 After his US R&B success with “Reach For It” (1977) and “Dukey Stick” (1978), RENDEZVOUS was jazz’n’funk pioneer George Duke’s eleventh and final album for Epic Records.
• Released in 1984, RENDEZVOUS was produced by George, who wrote or co-wrote all but two of the tracks. Featured musicians on the album included longtime musical associates Byron Miller on bass, Ndugu Chancler on drums, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, Josie James and Lynn Davis on background vocals,Jerry Hey on trumpet and Michael Sembello on guitar with special guests Stanley Clarke, Steve Ferrone (of Average White Band) on drums, Nathan East (on bass).
• With a strong Earth, Wind & Fire influence on several tunes such as “Stay Awhile,” “Got To Get Back To Love” and “She Can Wait Forever,” other key cuts on the album include the Brazilian-flavoured “Ipanema Lady” and the mellow smooth-jazz-styled, “Thinking Of You.”
• RENDEZVOUS – only available as a Japanese CD in recent years - is one of four George Duke classic jazz/funk albums being reissued by SoulMusic.com Records in 2011. This expanded edition includes the US single edit of “Secret Rendezvous.”
• Notes by former Blues & Soul writer Jeff Lorez include 2011 quotes from George.
About the Writer
David Nathan is the founder and CEO of SoulMusic.com and began his writing career in 1965; beginning in 1967, he was a regular contributor to Blues & Soul magazine in London before relocating to the U.S. in 1975 where he served as U.S. editor for the publication for several decades and began being known as 'The British Ambassador Of Soul.' From 1988 to 2004, he wrote prolifically for Billboard, has penned bios, produced and written liner notes for box sets and reissue CDs for over a thousand projects. He returned to London in 2009 where he has helped create SoulMusic.com Records as a leading reissue label.
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