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Al Jarreau’s Diary from SE Asia 2008 Tour with George Benson

Hi everybody,

I haven’t made a diary entry in a very long time. I don’t like that…but, I got swamped and so busy that I had to let go of some stuff. Still, somehow I’ve got to check in with you at least intermittently, even if briefly and update you. Losing touch for so long is not okay. So, I apologize and will really try to talk to you more.

I’ll save the general catch up highlights for another time. Right now, I must mention that George Benson and I just closed out a seven city asia tour. Seoul, Beijing, shanghai, manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and last night our closer in Jakarta. It was wonderful!

This tour was a continuation of the world tour which began just after the release of our ‘givin it up’ record. I owe a really special thanks to all of the promoters who invited us. There’s no sure thing in the concert biz these days and so promoters are always a little nervous, especially international places where you’ve never been. Thanks guys!

Here’s another special thank you to Eric John and wife, the American ambassador of Thailand, who had a beautiful reception for us at their home. That’s wonderfully thoughtful U.S. officialdom… they even met us at the airport.

Going to Asia is so rare and wonderful that it’s always a little frustrating that there isn’t time for sightseeing and ‘getting the feel’.

We arrived in Beijing between the close of the 2008 Olympic games, and the start of the Paralympics. The air was just buzzing with the energy of the games, and when I mentioned ‘congrats’ on what great hosts they were and the china medal count – they erupted.

Shanghai was buzzing and banging and klanging with all of the new building going on. It’s eye-popping, jaw dropping the amount of new construction. Canyons of glass and steel, and new bridges of the most wonderful modern design.

By the way, there was a terrific 2 page Time Magazine Asia article, with Sarah Palin on the cover. Thank you time magazine, I’m so flattered. Thanks Fiona for all of you hard work.

And of course BIG HUGS and KNUCKLE BUMPIN to our fantastic band and crew. Also, to our tour manager Anna, and our management rep Joe Gordon. This was a band made up of some of George Benson’s band, and some members of our band. Larry Williams, Joe Turano (my musical director), David Garfield (George’s musical director), Mike O’Neill (has been with GB for 20+ years), Stanley Banks (of the ‘Breezin’ record), Thom Hall, and Mark Simmons playing drums during Both sets.

Thank you band, You were fantastic! Standing ovations, and encores all over the place.

BREAKING NEWS: WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROACHED TO RETURN TO SE ASIA TO DO ANOTHER 6-8 CITY TOUR. DETAILS TO BE UPDATED LATER.

Al Jarreau Interview – Tamar Alexia Fleishman

Singer Al Jarreau has been wowing audiences for over five decades. As a toddler growing up in Milwaukee, he sang with his brothers at various public events. However, as a young man, Jarreau set aside his show business ambitions, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Ripon College and a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation at the University of Iowa. Jarreau then began a career in Vocational Rehab, but singing still pulled at his heartstrings. He sang jazz at a local nightclub before pulling up stakes and moving to Los Angeles. There, he finally got serious about his musical career.

Soon, he was singing on the West Coast and appearing on all of the great 70’s talks shows on the East Coast: Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, David Frost and Mike Douglas. He also served as the warm up act for many comics, including John Belushi, David Brenner and Bette Midler.

Jarreau started recording in 1975; his debut album, “We Got By,” received a German Grammy. Two albums and years later, he won his first American Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for “Look to the Rainbow.” In 1978, “All Fly Home” netted him a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocalist. The Grammy’s kept rolling in with the ’80’s “Breakin’ Away” for Best Male Pop Vocalist and Best Male Jazz Vocalist. He was nominated for a Grammy for the catchy theme to the show “Moonlighting,” as well as for Best R&B album for “Heart’s Horizon.” In 1992, Jarreau received his fifth Grammy award for “Heaven and Earth”, in the field of Best R & B Vocal Performance.

When he’s not recording even more award-winning albums or touring, Al Jarreau still keeps plenty busy: he completed a three-month stint on Broadway playing the role of Teen Angel in the hit musical Grease. He has also appeared on New York Undercover, Touched By An Angel and a national McDonald’s commercial.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECTS.

I have a wonderful record that’s 18 months old. I did it with my very first producer and engineer. We got back together to do my first real jazz project. It’s called “Accentuate the Positive.” People have always thought of me as a jazz singer, but the real truth is that all my records are R & B/pop with undertones and overtones of jazz. I put together a quartet of piano, bass, drums and guitar.

YOU QUICKLY WON GRAMMYS WITH YOUR FIRST ALBUMS. HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING?

I suppose that over the years, all of us are in it for the work. You do it with all of your heart. Maybe that attracts people, the love of the craft. I do okay, even during these times and days where the artist isn’t especially encouraged to do artistic things. I refuse to go away! There are more rewards now to those who seem to fit in a mold. It has nothing to do with art and fine art.

DID WINNING THE GRAMMYS CHANGE THE CLOUT YOU HAD IN DEALING WITH RECORD COMPANIES?

I think there’s an impact, having acclaim from other artists and professional colleagues. But it’s hard to measure. I don’t think the record companies are especially moved to deal across the table.

YOU HAVE EXCELLED IN MANY STYLES OF MUSIC AND YOUR FANS DID NOT ABANDON YOU. WHEN WILLIE NELSON RECORDED A BLUES ALBUM, HE COULDN’T EVEN GET A RECORDING CONTRACT. HOW DID YOU AVOID THAT FATE?

My R & B and pop songs are seasoned with a jazzy approach. I haven’t really stretched my audience in ways they may not expect. But my new record has hardly gotten a nod. It’s hard for me to understand. It’s not selling the numbers I expected. It may turn triple-platinum, several years down the road, but I’m very disappointed. This album should appeal to people (even) outside my audience: the jazz purists and the people who go for instrumental jazz. It’s a great record!

A PERSON’S VOICE IS A DELICATE INSTRUMENT. HOW DO YOU PRESERVE IT?

Basically, stay healthy. Eschew bad habits, not sing too much. It sounds absurd, but it’s the truth! Being a fine singer does not fit in the lifestyle of singing 5 nights a week for an hour and a half to two hours, living on a bus, getting very little sleep. But that’s what we all have to do.

YOU’VE PARTICIPATED IN LIVE INTERNET CHATS, TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

It’s a great thing when you can get it organized. When we did it through my own web site, announcing it 3 or 4 weeks ahead of time, we missed the boat. When the record company did the publicity for an Internet chat, it worked.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR VERIZON LITERACY CHAMPION AWARD?

As a nation, we’re really slipping. The statistics are appalling. 48% of Americans read below the 6th grade level. They can’t read maps or prescriptions or fill out a job application with accuracy. We raise money for books, computers and even training volunteers.

WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

You’d be surprised! I find myself loving the sound of silence. I need that space for my own work. Sometimes, I’ll turn on the classical station in hotel rooms. But we are bombarded by commercial, “buy this product” music. We’re just hammered. I need a break! I’m saturated and so are you. People need a break so they don’t buy unimportant, superfluous, garbage music. Very few people can find music that touches them anymore.

Thanks for the Live Chat!

I participated in a 2-day chat room yesterday & today (Europe on Sunday and America today). It was fun, but not nearly the response I hoped for. I quickly realized that I should have given more advanced notice & perhaps even announced the chat at a few other sources. Thank you to all of you that participated in the chat, it was great getting to know you and letting you get to know me. This is good stuff. I look forward to the next one, and I’ll be giving you plenty of notice next time ’cause I want to talk to all of you!

We’re tentatively thinking about doing another chatroom in early July before leaving for my European Tour – So stay tuned…

Al’s latest thoughts & a special “Live Chat with Al…” announcement!

Hi everybody. I do so deeply apologize for being terribly slow and late getting back to my diary entries. The truth is that I lost my notes for the October and November tour in Europe. I had been very careful with my notes, because I have been enjoying so very much the direct communication with all of you and the ability to comment on each concert. I was really feeling good about this new found way of being in touch with you and I was on a roll.  Unfortunately, I am neither a computer guy nor an internet junkie, I really don’t know much about computers so I had no back up. The loss seriously spaced me out for a while. Real troubling for me was that the October and November tour and my concert comments covered some cities and territories I hadn’t been to for a long-long time; Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The tour was a good start at renewing some old friendships and making new friends as well.

If those notes ever show up, I’ll find a way of making some brief belated comments about those past dates. In the mean time, to summarize October and November in short, you were a fantastic audience! You welcomed me back with such heart touching warmth, I didn’t want it to stop…I felt like starting the whole tour all over again! And your response to the new material was so positive and reassuring that the band and I were FLOORED! And so many young faces everywhere! Not just a handful either at any one date, but a really remarkable number of kids under 20, and a lot of 11 and 12 year olds too.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all of that and we will do it again soon.

I’ll be making some diary entries about more recent events. And right now I want to officially announce that I will participate in a Live Chat with all of you. There will two Live Chats on the following dates and times; (I hope you can join me!)

Al Jarreau European Live Chat

Date: Sunday, May 1, 2005

Time: 6pm to 9pm CEST (Central European Summer Time)

Al Jarreau American and North American Chat

Date: Monday, May 2, 2005

Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST (Pacific Standard Time)

Mark your calendars; you will be able to access Live Chats at www.aljarreau.com

Thank you, I love you and will talk to you soon.

Al Jarreau

Phoenix

“Out of the ashes… a bird!” I always think of that when I’m there. Somehow that reference is more poignant this time as I mention that my cousin Irma has just ascended (passed).

We’re at the beautiful Celebrity Theater in “The Round” tonight. The stage will slowly spin in one direction & then the other. It’s a unique experience for the performer & audience, if you don’t get seasick. I love it, skirting the circumference ahead of the spin & singing to people before I should be there. Or Crossing the diameter from one edge, to the other squeezing by the instruments.

You’re in the right place tonight! No 4-letter words or crotch grabbing & you might even hear some words like God & Love & School & Brother’s keeper.

ZONE!!…. The whole night! Molding & folding time at will. As I passed by 2 ladies from Milwaukee on the aisle, they grabbed my hand & shouted, “Go on, homeboy!!” Lots of mixed couples here tonight & I feel complimented & proud. There was a little girl who did a picture for me who was the chef’s daughter.

I was especially touched after the show by Lisa, an Air Force veteran who had been critically ill with Gulf War Syndrome but who is doing much, much better now. She hugged me & thanked me for something I said in a song that she listened to over & over. We held hands & starred at each other a long time. Thank you, Father!!! Thanks Chuck for bringing Lisa!!!

Thank you Phoenix!!!

–A.J.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Boulder Station. A new venue for me. In short, you should go there & catch a show. If you’re a performing act, go there & play that room. It’s close, intimate & personal. And the staff is the bomb. Open, gracious and professional. That kind of spirit starts at the top with the big boss & director of the room.

The band & the close audience reacted to all that intimacy & glowed real hot. It seemed like the management liked us too. I had a ball! Let’s do it again soon!!

— A.J.