Amazon.co.uk Review: Mac Dr John Rebennack playing songs from the canon of Duke Ellington is as natural as the break of day. But the gris-gris king interprets Ellington in a way unlike anyone else. "Mood Indigo", arranged for Dr. John's six-man New Orleans group, takes on a fresh, heartfelt immediacy with the good doctor's vocals and piano locked into a relaxed groove. He sings another slice of essential Ellingtonia, "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me", with a lighthearted nonchalance that epitomises the worthiest New Orleans performers. Dr. John packages snippets of his keyboard playing as panaceas for the soul on a funked-up interpretation of "Caravan", even spinning off on a "Wade in the Water" tangent before wrapping up the song. But with so many Duke Ellington nuggets to dust off for reinterpretation, one wonders why Dr. John elected to go with popular numbers that get covered again and again. To his credit, he does serve up the lesser-known "The Flaming Sword", where his piano is luminous in the Calypso fashion of Professor Longhair, and he offers delightful, funkified updates of the Ellington obscurities "On the Wrong Side of the Railroad Tracks" and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'". --Frank-John Hadley
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Dr John-Duke Elegant
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you ... Read More
Rating: - Get "Fonk-ied" with the Doctor
It's a brave man who takes on the tracks written and made famous in the 1930's,1940's and one song from the 1950's by the Duke of Jazz,"Duke Ellington". The good doctor does it with a great deal style, makes them his own by adding his own brand of "fonk" giving each track amazin' bass that whomps out. These songs may hark back to another time but "Doctor John" makes them sound bang up to date, try listening to "I'm gonna go fishin'" without tappin' your feet, you have no chance it's a fonk out groove ... Read More
Rating: - Well worth a listen
I went to the "Duke Elegant" concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, an electifying experience. The good Dr was on top form and the tracks that he performed from the album made its purchase essential; I was not disappointed. Fishing is my favourite track but that takes nothing away from the rest.
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