duffo featuring jeff duff
ground control to frank sinatra
© 2004 duffo (9324690012961)
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The sound of David Bowie channeling Frank Sinatra.... Highly original and inspiring arrangements of Bowie, Sinatra and Duffo classics. 'Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, Popeye...& now Duffo.' - Andy Warhol 1980
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Imagine Frank Sinatra crooning David Bowie songs out in front of a rock band, or David Bowie singing Ol' Blue Eyes favourites with a jazz quartet..!
... That's the premise for the new album recorded by the inimitable Jeff Duff and his brilliant new quartet 'Duffo'.
You'll hear original Duffo compositions, inspired arrangements of Bowie classics including CHANGES and REBEL REBEL. Rock anthems SPACE ODDITY and SUFFRAGETTE CITY also get a groovy jazz makeover. Ol' Blue Eyes might just roll over in his grave on hearing Duffo's modern interpretations of UNDER MY SKIN or THAT'S LIFE, but he'd have to agree it's a brave band which tackles any of his sacred songs with such total disregard!
In an inspired career, this is Jeff Duff's twentieth album but his first with the new Duffo lineup.
Jeff Duff first came to international attention as a punk singer in London where he released half a dozen albums and built up a fanatical fan base throughout the UK and Europe during the eighties. He formed a band under the Duffo name to promote his recordings and the band quickly gained a reputation for their spectacular live performances.
Jeffs musicians were some of the finest in the world among them Peter Green guitarist and founding member of Fleetwood Mac,Chucho Merchan bassist from Eurythmics and members of top British band Ultravox.
Duffos debut single in the United Kingdom 'Give me back me brain' was an instant hit, storming up the national British charts in its first week of release. The television appearances that followed were some of the most memorable events from that particular era.
Duffos music utilizes his amazing baritone voice and many musical styles, the result of sophisticated arrangements and a wealth of live performances.
If you add equal parts of Duffo originals to equal parts of Bowie and Sinatra, throw them in a blender and mash them together, you'll get a rough idea.
Apart from featuring the amazing voice of Jeff Duff, the talented Duffo quartet is made up of Sydney's top young jazz rebels, each possessing incredible skills on their respective instruments. Tim Jenkins, surrounded by a wall of keyboards, [piano, fender rhodes, hammond organ and synthesizers] is musical director. Andy Davies is currently one of the most in demand drummers in Sydney and also a member of Jeff's Big Band. Aaron Michael not only plays tenor sax, soprano sax and flute but also adds the unusual sounding EWI [electronic wind instrument] which helps give the Duffo sound it's unique character. Kevin Hailey plays both the double bass and electric bass ...walking the big bass through the cool jazz grooves and slapping the electric in the harder edged Duffo funk.
It's hard to categorize the music; it has everything, jazz, lounge, blues, rock, pop, funk. Jeff's description of the Duffo sound as Cartoon Jazz [a reference to the satirical nature of his own compositions] is as close as you're going to get!
'Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, Popeye...& now Duffo!' [Andy Warhol 1980]
www.jeffduff.com www.duffo.com.au
reviews
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Fantastic. Duffo you have done it again. Who else have we got in Sydney.
author: Wally ZammitI have seen Jeff perform on many occasions and he sounds just as good on his CD as he does live. I wish we had a few more entertainers in Sydney of this caliber and style. Where are the up and comming performers and venues! Back to Jeff. Duffo is what Duffo does. Cheers mate and a BIG hello to Tony on percussion.
brilliant very clever arrangements
author: Dave CutterLoved CD never off in my car fav at moment Mr Bojangles the reworks of Bowies songs work very well keep up the good work Jeff
Duffo band at their best -
author: BARRY & JANICEThis is one not to miss - song choices are great, gentle flowing style; feel-good music; Brilliant bunch of musicians - Cant wait until August for the new one!
love it
author: leehaving not heard jeff since enjoying his kush days ijumped at the opportunity to buy this cd. i have played it to death.
good to hear and see jeff again.
author: wayne and pamwe like the cd as it flows well together song after song. it's been a nice surprise to be able to see jeff and hear him sing again.
Well worth the journey
author: Jane HallHow often do you cringe at "remakes"? Not with this one. Well this CD exceeded all my expectations on how good these songs could sound with a little jazzing up and tinkering around: add to that the unique voice of perhaps our skinniest vocalist with a huge baritone voice and you have a winner! Jeff Duff evens pens three snappy new tunes with flair and imagination. The band is tight and sounds bigger than its numbers. So be carried away with Duffo and the band on a fabulous musical experience and tell all your friends to buy this CD - they will love it too!
Great concept. Brilliant execution.
author: Allan LaytonI hadn't heard Jeff Duff since the early 70s (the days of Kush!) and I bought the CD on spec, purely on the concept. It's great. I haven't worn it out yet, but I must be getting close. Great songs always sound great no matter the genre, provided of course that the musicians and the singer are up to scratch. And they are. How does anyone get such a deep, rich voice out of such a trim person? I'm enthused to look at some more of the Jeff Duff back catalogue. You could give "Ground Control to Frank Sinatra" to just about anyone without the risk of offending.
Again Duffo exceeds all expectation
author: John HowlettWhen I read Duffo was recording Bowie in a Frank Sinatra context I wondered what it would sound like being Duffo he once again pulled it off he is so diverse from listening to his old 70's recordings to this latest one you have to appreciated how talented and sometimes weird he actually is. One more thing I would like to say is he is an artist who has time for his fans and will contact you if you need advice about his recording catalogue he is a real gentleman with a new album that should do well as long as enough people get to hear about him and it.