SONNY ROLLINS, GEORGE DUKE, STANLEY CLARKE, AL FOSTER - LIVE UNDER THE SKY... '81

• sonny rollins, george duke, stanley clarke, al foster: live under the sky... '81
      (2021, 2cd, uk, equinox)

After his stint with Zappa, George Duke performed and recorded with quite a number of artists.
In the early eighties, he also started making name as a producer.

May 1980, George (as well as Stanley Clarke and Al Foster) contributed to the recording of Sonny Rollins' "Love At First Sight" album.
During their 1981 tour to promote the album, the Tokyo concert got broadcast.
It recently found its way to a radio show album.

At the time of this live performance Sonny Rollins and his all-star rhythm section were fresh from the studio where they had made his Love At First Sight 1980 LP for Milestone records. Most of the set list is taken from that recording with the addition of some perennial Rollins classics. As always Sonny's solos are energy and invention personified. For this Japanese tour he decided to complement his signature tenor with soprano sax. His relatively rare excursions on the straight horn are always worth seeking out. George Duke, Stanley Clarke and Al Foster support the saxophonist masterfully and have plenty of solo space to showcase their considerable talents. Performed at Denen Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan on July 22, 1981 and broadcast by NHK radio.

Here's a YouTube snippet, although I have to add that the sound of the 2 CD set is much better compared to this video.