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Benefit For Musical Arts Institute Of Chicago

Arranged, organized, and carried off like a Hollywood superstar gala, we celebrated and raised money for a two-year old musical arts school for kids. It was beautiful.

When Mike Manson, the school’s director, who plays bass in George Duke’s band, asked me to sing at a fundraiser “for his music school,” I imagined a few kids in a church basement with a scrambled assortment of instruments and a couple of teachers showing them how to play without squeaking. If my figures are right, the freshmen class at the University Of Illinois – Chicago Music School would have approximately 200 students doing music studies. This new school, in its short run, is serving around 130 students. That’s excellent service.

The fundraiser, far from being in a little church basement, was held in a beautiful performing arts auditorium at the University of Illinois Forum.

Lana Manson and staff organized a reception that resembled a red carpet event so that the friends of the institute, and especially their donors, could meet each other and say, “hello,” to me, Gerald Albright, Mike Manson, and the other presenters.

As we walked into the beautiful open foyer of the Forum, we were treated to the sound of a string section from the Institute, about 10 bright and shining faces drawing bows across strings. That’s a lot of kids studying violin and classical music. At any institute that’s a lot of students. And on this occasion, wearing a white shirt and dark slacks, perfect ladies and gentleman. Don’t ya love it?

Mike Manson took the mic, and made remarks at this reception, and made me do the same. It was obvious that everybody here appreciated this special moment where donors and friends could shake hands and hug and congratulate each other.

Mike’s 12-piece band is cookin’. We did an afternoon of rehearsing on the day before and hit the stage burnin’. Saxophone legend Gerald Albright had my own manager oohing and aahing about things that he played. And I did all my “hits,” including a hot new arrangement of, “Sticky Wicket.” Thank you Joe Turano for coming with me and playing in the horns section, and helping me rehearse. You helped make the stuff electrifying.

The audience knew this was something special, and “gave it up” for every performance.

I want to add my congratulations and thanks to all those people recognized by the board for their special contributions to the school and this evening.

Dear Mike and Lana, this was wonderful! Call me again.

Love,

Al

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Washington D.C. Howard Theatre Re-opening – 4/12/12

Should have been there! Should have been there… to see this magnificent restoration in the heart of the, “hood,” lifting and elevating the whole block and neighborhood to new soaring heights.

Ellington, Basie, Ella, Sarah, Lena, Diana and The Supremes, Smokey, Stevie, Billy Eckstine, Pearl Bailey, Miles, Danny Kaye, Abbott and Costello, Sammy Davis, James Brown! They all played the Howard Theatre. And this is the short list.

Built in 1910 and closed in the early 70’s in disrepair, this landmark was the center of African American life. AND it brought a broad array and cross section of great international artists to the, “hood.” Now it’s restored beyond beautiful, and will bring people from all over the world once again.

There was a 20-piece orchestra featuring my old friend George Duke, Jimmy Heath, Christian McBride, and a group of local musicians who made Ellington and Basie sit straight up. George Duke conducted in tuxedo tails, two-toned black and white shoes, and a black fedora with white band. Snazzy snazzy bo bazzy banana fana fo fazzy fe fi mo mazzi. George did all the arrangements and they sparkled and sizzled in the vernacular. You should have been there.

In a small dressing room I sat across from Bill Cosby and Les McCann. They were cracking me up. Cosby carried on for an hour telling stories, and kidding with George Duke and Les McCann. And then in walks Joe Sample. It was all over. Talk about laughter. Joe talked about being fired from his first two jobs for no good reason as a teenager and decided then and there that he was going to go home and practice his piano and never work for anybody else again.

Then, Dionne Warwick and Leslie Uggams walked in looking like they were sixteen years old. Leslie’s million-dollar smile and gold dress made her look stunning. Dionne was looking great as well. I asked them both how they managed to stay so young. They both turned red. Music for 4 hours. And I had the thrill and distinct pleasure of singing with Dianne Reeves. We did a jazzy arrangement of, “Goin’ Home,” by Ellington. Dianne tore it up with an improvised scat solo. Amazingly, Savion Glover tap-danced what could easily have been a beautiful drum solo with his feet. And within the same song, Afro Blue, a brilliant sextet from Howard University, sang the, “Take Six,” vocalese solo.

How wonderful to see and hear Lalah Hathaway continuing in the great tradition that her father, Donny Hathaway, set forth. She and Frank McComb did a beautiful version of, “The Closer I Get To You.”

I missed getting a chance to say, “hello,” to Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy. But they were there continuing the tradition too.

You should have been there.

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Japan – Tokyo and Osaka – Al Jarreau and The George Duke Trio – 3/6/12 and 3/8/12

Tokyo

We woke up in the morning and flew north for 8 hours, with a connecting flight in Hong Kong.

Arriving in Japan for anyone, from anywhere, is a beautiful and wonderful cultural shock. For me, the simple temperature difference was such a relief. It was about 50 degrees. But then, what any visitor becomes immediately aware of is the orderliness and laboratory cleanliness. And respect for each other’s humanity, and the work that must be accomplished. Manicured! There wasn’t a discarded gum wrapper in sight. And there was a wonderful pride in all of this. This attitude is not window dressing; it’s centuries old. Origami and Bonsai trees. Precision. This is the second time in 7 months for me to be here. The first time was when a group of prominent American musicians made a record for, “Jazz For Japan,” with proceeds that helped support the tsunami survivors. I joined members of that band, and we did some musical fundraising events. So this was the return visit for me to Billboard Live Tokyo and Osaka.

This is the large, 400-seater jazz club that exists in very few places in the world. It’s intimate, but spacious enough to handle the big Steinway piano and extensive drum rig and bass setup. It’s about 45 feet across and 15 feet deep. They could host a big band here.

The seating is laid out so there’s a main floor and a balcony, unique in itself. How often do you get to play a balcony? Places like this inspire those unique and intimate personal statements. I had no idea that I would call out to Arno Lucas (percussionist/singer/band leader/composer) who played in my band for several years. He happened to be in Tokyo working for a Japanese pop group. He was in the upper left balcony. I called his name and he said, “Yea I’m here!” And I said, “Arno will you sing this line when it comes up in the song?” He said, “Yea man!” When he sang that answer line from the upper left balcony it was one of the most perfect moments in music that I’ve ever experienced. It was like we were in a church and he was singing from the upper balcony choir loft. And it was unrehearsed. Totally improvised. But it was Bonsai manicured. Thank you for that one Arno. I wish you could go with us to Osaka.

The George Duke Trio and I started to groove real hard. I’ve described The George Duke Trio on at least one other occasion this same way: This is not your grandfather’s cocktail hour trio. This is a power trio with players and instrumentation that can match the output of the big band or a rock and roll unit. So any singer standing with these guys has got to be digging deep and giving it up. You can be intimate and quiet if you want to, but you’ve got to be big and loud too.

Osaka

Osaka was wonderful. There was an intimacy that rivaled any intimacy I’ve ever experienced. And oh the faces! The faces! They were full of heartfelt expression from deep inside. And they SANG ALONG. There was a guy by the front of the stage that sang with real passion and gusto. When I beckoned him to sing into the microphone, his joy and excitement could not be contained. It was loved and appreciated by everybody. They applauded and politely screamed their appreciation for the solos, and respectfully came to talk with us when we left the stage. We did two C.D. signings each night. Every time you leave the stage and go to the dressing room, you pass the kitchen area and it seems like the whole staff of chefs and servers and waiters are standing there smiling and applauding. Wow what a surprise! Nice touch! Don’t Stop!

This wrapped up and closed out the six concerts we played in Jakarta and Japan. And it was really great to see happy new faces and reconnect with old friendships and relationships. Thank you!

Love,

Al Jarreau

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