George Duke - Faces in Reflection (1974/2015) [TR24][OF]

Released in 1974, Faces in Reflection was, in many ways, George Duke's third album as a leader for MPS. The first two, Solus and The Inner Source, were recorded separately but issued as a double-LP by SABA, which shortly thereafter ceased doing business and was folded into MPS. That said, there is little resemblance between the man who recorded his early albums like Save the Country, those aforementioned, and the seasoned studio experimentalist who cut Faces in Reflection. Duke's periods with Cannonball Adderley and Frank Zappa (the latter an ongoing relationship; it was Zappa who introduced Duke to the synthesizer) had taught him a ton musically and about working in the studio. The players here include Leon "Ndugu" Chancler and bassist John Heard. The sound is a seamless mixture of fusion, jazz, funk, and sound experiments; all are quite musical. It is a shock in the present century to even consider that this was Duke's first date as a leader even using a synth – the ARP 2600 – because he comes across as a master of its many textures and possibilities. The electric Rhodes and acoustic pianos are still a big part of the sound here, and the radio-friendly chart-topping funk he would cut later in the decade was still a little ways off. Review by Thom Jurek

TRACKLIST
1. The Opening 3:18
2. Capricorn 5:06
3. Piano Solo No. 1 + 2 2:21
4. Psychosomatic Dung 5:03
5. Faces In Reflection No. 1 (Instrumental) 3:37
6. Maria Tres Filhos 5:09
7. North Beach 6:26
8. Da Somba 6:18
9. Faces In Reflection No. 2 (Vocal) 2:19

PERSONNEL
George Duke, keyboard, vocals
John Heard, bass
Leon Ndugu Chancler, drums