"The Duke" is the 18th studio album by Joe Jackson, released on June 22, 2012 in Continental Europe by earMUSIC and on June 26 in the US by Razor & Tie Recordings. The album serves as a tribute to Duke Ellington, the legendary American composer, pianist, and bandleader known for his contributions to jazz music.
Upon its release, "The Duke" received generally positive reviews from music critics. It achieved an average score of 59 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average reviews" based on 10 reviews.
Commercially, "The Duke" debuted at No. 93 on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the Top Jazz Albums chart, selling approximately 5,000 copies in its first week. By September 2015, the album had sold 13,000 copies in the United States.
Joe Jackson's homage to Duke Ellington showcases his admiration for the jazz icon through reinterpretations of Ellington's classic compositions, blending Jackson's own musical style with the timeless jazz standards, thus celebrating Ellington's enduring influence on music.
