George Duke warms up for the evening with a performance for RSR - photo by Jared Bloch

Montreux, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) -  “Am I the only funk-loving person for whom George Duke is not a household name?” This was my last thought as I wandered home at 06:00 this morning, following Duke’s all-night jam session at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Duke’s introduction by Quincy Jones including “You are gonna get your mind blown once again by this artist,” and “God leaves his hand on the shoulder of some artists longer than others . . .” should have been a clue as to the mind-bending fusion of jazz, R&B, soul and funk that Duke was about to unleash on the ready and willing crowd at Stravinsky Hall in Montreux last night.

Duke, who had already performed twice in the evening – for an RSR interview and later appearing with Rachelle Farrell – took the stage an hour after midnight, telling the audience, “Wake up now – you all right?” and warning, “This is gonna be a long set, so get ready.” The first number set the tone for the next two-and-a-half hours; an alternately meandering and thundering auditioning of Duke’s talents, and those of the considerably large band he amassed for the session, including guitarist Jeff Lee Johnson, three backup singers, guest trombone and trumpet players, and bass, percussion and backup keyboard from his own entourage.

George Duke, getting the funk out, well into the morning hours - photo courtesy Montreux Jazz Festival

The result was a post-midnight orchestra party with free-floating jams and musical duels between the respective band sections. One notable contest featured Johnson on guitar having it out with the horn section. Another solo, featuring the bassist from Duke’s house band, left my legs squishy like marshmallows, and wondering if the bass wouldn’t get up and walk away from its owner, dancing and laughing all the while. Maybe it was the contagion of the backup singers, who were inciting the audience to join the party, with their hip-swayed smiles and body language that said, “There’s no where else I’d rather be.”

And that’s how I felt dragging myself home this morning well after sunrise, with an image of George Duke rallying the audience to dance at 03:30, forever registered in the musical archives of my mind.

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