With My Old Friend, Al Jarreau pays tribute to his friend George Duke who died much too early last year. In the CD booklet he mentions that this is the first part of a series, so many more beautiful things will follow. It goes without saying that he is not the only friend who wanted to participate in this tribute. Marcus Miler, Stanley Clarke, Dianne Reeves, Patrice Rushen, and many others will also
… be present. My Old Friend certainly did not become a collection of Duke's greatest hits. Jarreau, who primarily wants to bring out his voice as well as possible, chooses here - except Brazilian Love Affair / Up From The Sea It Arose And Ate Rio In One Swift Bite - for Duke's least memorable songs. Ballads on which he has plenty of space to display his vocal skills. But that should certainly not spoil the fun, because even for those who are not familiar with Duke's work, My Old Friend is a nice album full of summer soul. (AD)more
