---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you think of diversity, George Duke…"
description: "\"When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill better than a lot of people. He's played a lot of straight-ahead jazz with people like Nancy Wi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg"
---

#  When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill…

![“When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill better than a lot of people. He's played a lot of straight-ahead jazz with people like Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley; he's played a lot of fusion with his own groups, with Stanley Clarke; and, you know, he did the rock thing with Frank…” quote by Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg)

> “When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill better than a lot of people. He's played a lot of straight-ahead jazz with people like Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley; he's played a lot of fusion with his own groups, with Stanley Clarke; and, you know, he did the rock thing with Frank Zappa. He's written all kinds of big arrangements for people like Burt Bacharach. So, he's covered the board. He's still a great pianist.”

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights George Duke's versatile musical career across jazz, fusion, rock, and arranging, emphasizing his broad talent and adaptability.

**In simple terms:** George Duke excelled in many music styles, showing great versatility.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and value versatility in creative work.

Themes

versatility musical diversity collaboration genre-blending talent

Mood

appreciative inspired

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

- studio sessions
- live performances
- music education
- collaborative projects
- genre crossover events

Key Concepts

musical adaptability cross-genre mastery arrangement skill

Questions to Reflect On

- How can artists balance versatility with a distinct personal brand?
- What benefits arise from mastering multiple genres?

A Different Perspective

Versatility may be seen as lacking a singular signature style, which can affect branding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arrangements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangements/) [Cannonballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannonballs/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Fusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fusion/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zappa/)

## Related quotes

> [Thundercat put me on to George Duke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/thundercat-put-me-on-to-george-duke/)

[Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/)

> [I love Stanley Clark. I love George Duke and Stanley Clark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-love-stanley-clark-i-love-george-duke-and-stanley-clark/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [The one who really captured me and became my absolute favorite was Nat King Cole. He was a genius at what he did. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/the-one-who-really-captured-me-and-became-my-absolute-favorite-was/)

[Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/)

> [I like Stevie Wonder as my favorite non-pianist pianist. I mean, I shouldn't call him a non-pianist, because he's really a great pianist, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/i-like-stevie-wonder-as-my-favorite-non-pianist-pianist-i-mean-i/)

[Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/)

> [A great pianist doesn't run around the piano or do push ups with his fingers. To be great, he plays the piano. ...being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/a-great-pianist-doesn-t-run-around-the-piano-or-do-push-ups-with-his/)

[Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/)

> [“A great pianist was once asked by an admirer, "How do you handle the notes as well as you do?" The artist replied, "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schnabel/a-great-pianist-was-once-asked-by-an-admirer-how-do-you-handle-the/)

Arthur Schnabel

> [If I had my life to live over, I wish I could be a great pianist or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/if-i-had-my-life-to-live-over-i-wish-i-could-be-a-great-pianist-or/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [It's all very well having a great pianist playing but it's no good if you haven't got anyone to get the piano on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/it-s-all-very-well-having-a-great-pianist-playing-but-it-s-no-good-if/)

[Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/)

> [“these cannonballs in a contraption known as a monkey. In the case”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-strange/these-cannonballs-in-a-contraption-known-as-a-monkey-in-the-case/)

Jack Strange

> [When a soldier is hit by a cannonball, rags are as becoming as purple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-a-soldier-is-hit-by-a-cannonball-rags-are-as-becoming-as-purple/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“Why there isn't any drama in my life So I'll crawl on the cottonfield with a fife Why to have a dream in vain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabarun-bhattacharya/why-there-isn-t-any-drama-in-my-life-so-i-ll-crawl-on-the-cottonfield/)

Nabarun Bhattacharya

> [Grover Washington was my main influence, and when I went to college, I started listening to more of the jazz masters like Sonny Rollins,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/grover-washington-was-my-main-influence-and-when-i-went-to-college-i/)

[Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/)

> [The whole movie thing has never been a source of great pride for me, in that Burt Reynolds, who starred in the picture, butchered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/the-whole-movie-thing-has-never-been-a-source-of-great-pride-for-me/)

[Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/)

> [Exercise is a pastime only for those who are already slender and physically fit. It just isn't so much fun when you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/exercise-is-a-pastime-only-for-those-who-are-already-slender-and/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [A thought is a thing as real as a cannonball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/a-thought-is-a-thing-as-real-as-a-cannonball/)

[Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/)

## More by Christian McBride

> [For my money, Ray Brown is the greatest living bass player. Every great thing that's happened on bass since Ray Brown -- all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/for-my-money-ray-brown-is-the-greatest-living-bass-player-every-great/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

> [Watch your attitude. I don't mean to sound like so much of an old head, but there is another generation behind me, out there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/watch-your-attitude-i-don-t-mean-to-sound-like-so-much-of-an-old-head/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

> [The most significant bands I played in when I first got to New York were Bobby Watson's band, Roy Hargrove's first band, Benny Golson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/the-most-significant-bands-i-played-in-when-i-first-got-to-new-york/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

> [I've always felt that most jazz artists don't need producers .. most jazz artists know what kind of sound they want. They don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/i-ve-always-felt-that-most-jazz-artists-don-t-need-producers-most/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

> [I'm really not this jazz traditionalist guy you've been making me out to be all of these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/i-m-really-not-this-jazz-traditionalist-guy-you-ve-been-making-me-out/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

> [Make no mistake, this music is for everyone. Jazz is not an exclusive, elite club. Go ahead, listen to your Snoop Doggy Dog, Pearl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/make-no-mistake-this-music-is-for-everyone-jazz-is-not-an-exclusive/)

[Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

[Explore all 7 Christian McBride quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/)

## More All kinds quotes

> [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/)

[Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/)

> [While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/while-husbands-and-lovers-in-the-stories-are-of-all-kinds-ranging/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [I'm not technically proficient enough to attempt all kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-m-not-technically-proficient-enough-to-attempt-all-kinds-of-music/)

[Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/)

> [My office in New York is overflowing with all kinds of cookbooks, and in New Orleans we have a huge culinary library. So yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/my-office-in-new-york-is-overflowing-with-all-kinds-of-cookbooks-and/)

[Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/)

> [Sydney is full of the craziest and most talented artists of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/sydney-is-full-of-the-craziest-and-most-talented-artists-of-all-kinds/)

[Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/)

> [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/)

[Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/)

> [You know, the world’s not running out of oil. There’s all kinds of oil left in all kinds of places. …We’re never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rubin/you-know-the-world-s-not-running-out-of-oil-there-s-all-kinds-of-oil/)

[Jeff Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rubin/)

> [I grew up with all kinds of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/i-grew-up-with-all-kinds-of-people/)

[Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/)

> [Because there were all kinds of hell - some were black and dirty, and some were silvery and high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/because-there-were-all-kinds-of-hell-some-were-black-and-dirty-and/)

[Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/)

> [The architecture of the song, if it's built properly, can withstand all kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/the-architecture-of-the-song-if-it-s-built-properly-can-withstand-all/)

[Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/)

> [There are all kinds of writers. The best writers write children's books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/there-are-all-kinds-of-writers-the-best-writers-write-children-s-books/)

[Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/)

> [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/)

[Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/)

> [The single greatest pleasure that I have in doing ('Bizarre Foods') is when I meet families with 6, 7, 8-year-olds, or teenagers, who say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/the-single-greatest-pleasure-that-i-have-in-doing-bizarre-foods-is/)

[Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/)

> [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. I can see that I beg and plead for love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-can-see-that-i-imagine-all-kinds-of-rejection-that-never-happens-i/)

[Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/)

> [Do you know people who insist they like 'all kinds of music'? That actually means they like no kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/do-you-know-people-who-insist-they-like-all-kinds-of-music-that/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

Browse all 1,489 All kinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill better than a lot of people. He's played a lot of straight-ahead jazz with people like Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley; he's played a lot of fusion with his own groups, with Stanley Clarke; and, you know, he did the rock thing with Frank Zappa. He's written all kinds of big arrangements for people like Burt Bacharach. So, he's covered the board. He's still a great pianist.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christian McBride"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke-fits-that-bill-better-than-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "All kinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke-fits-that-bill-better-than-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/344/christian-mcbride-52339_all-kinds_when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke_1496305.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you think of diversity, George Duke fits that bill better than a lot of people. He's played a lot of…” — Christian McBride",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Christian McBride",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When you think of diversity, George...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke-fits-that-bill-better-than-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/when-you-think-of-diversity-george-duke-fits-that-bill-better-than-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
