Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau

THE REVIEW

Everyone knows that Al Jarreau is one of the most famous living jazz voices, yet, who knows how many were surprised, or disappointed, listening to him in his now customary guise as a sophisticated pop singer, a fate that in many ways he shares with another great (ex?) jazz artist, George Benson.
This "Jarreau" from 1984, halfway between pop and jazz, lets us listen to some gems from the repertoire of this acrobatic vocalist who shows off his vocal range as an experienced scat-man, in elegant pop atmospheres, surrounded by the crème de la crème of overseas session men.

The playlist sparkles: catchy and refined "Mornin’", "Step By Step", "Trouble In Paradise", and "Love Is Waiting" possess all the class that today's charts lack, and even the appealing 'dance' interference by pianist Michael Omartian, "Boogie Down", would make a night at the disco bearable.
With solos by Jay Graydon (guitar) and Tom Canning (keyboards), he pays tribute to the blues and, implicitly, to unfortunate heroes like Roy Buchanan, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher in the classic "Black And Blues" while, quoting a famous Stevie Wonder title, the beginning of "Save Me" sounds more relevant than ever: "… someone wrote just yesterday / love’s in need of love today / will there be none tomorrow".
A noteworthy mention for the ballads "I Will Be Here For You" and "This Time", good compositions but which Al's voice, rich in extraordinary flute-like tones and chiaroscuro, transforms into songs that pamper the ear.

In conclusion, "Jarreau" remains a testament to the crystalline class of the Milwaukee psychologist, where some small concessions to the market are more than compensated by the quality of the compositions and his precious interpretation of the concept of "pop music".