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- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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MagnetJul 18, 2012The rather unimaginative song selection is enlivened by inventive medleys, stylistic reinterpretations, and playfully arranged instrumentals. [No.89 p.55]
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UncutAug 2, 2012[An] elaborate, sophisticated collection. [Sep 2012, p.79]
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Jun 27, 2012Jackson's love for Ellington but unwillingness to play it safe puts The Duke much closer in spirit to its inspiration than rote copies of originals would ever have done.
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Q MagazineJul 27, 2012[Many of] these clean-sounding, jazz-rock rearrangements of songs from 1928 to 1963 prove successful experiments. [Aug 2012, p.100]
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Jul 23, 2012He wins you over, eventually.
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MojoJul 19, 2012For the most part his tribute to Duke Ellington works in the way that should keep purist onside. [Aug 2012, p.96]
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Jul 19, 2012Even when it's too adult-contempo (see Steve Vai grating new age cheese all over "Isfahan") this album always has one thing going for it – it makes you want to listen to some Duke Ellington.
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Jun 27, 2012Most of the time, Jackson's new arrangements of Ellington's compositions don't serve the songs so much as they betray the arrogance of a musician who wants to show us how he can bring this music into the present day while ignoring many of the qualities that made it timeless.
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Jun 27, 2012The Duke is too scattershot, and Jackson doesn't quite know what genre to focus on.
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Jun 27, 2012The Duke is an awful, awful record.