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Montreux – the master class

It doesn’t often work out this way, but this year I have been able to stick around for 2 more really great festival events. Big festivals, like Montreux, which run several days on several stages, will often present unique opportunities, like workshops with other musicians and the public, where an artist can really connect with people in a way that is very personal. Folks can ask questions about music and careers. Sometimes, there are even technique demonstrations. Festival goers really light up with an interest and an enthusiasm and an excitement that goes beyond hearing an artist play music for 75 minutes.

Yesterday was a beautiful afternoon, and we all got together in meeting room at the Montreux Palace Hotel, called Le Petite Palais. You should have heard all the accents on the english language, which were definitely not New York or Chicago. Well, there were questions and comments from some Americans. We had a moderator/radio presenter, Yvan Ischer. He is an amazing jazz buff historian who can tell you who played with whom in 1968, and who played with Diz. It got to be over the top! He is also a serious horn player. He lead our discussion, and the questions from him and the audience were wide ranging, and offered the opportunity for me and Joe Turano to talk about my (our) musical influences, variety of music, and its importance. the words and message that singers can choose from, hip hop and jazz, and even about my religious notions.

Wow, this is great stuff to do with an audience! From time to time, and from one interview to the next, I get a chance to talk about these things, but never with 200+ curious ears and eyes in the room with me. I love it, and so does Joe Turano. Even before this new “Al and Joe duo,” Joe would very often join me in these kinds of workshops and academy occasions (Thelonious Monk). He’s a great musician, and thinker, and has an important view point on lots of music topics. I’m loving this. We’re heading into new territory.

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Montreux – the Duo concert

Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland

The last time I talked about Montreux was in the fall, when I was sitting, just about where I am now, and looking across the lake at the snow capped mountains, with the Miles Davis Performing Center Wing of the larger Stravinsky Hall exactly across the street. Last fall, I was invited to the first MJF academy, which invites exceptionally promising singers and musicians, from all the seven continents, to come and hang out with some working professionals, like me. There was indeed a wonderful cadre of excellent musicians and teachers on hand, to advise and give directions, to the writing and playing of that group of youngsters… and there were some great ones!

So here I sit, yesterday, and today, looking across at the mountain, with the glorious sun shining through the snow caps, and with the Montreux Jazz Festival in full swing. These days, the festival has grown to become like a family attraction theme park – except no rides. All the merchandise booths, especially having to do with jazz and its history of recordings. And of course, great shopping, for artisan goods and crafts.  And all the food vendors… what a selection!   I’ve been to this festival so many times, and it was a big part of my musical debut in Europe. Early successes in Montreux and Germany set the stage for my 40 year career here, with children and grandchildren of folks who saw me way back then. I guess that makes me a veteran. There is a more colorful description, but we’ll just go with veteran.

HOWEVER, only one other time had I appeared in Montreux with just myself and keyboard player, and that was Tom Canning. Now, Joe Turano and I have reprised this format, and we opened a new chapter for 98% of my audiences here and around the world. You know Joe. He’s played second keyboard in my touring band for more than 16 years, and he’s the musical director, arranger, background singer sharing duets with me, record producer, and soul mate from Milwaukee! We sometimes think the same thoughts at the same time. For so long, my working band has been me and five others. This new performing duo is more like a new chapter, or book, for almost everybody.

Joe and I have been hard at work in the wood shed, putting it all together.  We’ve got more “i’s” to dot and “t’s” to cross, but we’re already feeling the high potential that this intimate little duo has to offer.  The intimacy and pacing, with stories and background, is quite another thing. What a wonderful return to that the format of that first performance in Montreux. I could feel George Duke and a whole list of others, watching and listening, and smiling, too. I was awake last night, I couldn’t sleep at all (again)!

In the middle of our program, Alina Engibarayan, winner of the jazz vocalist competition, joined us on stage, and we became a three singers, one keyboard, and cabaca trio. Absolutely brand new stuff, and it rocked! “Agua de Bebe” and “Mas Que Nada”. The audience responded just as they had done to her earlier set, with the enthusiasm I had expected. She’s a special one. She has a traditional approach and an understanding of the roots of jazz, and of singing, and especially of vocal-instrumental soloing. She has put it in an avant-garde kind of musical setting that makes her rare on the planet. I’m going to go study with her! Sometimes, she manages to allow her sweet heartbeat and lovely soul to accompany all of this and give a kind of special attractiveness and appeal.

It’s been a really joyous to watch this evolution of Claude Nob’s baby. From one stage in a low ceiling, hot sweaty casino basement, to a convention hall with several performing rooms, and other venues around town.

Al Jarreau

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Szczecin, Poland

I couldn’t sleep at all last night! And I was tired from working all last week and then doing two long day rehearsals with Joseph Anthony. I should have slipped in a deep long sleep, but what was I doing? Almost walking in circles, nervous and excited, then laying down knowing, “Now I’ll go to sleep!” Nope! More walking in circles. And then a song came to me called Szczecin. I found so many wonderful words to rhyme with Szczecin Session, guessing’, confessin’, lesson… you get it. You try it. A couple more tries to go to sleep, and then it’s morning already. 11 o’clock AM, and time to get going for real. This will be the debut, sho’nuff for real, first concert for me and Joe Turano as a duo. I can’t believe how quickly it has come. It seemed like there was so much time to get ready.

Well, off we go, to sound check with Magdalena, from the Filharmonia Szczecin. She was so sweet and gracious. Now check this out, in walks Take 6. Whaaat!!! They will play tonight, in the same place, that we will play tomorrow. I should do a quick review of how unbelievable these meetings are with Take 6. I love them since 1984, when they were Alliance, at Oakwood College, in Huntsville, Alabama. Seminary school. My father sang in a quartet with Mark Kibble’s great grandfather. Claude McKnight, brother of Brian McKnight, is from the wonderful McKnight family in Buffalo, New York. My dad met their uncle, Bill, on a visit with his sister, my aunt, Edith. Uncle Bill and my Dad have to be the only two black guys in american who played musical saw. They jammed together during the forties, in Buffalo. What a connection. We hugged and had laughing smiling prayer together. That was amazing.

Now back to sounding checking with Joe Turano… I commented when we came in how weird it felt, not hearing the full band in the auditorium. Normally, there’s drums and bass and sometimes Larry playing flute, or Joe playing tenor. Today, all I can hear is Joe Turano’s keyboard. That’s really different, and a reminder of future times for me and Joe doing this duo show.

To start the evening, we’re using Brenda Russell’s “Jarreau.” And then, off we go for a big romp through “The Great City.” Great song. This program that Joe and I have put together, at the moment, will evolve to be a better and better balance of my own familiar recorded things, and brand new music, and special songs of other artists. I was so personally touched and impressed with this debut concert in Szczecin, my first time, also being my debut full concert performance by me and Joe. There’s something kind of exquisitely planned in heaven “coincidence” when you take a close look at it. This audience has been hearing my music on their radio and records for forty years, but tonight will be our first time appearing here live, and they will hear the first premier full performance of Jarreau Joe duo. Quite a test run.

Folks who know both situations would have commented how tiny and close and intimate this thousand seat auditorium felt. I even talked about learning about kielbasa and other polish sausage from Milwaukee, where I grew up with kids from high schools called Pulaski and Don Bosco and Kuziesko, where kids used to playfully used to call me “Jarreausky”. That’s what I call my son, Ryan, today. I hope I can continue to be as fun and inciteful as I was on this first night about what Joe and I hope to be to able to share with audiences. Somehow, it occurred to me that George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Harrison Ford don’t get the opportunity to do what we’re doing tonight. We’re touching hearts together, we’re thinking loving, kind thoughts about each other and the world, we’re clapping hands and having “church.” Except you can dance here! Thank you father, I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Somehow, all of that came tumbling out of my mouth in just the right way. Wow.

We did versions of “Better than Anything”, and “Take 5”, and “My Old Friend”, which were familiar listens but sprinkled in some unheard things that I won’t mention now. I’m keeping it a surprise for you! Joe and I clasped hands on stage and exited to a standing O. Shewww! The promoter and his staff and house people and Magdalena were grinning and reassuring to me and Joe. We signed a bunch of CDs and programs in the lobby, and soaked it all in. I felt like a real Jarreausky. See you in Montreux!

Love,

Al Jarreausky

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