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Pepperdine University – Dec 15th

Pepperdine – Dec 15th

This is our third appearance at Pepperdine University and it turns out to be a Christmas concert. WOW!! What new inspirations this brings to my thinking about appearances in Los Angeles in the future. Normally, for a long time now, my Los Angeles audience has met me at the Playboy Jazz Festival or the Long Beach Festival, which are huge events with lots of artists and distance from the stage to many festival music lovers. So being two feet and a little bend at the waist to touch hands with people in the first row was the description of an intimacy with my LA people that hasn’t occurred since the early days of my career (like at the Troubadour and the Bla Bla Café). This was really something quite special and I could feel that specialness emanating from this audience where the farthest seat was 180 feet away.

My cousin Sandy Moss and her husband were there, Shireen Reid (YAY!) from MusicCares came to say hello, Cat Bolton and the kids met me back stage before the show, Cindy Landon, Tom Canning, Jim Darby (one of my new best friends), and as you can guess lots of folks who live just around the corner from me all came to the show as well. That’s a great thing to be able to do in my hometown, so to speak.

The program we did was a kind of mix assortment of holiday treats and other old favorites of my music. That was a serious winning ticket! What a concept! And so several times I mentioned doing this program as a regular thing and got a great response. I need to bring back this intimacy to my home audience. I’m thinking Christmas time 2015.

Everyday I thank God for my fabulous band that has been so important to what I do for many years now. What a lucky and blessed guy I am. I said this in a little invocation back stage with the band before starting. I also said I hoped and wished for a continuation of this joy and love with my band and this little mini-ministry.

So Happy Thanksgiving, again, and Season’s Greetings and I pray joy and love and peace be yours forever more.

Love,

Al

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Musicians Institute – Stanley Clarke Scholarship Foundation

Musician Institute – Stanley Clarke Competition – 2014

I’m constantly amazed about those guys who manage to juggle full time touring schedules as well as a regular recording schedule with multiple projects, teaching and speaking engagements while raising a family too.

Enters Stanley Clarke. The two of us have shared the stage with George Duke and other collaborations that go back to the recording of the song, “Spain” in the 1980s. Not enough…there should have been more of all of this.

For 12 years Stanley has headed up a scholarship fund for young students at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. THAT’S FANTASTIC! Really important stuff. So when Stanley and his wife, Sophie, asked if would come and be a judge at the competition, I gave a real loud “YES”. And the main thing is obvious; we have to do any and everything we can to encourage young people to find their way into the arts. Any of these wonderful avenues of creating something now where there was nothing before is huge in how it describes and points out this magnificent gift of expression. And when you look at it closely you begin to understand that the arts are really “fine” in their exploration of human emotions. Joy, love, sadness, etc. In fact, these are the people that I want making political decisions for me in Sacramento and Washington D.C. Dig it?!?! ARTS…the workshop for human sensitivities.

Eight of us, including Paul Jackson and Byron Miller took out a sharp pencil and graded 5 students on the various aspects of performing, stage presence, etc. It was a wonderful event and amazing night!

Congratulations to all five finalists. You have already won. This music stuff that you’ll do the rest of your life will make you joyful and those around you will feel it.

Until next time…

Al

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The Blue Note – Tokyo – 2014

The Blue Note Tokyo – 2014

This was a wonderful trip to Tokyo and the Blue Note.

Two consecutive nights of two shows each night has always been testy for me. That’s a lot of singing. So it’s always with some nervousness that I head for Japan and the Blue Note. But this time I walked on stage just 7 short weeks after a really important back surgery. And the conclusion is that it was a wonderful two nights.

Two extraordinary things happened. My band was on point as usual and it would be impossible for me to get to first base without them. But Arno Lucas, a percussionist who now lives 8-10 months of the year in Tokyo, playing and writing with Japanese artists, joined us on stage both nights. What he brought to me and the band and the audience was new and refreshing. Now mind you, Arno had played in my band for four plus years long ago but on these two nights it was seemed like he never left. But it also felt like he did leave and had returned with exciting gifts in a big sack. It was uplifting for the band and me and most certainly for the audience who rarely sees such and exciting performance from a percussionist. In fact, we began each of the four shows with Arno walking on from the side of the stage with me playing and percussively vocalizing some real exciting tambourine as we played a half version of Weather Report’s “Teen Town”. The original writing by Zawinul and Pastorius is so inventive and compelling that very few musical organizations even attempt it. So this audience of “jazzers” was immediately knocked on their butts when they heard the opening ethereal phrases of this new classic. A percussive bombshell. We’ve played this before but everything changed with Arno accompanying me on stage shouting and screaming and playing tambourine.

The audience, the second extraordinary component in this story, brought their own instruments. Their voices for sure, but this other thing that’s called joy and spirit and laughing-smiling expectation that in itself is a game changer. I know I am absolutely certain that I’ve mentioned this thing that audiences bring which I’ve sometimes referred to as fellowship and church. I suppose that’s a heady and lofty description of things but it is in fact what’s going on when you see an audience sing and respond to everybody from Taylor Swift to Bruce Springsteen. If you’ve ever sat in the middle of it you know what I’m talking about. And those of who know the Reverend Franklin Experience (Aretha’s father) and the Baptist church know exactly what I’m talking about. What a great description.

Joe Turano had put together a great collection of songs that gingerly avoided “Take Five”, “After All”, and “The Midnight Sun” (every night staples in our show). This opened up a space for some things from the new George Duke tribute CD and it all worked. A lesson learned.

I loved talking to the audience about their special Japanese bonsai and origami spirit and love for intricate and intimate detail which has made them serious fans of lots of western music, such as classical, jazz, blues, and country (with classical and jazz leading the way with detailed precision). And any of you who have ever seen a bonsai tree or an origami bird know what I’m talking about.

Maybe in short we can say there was a coming together of the old and new to create yet a new experience for the band and the audience. I won’t belabor that description.

I’m personally delighted to see the band and our little family was just laughing and grinning and thinking we had a wonderful outing in Japan. Just suffice to say how much I am thanking all my longtime Japanese friends for continuing to actively listen and show up to enjoy and support my music. What a Christmas present! Arno, too!

Thank you, Tokyo!

Love,

Al

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Carmel, Indiana – 2014

Carmel, Indiana

We’re doing the unthinkable and almost undoable for this show. Sometimes the schedule calls for this. We left Iowa City at 7:30 in the morning after three hours of sleep, which was preceded by the above description of my alma mater event. Then we drove six hours straight to the venue and did a sound check…everybody’s dragging. But this is where you reach deep for your marathon skills, attitude, and extra power. We even sing a little rehearsal with Chris in the car and decide and determine that this is perfect. You couldn’t be happier.

Carmel is a suburb of Indianapolis that’s new and fresh with the neat and clean sparkle of all the great new industrial parks. Ellen, the hall manager, greeted us with such enthusiasm and happiness and joy of this life occasion that it acted almost like a wave. All smiles and bubbling energy about the new performing arts center called The Palladium. When we got inside we understood why. She was right. Somebody really reached deep in concept and construction. This place was like a new version of a classical orchestral and opera venue. There were three balconies that wrapped around to your 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions. Before I went on stage, I shook hands and laughed with some audience members in one of these balconies. And there was a wrap around balcony behind us. When I turned my back to the audience, there was more audience. That’s fantastic! Only in Europe! This makes everyone interact differently than they would in 99% of performing situations. They sensed it and we sensed it. Right now I’m thinking about that moment when John Calderon takes the spotlight and plays classical music on his acoustic guitar. Ellen said that this room was acoustically perfect.

I deliberately try to make some special memories by coming through the stage door early and quietly standing and smiling and chatting with people in the lower balcony who were almost on stage. What a design!

Chris sounded wonderful here on his solo ballad and we could both reach down and touch people in the first row when we did our “Random Act of Love” duet. I wish I could have gotten to that opposite wing that was almost on stage just behind Larry to spend a moment or two enjoying and helping to show this exceptional venue.

What an amazing venue, what an amazing night! All just outside Indianapolis with lots of brand new listeners. We signed a ton of CDs after the concert and laughed, squealed, hugged, and kissed. Great stuff, y’all. Thank you very much!

Love,

Al

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Iowa City – 2014

Iowa City – 2014

This commentary begins one of the most wonderful and amazing concert events that I’ve ever had in my life. So many things have come to confluence here that even “big mouth” Al Jarreau will have a hard time explaining in these next paragraphs the wonder and awe and magic of it all. This is rare.

It’s about HOMECOMING.

I pray you understand the sweetness of that. If you do than you’re with me. Only Milwaukee and Ripon, Wisconsin can compare to this flood of emotions. I studied rehabilitation counseling here at the University of Iowa…ready to work as I eventually would in 1965 in San Francisco (the beginning of the Al and George Duke days at the Half Note). While I was here I buried my head in books and stacks at the library and sang two nights a week at the Tender Trap in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That is, I was anything but a “man about campus”. In fact, as we moved about town on this trip, I mentioned to our driver that because of this restricted resistance and all of the new building on campus and in town, I almost didn’t recognize anything. I could not find Clinton St! And when we finally passed it, I can still here me saying, “Oh wow, there it is! And that’s where those two brothers had a shoe repair and shoe shine business.”

So rare…we spent two days here and it was crammed full of campus activities all centered about a returning alumnus with some celebrity in his life. Wow! They were proud of me. This is Iowa, not Los Angeles on the campus of UCLA around the corner from Hollywood. This is not NYU or Berklee in New York City just around the corner from Broadway and every record company in the world, or even New Orleans with several universities there that graduated dozens of people with big careers in music. No, this is Iowa, with small towns and sweet and gentle hardworking folk who still wonder about all the world’s eyes being on them and their Iowa Caucus.

On the day before the concert we met with some music students at the University in the education department (my old home) and had a wonderful discussion and Q/A about music. I found my head buzzing and worrying with urgency to do this more often. I was amazed and struck with the positive conclusions they had come to about the existing state of affairs in the world of music. While on the other hand, I am and many like me are constantly bemoaning the loss of this and that aspect of the industry. These young and bright-eyed people are accepting it as it is and celebrating this new technology, including social networking, and use it to begin a new venture and career in music. It made me check myself and say, “Wake up, Al.” As I sit here talking about it, I’m pining for more with that particular group of kids and for more similar situations.

What else? Three weeks ago I did a phone interview with Ben Kieffer of Iowa Public Radio. Now that’s good stuff. We had a great chat about all the particulars you can imagine (especially my career and the George Duke record). While in Iowa City, Ben and I sat with about 100 faculty, students, and local residents and basically did another version of his radio interview and opened the whole business up with questions from the audience for the majority of the time.

There she was. Since the time this date appeared on my calendar, I had been thinking about beautiful Byford Wheeler from Milwaukee with two sisters, Neesha and Joan, who at that time lived one and a half blocks from my house where I spent my childhood. Sister Joan often escorted me to kindergarten and first grade…wow. Beautiful Byford was now faculty alum with tenure. 12 years ago, she proudly welcomed me to my first homecoming and performance on campus at Hancher Auditorium. She said she would be there. My mind is still reeling.

After the lovely discussion we went downstairs for a quick reception with all the guests. I had to leave quickly to do a short interview with an on-campus radio station before finally ending the day. Are you huffin’ and puffin’ yet??? Let’s go sit with Byford Wheeler in the lobby bar and talk about “old times” for a while.

The African American faculty invited me to hang out with them at a quick meet and greet before the concert. It was short but powerful as it always is when people remind you of your important place in their lives. This gets heightened significance for me because of this particular community of people. I love schools and educators and teachers because I am certain they are the right hand of God like doctors and other healers.

So bang, flash, boom…here we are on stage and the first words out of my mouth are, “Yo, Hawkeyes on three. 1…2…3…HAWKEYES!!” As I hope you can imagine, that was an awesome kick off for a concert that was destined to be a great one. We couldn’t lose. There were 5,000 screaming people in one of the best performing circumstances possible. Bellies pressed to the front of the stage laughing and grinning and singing along. I won’t describe again this favorite venue situation that I have so many times before. But the fact that it was happening here in Iowa at a homecoming concert will always be one of those “great incredibles” in my life. And the band was as on fire as the audience.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, everybody.

See you next time!

Al

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