Feel

To understand George Duke, start with this: he was in Cannonball Adderley’s and Frank Zappa’s bands more or less simultaneously, going back and forth from one to the other. His brand of funky fusion had hooks, wit, and sonic creativity. On Feel, his fifth solo album, squelchy synths come to the fore, squiggling around Bernie Worrell-style over crisp drums from Leon “Ndugu” Chancler and a few special guests. Percussionist Airto Moreira and vocalist Flora Purim, then a couple, pop up on several tracks, and Zappa plays guitar on two (“Love” and “Old Slippers”).