Duke versatile, easygoing as ever

Think of George Duke and the first word that comes to mind is “versatility.” In his nearly four-decade career, the California-born keyboardist has performed with everyone from Frank Zappa and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley to Miles Davis, Smoky Robinson and Natalie Cole.

Beyond all his awards and accomplishments, and his easy role shifting from musician to producer to record executive, Duke’s live performances are intriguing in a very different way. His opening set Wednesday at Catalina Bar & Grill, for example, was a kind of throwback to an earlier jazz era -- a time when genre held far less meaning, when musicians did not hesitate to mix easygoing communication and accessible tunes with stretched-out improvising.

Duke’s versatility was front and center in the selection of tunes. After opening with some characteristically hard-driving funk, he switched gears into a pair of rhythmically floating, Brazilian-tinged numbers -- Milton Nascimento’s “Cravo e Canela” and his own “Summer Breezin’.” Both were sung in spirited, wordless fashion by Duke and vocalist Lori Perry, with Duke whimsically promising to learn Nascimento’s Portuguese lyrics for a future performance.

Another quick musical turn led to Perry’s disco-delight rendering of “I Want You for Myself,” followed by “Guess You’re Not the One,” featuring a jaunty guitar-plus-scat-vocal solo from guitarist Ray Fuller. Duke closed with a gently swinging version of “Silver Bells,” capturing the feeling of Christmas within the essence of electric jazz.

The program was further enhanced -- as Duke’s gigs often are -- by his warm and amiable manner. Pulling his listeners into his song choices, offering a humorous anecdote or two, joking with his players, he brought a pleasant, living-room ambience to the evening’s listening experience.

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The George Duke Band

Where: Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

When: Today and Saturday, 8 and 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 and 9 p.m.

Price: $20 to $30 plus two drink minimum or dinner purchase

Contact: (323) 466-2210