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Clarke Duke Project 1, 2, & 3

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A triple header from the team of Stanley Clarke & George Duke – three albums together in a single set! First up is Clarke/Duke Project 1 – a mighty collaboration between Stanley Clarke & George Duke – working here in a pairing that refueled both of their careers for the 80s! In previous years, both Clarke and Duke had a penchant for really stretching out in complex, experimental modes – but here, they're playing in a relatively stripped-down and focused way – hitting some of the more soul-inspired sides of fusion at the time, although still without the slick or commercial feel of the rising GRP generation. Guitars figure heavily on a number of tracks, and vocals do too – sometimes in ways that are slightly too sweet and almost cloying. Tracks include "Wild Dog", "Louie Louie", "Sweet Baby", "I Just Want To Love You", "Winners", "Let's Get Started", and "Touch & Go". Clarke Duke Project 2 is a second set from the Clarke Duke Project – and arguably even more soulful than the first! The tunes here are still rooted in jazz, but strongly move into crossover soul territory too – with vocals from both Stanley Clarke and George Duke – and grooves that really make the best of their respective talents on bass and keyboards! The overall style's perhaps a bit more like Clarke's Columbia work than Duke's – bottom-up funky at many points, but never in clunky or overdone ways – balanced with the nice sort of polish you'd expect from either leader. Titles include "Heroes", "Try Me Baby", "Every Reason To Smile", "Atlanta", "The Good Times", "You're Gonna Lose It", and "Put It On The Line". Last up is the 1990 album Clarke/Duke Project 3 – a set that still has the pair working together in a near-seamless mode, on titles that include "Quiet Time", "Lady", "Finger Prints", "Always", "Oh Oh", "Pit Bulls", "No Place To Hide", and "Somebody Else".  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.