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Oct 17 – Cincinnati’s Healthcare Connection Benefit Fundraiser

Funds are designated for lower income families and individuals. This year, diabetes was the focus. I offered praise and applause to them all night long… Job #1, our most important work and activity on this planet, should be taking care of each other, especially since we’ve seen government default so grossly over the past 2 decades. I won’t elaborate. I do have faith in Obama’s wisdom and vision.

This evening was the beautiful antithesis to default and myopic detachment. There were so many sponsoring corporations and private businesses. I can’t remember them if I tried. But Proctor & Gamble stands out for me because my Lincoln High School buddy Sam Moore has worked for them for years and has always been advocating for special projects throughout his career, and P&G has been generously involved in the community. My opening comment was, “God is here”… When people respond so generously to other people’s needs, God is there.

Another buddy from Lincoln High School was there—Guy Vance. We’d been playing phone tag for weeks, but hadn’t seen each other since high school. Then another surprise, David Lives, from Ripon, my class, 1962.

Well believe it or not, we did some music, too, and Aronoff Hall rocked good and hard. There was a guy down front, just to my right, who was so into it that the audience must have thought he was on salary. That kind of enthusiasm is contagious.

Thank you Cincinnati! Thank you, Ohio! What a great state. So many wonderful cities to see and play in, and so I have for many years. Thank you, Buckeyes—Your Fall colors are gorgeous.

Love, Al

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Oct 15 – Clearwater Jazz

“When I say ‘Clearwater’—You say ‘Jazz’”
And they did. “Clearwater”…”Jazz.”  That little exchange was a fun  beginning, signaling the spirit of the afternoon. “Hey boat people!”… (There were boats on a close by waterway.) “I want my money,” I yelled. Fun.

I still can’t believe that this was my first time playing there. And this was their 30th year, and it’s always been a ‘free’ festival for the people. That requires some serious fun raising all year long, for 30 years. That’s more than impressive hard work and commitment.

We played under a big white tent that covered the stage. It was still plenty light outside when we went on. Seats up close to the stage were surrounded by blankets with picnic snacks, and then concession stands with more food and beer and wine were on the outside. Fun, fun, fun under the sun, and their response to the music, generous and enthusiastic the whole time. And the band was smokin’.

We met a bunch of the sponsors backstage and I was glad to run into Shannon West, one of the smartest music journalists around. Go Shannon!

Thank you, Clearwater! I had a great time. Let’s do it again next year.

Love, Al

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Oct 9 – In Nashville with the Nashville Symphony

I think we all know Nashville to be the long-standing home of the Grand Ole Opry, and real center of country music.

But who would immediately guess that they have a symphony orchestra that rivals the Metropolitan Orchestra of New York and the Berlin Symphony!

Nashville has recently emerged as a thriving and lively center of all kinds of music. While live music and recording studios have been disappearing in the rest of the country, there is a fresh enthusiasm in Nashville that has attracted a growing crop of brilliant and talented players and arrangers from all the genres, including R&B, Blues, Pop, and Jazz—Many are transplants.

There’s a street called Broadway that has a 4 or 5 block run with every 4th or 5th establishment doing live music. Amazing!

Matt Catingub conducted and played a beautiful sax sola during the orchestra portion of the evening.

He and the orchestra were fantastic with my music, swinging like Ellington or Basie, and delivering on all the special nuances in my stuff: Boogie Down, We’re in This Love Together, Take 5, etc.

I love you Nashville… Thanks for another good one.

God Bless You,
Al

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Al Jarreau’s Diary from Singapore October 2009

Singapore

In 1918, Sir Stamford Riles and the British East India Company established a trading post on this Malaysian Island. These days, an explosion of modern and ultra-modern construction mixes well with the traditional. They drive on the wrong (left) side of the road like the Brits and speak English better than you and me. And are the gentlest, sweetest polite and kind people of any on the planet.

Even standing room only was sold out at The Esplanade, a venue of ultra modern design, but a cozy inside with the first row touchable from the stage—Wonderful! Wonderful response without hesitation. Audiences in Asia can be shy and reserved. Wow, what a fantastic surprise. Don’t lose that, Singapore! It makes the performers find more to give. We even deviated from the planned program, throwing in Autumn Leaves (I got lost, but it was OK for the moment’s sake.) The audience sang with strong enthusiasm on choruses but really killed me with one single word and note that they sang… “I,” the final word in “Waltz for Debbie.” Classic Jazz! Composer Bill Evans rejoiced in heaven.

Liza, the promoter IMG Artists, and I vowed to do it again next year.

THANK YOU SINGAPORE! Love, Al

Singapore Sun Festival

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