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Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with Dee Dee Bridgewater

Wow! What a headline marquee. I can tell you for sure that it’s a real honor and special “recognition” to be invited to do your stuff in this prestigious renowned venue. Disney Concert Hall is the jewel in the crown of a new ultra-modern performing arts complex in downtown LA, and the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Big?!?! We got lost trying to make sound check on time (architects on steroids). But we found our way, as we would do that very evening.

We found our way through a brand new program of music with a different approach and presentation. About three months ago, my music director Joe Turano (keyboards, saxes, vocals) came to me and said Walt Disney Hall is coming soon and we might want to do something special in that unique setting in Los Angeles—A brand new symphony concert hall—new home of the LA Symphony… something close and intimate. He said he had some ideas and would get back to me real soon.

He did and said that he’s been in the band for 10 years now and it’s occurred to him that there’s a real treasure trove of music that introduced ‘Al Jarreau’ to the world and began the journey… and that people would love to hear and rediscover that music today, now!

He went on to say that the Look to the Rainbow album and period is where I made that really warm personal connection with people that has been my hallmark signature and continues to this day.

Long story short, we reconfigured the band around me really close in, with a grand piano and all of it closer to the front of the stage, and proposed a new set of music that begins with a cool bubbling slow burn intro vamp to Look to the Rainbow. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but the set included Sweet Potato Pie, We Got By, She’s Leaving Home, and Easy. Unheard for years!

We’ve reminded ourselves to not neglect those really important crossover songs, but for the moment we’ll keep refining this fresh approach and pray it works in 2010.

Don Heckman, music reviewer for the LA Times accurately wrote that it took a little time for Al to get comfortable at Disney in the round, but I did, and it was a strong performance. At 70, Jarreau is still at the top of his game.

Of the evening as a whole, he said, “The combination of Al Jarreau and Dee Dee Bridgewater, performing at Disney Hall Sunday night on the same stage was an inspired booking. One could make a good case for the event as a rare display of brilliant jazz singing at the highest level.”

Thank you Los Angeles, Dee Dee, Disney Concert Hall!

Love, Al

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Miami, FL with Ramsey Lewis

The Adrienne Arsht Center is a huge ultra-modern complex with a gorgeous concert hall that we played: Knight Hall. Ramsey and his partner Larry Rosen did a great job announcing and promoting their jazz music education program in the local area schools. I pitched in with some interviews at press and radio, and I think it was effective in getting the attention of the target audience.

Backstage after the concert there were 15-20 music students from The University of Miami, all scrubbed faces, bright eyed and excited. That’s wonderful stuff, y’all!

Wonderful that young kids come and get excited about a performance of good and relevant music that’s different from what they are getting through regular ‘pop’ media channels where spectacle and extravaganza so often obscures and distracts. Let’s be clear; this kind of performing is wonderfully valuable, compelling, and has its place. Who could question M.J. and Bon Jovi and Beyoncé and Prince, etc. etc. – It’s just that the young music lover, and especially the young music student and future professional needs to know that there is some really beautiful and exciting music to do without a dance routine and fireworks.

And so, I hope out colleges and universities will fill in the void and make opportunities for exposure to excellent alternatives like jazz and classical, and how about theatre and ballet, and the whole spectrum of the arts. My band did light things up with some inspired jobs from all the guys, including Chris Walker’s “Human Nature” treatment.

On a different note, I have to mention that I’m so proud of my multi-cultural audience in Miami. They come and I think Ramsey Lewis and I together gave them a unique little spectrum of contemporary music arts at Knight Hall. I think the reation of those students was an excellent barometer of how the audience felt. Thumbs up!

Gracias and Thank you, Miami

Love,
Al

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Seattle, WA

The billing was Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio! Yeah! Me and George. We just may have started something here. I explained that George and I have a special history together. George has produced music on my records, and accompanied, and written songs with me, and we’ve toured together in various mixes and aggregations of great players and singers.

But what we have not done is to work as a trio and vocalist….. well, not since a long time ago, back before We Got By, my first “official” record, so to speak. This is an interesting little unknown chapter that needs more time than I can make now. But I told the audience the gist of it last night. George has a closetful of tapes of me and the George Duke Trio at the Half Note Club in San Francisco around 1965-68. And maybe with a touch here and there, we can put out some new old music from our early days, with a tour that features some of that music. Seattle was a hint.

George and the trio played stuff that’s ‘all over the place, honed to perfection, slammin!’ Masterpieces. Retro jazz to fusion R&B/rock, then the funk. Bassist Mike Manson and drummer Ronald Bruner, Jr. are both prodigies… ‘Nuff said!

With one 3-hour rehearsal of music under our belts, and a sound check, I jumped in the deep end. The Seattle audience was so hot and enthusiastic that the butterflies flew and so did we all.

I love ya, Seattle. Soon please!

Love, Al

P.S. Frank Smoll from Ripon was there. We talked about Doc Weiske!

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Ella Fitzgerald Tribute

The beautiful Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. is a serious patron of the Arts, and a real friend to Jazz. One year ago, I sang there in a tribute to the great Benny Golson (in “Whisper Not”). His compositions and sax are legendary. At that time I was invited to come back this year and sing the Ella Fitzgerald tribute with the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band, featuring Antonio Hart and Jimmy Heath with Dee Dee Bridgewater and Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer). It was a blast smash and sold out.

The collection of music that was played and sung really was a story about the broad variety and sophistication of Ella’s work (all the way from “A Tisket, A Tasket” to “How High the Moon” and “Cotton Tail.”

It was a real gala with audience on the edge of their seats all night. Dee was marvelously wild, polka dots and moon beams. Janis was preciously sophisticated, cool, and nimble. The band, conducted by saxist Antonio Hart (great player), played fine work all night.

Dee and I sang “Makin’ Whoopee” and Janis and I did “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off.”

Janis and Dee were on point and breathed fresh sparkle into some great classics. The spirit and buzz of that evening will last and last. Thank you again, Kennedy Center. Kevin Struthers is a prince. Thanks, Big Band. Dee and Janis….. I love you.

Love, Al

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