have ignored until now.
The keyboard player in this feature this time is George Duke.

George Duke is a keyboardist from California, USA and he started his career as a jazz pianist.
In the early 1970s, he joined Frank Zappa's band, Mothers of Invention, and supported Frank Zappa's music.
Frank Zappa's band was not just a rock band, there was a high level of musicianship within their music. The theatrical aspect of the band also required the ability to adapt to various musical genres.
Frank Zappa also played on a synthesizer using a Minimoog and Arp Odyssey on top of a Rhodes piano to create a colorful sound by layering two different synthesizer tones.
His vocals in the Zappa band also shined and George's distinctive high tone vocals became something that could not be written for the Zappa band.
George Duke's use of the Hohner Clavinet D6 (electric harpsichord), which utilized a unique black rhythmic sense, was also noteworthy.
After leaving the Mothers of Invention, he took advantage of his black characteristics and tackled borderless music such as soul, funk, fusion, Brazilian, and disco, and he released albums in a variety of genres. George Duke's musical taste was diverse and different from others, not only in his keyboard playing, but also in his vocal expression, composing, and songwriting.
He also used his knowledge as a producer to great effect.

■ Recommended Album: Brazilian Love Affair by George Duke (1980)

In 1979, George Duke went to Brazil to work with Brazilian legends such as Aiato Moreira and Milton Nascimento on this masterpiece of Brazilian funk fusion, and it is the highest quality album of his career. The album is colorful with Brazilian touches sprinkled throughout.
My guess is that George Duke's goal was to have Aiato Moreira on percussion. Aiato is a well-known player in the jazz world, both as a drummer and percussionist. His presence on Chick Corea and Miles Davis albums was outstanding.
In fact, Aiart's drumming on Chick Corea's band Return to Forever was excellent, and the Brazilian feeling in “Brazilian Love Affair” is inconceivable without Aiato.
In that sense, George Duke was not mistaken in his choice.
Although based on Brazilian music, the addition of George's pop and funky taste transforms it into a one-of-a-kind sound. This is a masterpiece of historical fusion!!

Recommended song: “Brazilian Love Affair”

The intro of “Brazilian Love Affair” is led by Aiato Moreira's Brazilian percussion with the slap bass flying in the air. The song is already full of Brazilian feeling. George Duke plays the chord accompaniment on the Rhodes piano and takes the leading role with his signature vocals. The bass solo in the middle section is rare for this era. The in-your-face music with Brazilian percussion pushed to the fullest really grabbed the listeners. George's intention was right.
George's backup is simple itself. The synthesizers are intertwined to emphasize the rhythm. The end of the song features a rhythmically amazingly cool solo on the Rhodes piano. The Rhodes solo is more rhythm-conscious than a melodic line. It fades out in the middle of the song, but perhaps I’m the only one who wishes it had been recorded all the way through?

■ Recommended album: Frank Zappa, One Size Fits All (1979)

One Size Fits All is the last album under the band Mothers of Invention. The matured Zappa sound can be fully enjoyed in this one. There are many masterpieces by Frank Zappa, but One Size Fits All is one of the most matured. The sense of maturity is produced by the complex development of the music, which is intertwined with odd time signatures and high-speed riffs, and with the technical ability of George Duke and the other talented musicians.

Recommended Song: “Inca Roads”

Frank Zappa's method of composing music by combining the best takes from multiple live tapes is an important technique in his music production. When overdubs and studio takes are added, a dazzling Frank Zappa world emerges. When you actually listen to the music, you can't really hear the differences.
“Inca Roads” is a complex composition with a high degree of perfection. On the other hand, it is easy to understand and has a two-sided nature like a toy box turned upside down.
George Duke sings lead vocals and also plays the Rhodes piano, two synthesizers, a minimoog, and an Arp Odyssey.
The Rhodes piano solo by George Duke can be heard in the latter part of the song. The live tape may have been inserted (the sound quality is slightly poor, so it is recognizable as a live recording), but when you listen to the performance, you will be overwhelmed by the high level of technique. There are not many players who can play so rhythmically and with such speed. Originally, George is a musician who specializes in playing with full emphasis on rhythm. His singing of superb, high-speed phrases with a sense of rhythm is simply astonishing.

■ Recommended Album: George Duke, Dream On (1882)

This was the big hit album that made George Duke's name known around the world.
The cover of the album features George Duke's then-original toter, a keyboard worn around the shoulders.
The album's black contemporary taste, which was the key to the current trend, led to a boom in the music industry.
The album shows George Duke's shift to a commercial strategy of singing and producing rather than just being a keyboard player.

Recommended song: “Dream On”

This is the title track of George Duke’s album and it’s a quality pop song. The keyboards at the heart of this song are the Arp Odyssey Synthesizer and the Rhodes Piano.
In the middle section of the song, you can hear a solo that can be said to be an example of what the Rhodes Piano can do. The high notes and the attack-enhanced tone are probably a modified version of the Rhodes Piano, the dynamite Rhodes.
It is an excellent solo, but it is a little regrettable that George Duke's original distinctive style is gone.

Musicians, albums and recommendations featured in this issue

• Artists: George Duke, Aiato Moreira, Frank Zappa
• Albums: Brazilian Love Affair, One Size Fits All, Dream On
• Recommended songs: “Brazilian Love Affair,” “Inca Roads,” “Dream On”

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