Duncan's music has been called “a rarity: Smooth-Jazz with soul”. He's not done much Soul since early days with UK soul-star Geno Washington and artists on Paul Weller's Respond label, but as a Berklee grad raised on Oscar Peterson and Herbie Hancock, Duncan's soul has always been in Jazz. Arriving back in London, however, almost his next musical foray was in a pop duo (Blue Mercedes), an unexpected move maybe, but it produced a five-week #1 U.S. Dance Hit. Later, as a producer, he had further...
Duncan's music has been called “a rarity: Smooth-Jazz with soul”. He's not done much Soul since early days with UK soul-star Geno Washington and artists on Paul Weller's Respond label, but as a Berklee grad raised on Oscar Peterson and Herbie Hancock, Duncan's soul has always been in Jazz.
Arriving back in London, however, almost his next musical foray was in a pop duo (Blue Mercedes), an unexpected move maybe, but it produced a five-week #1 U.S. Dance Hit. Later, as a producer, he had further club-hits, including, under the name Exoterix, the first-ever release on hip EMI dance label Positiva, and worked with many different acts including an embryonic Down To The Bone.
When Acid-Jazz arrived, Duncan began once again to explore his jazz side, as a player and a producer, under the name A-One. Appearances of album-tracks on many U.S. compilations led to two Smooth-Jazz albums under his own name (Dream Your Dream and Good To Go) on Instinct Records NYC, which featured a less electronic, full-band sound. A MOBO nomination as Best UK Jazz Act followed, plus U.S, Smooth-Jazz chart placements; also, still-continuing radio-play there and internationally on stations such as Jazz FM, and performances at venues such as London's Jazz Café.
Now, after an over-long sabbatical, Duncan has re-emerged with a new album, “Fresh Air”, due for release in Feb 2013. Fresh, because the piano-focused tracks reflect new-found musical influences. Also, because in a changed musical-world, Duncan has forged fresh ways of working, such as self-producing his album and releasing it on new boutique label Warmday Records.
Duncan returns with ten enticing new tracks. Filled out by a full band comprising some of London’s leading jazz and funk musicians, including sax and trumpet, the keyboard-led melodies take you on a journey through a range of sensuous moods and grooves, ranging from funk to slow-samba to jazz-waltz.
Free tracks from his new album can be downloaded at his official album-website, www.freshairalbum.com.
For more information about Duncan, see also www.duncanmillar.com
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