A collection of New Orleans standards recorded on the eve of the new millennium, winning the listener on a sail from the semilunar city to Memphis and hind with an ineluctable side trip to pay homage to the late greats

10 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Blues Vocals, BLUES: Soft Blues

Live In New Orleans Songs


Details:
Drenched with the sounds of New Orleans, Adrian Duke's piano is overshadowed only by the raw emotional power of his voice. Although he has found a home as a Blues artist; by blurring the lines between Blues, Funk, R&B, and Jazz, he has found critical acclaim, audience acceptance, and artistic peer recognition.

From the release of his first recording, Never Find Another, four years ago, Duke consistently and effortlessly demonstrates the exceptional musicianship and compositional brilliance that has become his highly regarded musical signature. It is these gifts that have helped cultivated a tremendously loyal following in and beyond the Blues music communities.

Adrian Morgan Duke was born in Richmond VA--the youngest child of a very musical family. He was playing full time as a guitarist in a variety of rock and country groups in his teens, but it was in his early twenties that he found the piano. "I learned to play by listening and playing along to the radio and to records..." Duke says, "At some point I was given the music of Ray Charles and Dr. John as inspiration, which it was, as has been ever since."

Duke reflects, "I was into every kind of music... you might say I was unfocused, but I consider an eclectic taste in music to be the foundation of versatility." It was that eclectic versatility that would later prepare Duke as an opening act for such diverse artists as Little Feat, Neville Brothers, Little River Band, Delbert McClinton, Garth Brooks, Kansas, and his earliest musical influence, Dr. John.

Currently Duke has been performing in support of his most recent release, Live In New Orleans, as well as singing with Durham, NC based band Grady's Hat. Some larger shows this past year include venues such as Innsbrook, Glen Allen VA; the Charleston Jazz Festival, Charleston SC.; and Dogwood Dell Amphitheatre, Richmond VA.

Adrian Duke plays a mix of blues and jazz different from others. Some might take a turn at New Orleans rumba-boogie blues, but for Duke, this style is the root of his bandstand funk. . . He delivers enough piano driven soul to keep those hungry for a taste of New Orleans musical gumbo satisfied until the next trip south to the Crescent City.
Ames Arnold - Style Magazine

Duke offers up plenty of rolling, syncopated New Orleans piano . . . He also sings up a storm in his gutsy, Ray Charles growl. If you're a New Orleans piano-master fan - or any jazz blues piano fan for that matter - and have not latched on to Duke, the time is now.
- Richmond Times Dispatch

Adrian is currently writing & recording music for his anticipated self-titled fourth CD. It is expected to be released in early 2005.