New Al Jarreau

[SandraDee]

According to the Jazz FM website Mr.Jarreau has a new CD out. Has anyone heard it & if so is it any good. I bought his last one containing the marvellous 'Flame' track but some of the tracks weren't up to his usual high standards. Has anyone seen him live? I'm not one for going to live gigs much but I've heard Al J. puts on a very special show. Brenda Russell felt compelled to write the 'Jarreau' track on the 'Two Eyes' LP after going to one of his concerts apparently.

[markydefad]

Steely,

I picked up a cheap promo of the "All I Got" CD last Sunday. I have not listened to it yet, though. Allmusic gives it 4 stars. Read their review.

[K-Bee]

Well I own most of mr Jarraue's 70-80s albums but i stopped buying him after "hearts horizon" in 1988.
For the new album i say: forget it - after hours smooth jazz crap with not much of his vocal affectation left.

I saw him live in 1987 with back up by David Sanborn. He was very popular in europe at that time (with the moonlighting theme song and all that.) I did enjoy it then as he is definetely a stage personality.

[SandraDee]

K-bee, I have to agree that his best work was his 80's Jay Graydon produced stuff (I adore 'Trouble in Paradise' from the '83 'Jarreau' LP).
Why do so many once-great artists have to do this 'smooth jazz' nowadays that's as exciting as Celine Dion on a bad day. Theyre all at it: George Benson, Marcus Miller, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Angela Bofill, Will downing, Bobby Caldwell, etc.etc. When will they get back to doing interesting music & not elevator music?

[K-Bee]

Right on steely - way too much tedious smooth jazz out there. However, I wouldn't consider Marcus Miller one of them. The albums he's done for the french Dreyfuss label in the last couple of years are quite good. Especially the M2 album form 2001 - check out "Your Amazing Grace" - a great self-penned track that features Chaka Khan (why is it that she's always better on others albums compared to her own?.....hmmm, just wondering)

Turning to mr. Jarraue. My favorite is the 1977 live album "Look To The Rainbow". He does amazing renditions of standards like "Better Than Anything" & "Take Five"