Category : diary

Orléans, France

We begin the summer tour. I am trying to keep it so light and casual with jokes about New Orleans being named after this town in France. And Brian and I walk along the Loire river and think out loud, “Well this could be the Mississippi River. During those days Jazz was in infancy in juke joints and lots of churches and on back door steps. And we sang in front of St. Croix cathedral as big as Notre Dame with an active monastery, we dress in monastic chambers and cubicles… we changed clothes and put on our stupid shirts and ties. And tonight I will many times direct attention to the fact that these our holy grounds where smart and learned men have studied the relationship between man and God. AND NOW, I can begin my summer tour here in this place as I pray to be healthy and well, and POWERFUL.. music is healing… (more about that later)… Ask me. Our new commitment in France with Bernard Dulau is to go to Orléans and Normandy and Toulouse and Bordeaux and Marseille and bring this music to the people. And tonight there are more than 3,000 people from this provincial town. Obviously like the rest of France this audience represents a new home for jazz. And these province visits are what I did many years ago.

Yes, French mothers and dads came with their children and now those kids are back with their little “squirmies.” A little girl with curly blonde hair and a pink dress twirled and danced all night long holding the hems of her pink dress. She was irrepressible even though her dad reached out several times to try to keep her still. I loved it and I’ll never forget. Her little brother looked on in amazement. He couldn’t possibly know what you know, and what goes on in your little girl head. It’s a secret. Maybe the monks might know.

Brian and my son Ryan were excitedly taking pictures of the cathedral even at night. It really is as big as Notre Dame in Paris. It’s a good first night.

And maybe silly Al Jarreau with the putty nose and clown shoes… good music but always laugh and smile. And so we kissed pneumonia goodbye… get on the carpet and fly. And always give thanks. Merci New Orleans. You put “new winds” beneath my wings. Thank you Orléans. I am better, I am healed. My father’s home, the minister preacher, New Orleans.

Grownups make tiny little figures against the huge cathedral doors. Ryan and I talked to Susan on the phone while we drove to Amsterdam. I shared with her the brilliance of that evening in front of the cathedral. The festival is called Orléans Jazz… It really is. At the interview after the concert we talked about how important it is that France is that the country of France has adopted American jazz like proud and pleased parents. And, there are French musicians playing it as well as Americans. And they study it the same way they study philosophy and poetry and ballet.

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Forum Kloster – Gleisdorf

Here we are in Austria… “The Sound of Music” plays in my head as we drive through the open meadows and the foothills of the Alps mountains… “The hills are alive with the sound of music. The songs they have sung for 1000 years.” Real distant snowcap peaks from here. The hall is all glass and blue steel, very modernish. We sound check and I’m still studying music and reading lyrics. We’re doing a new program this season and this will be the second live performance. All of a sudden I’m standing in the wings backstage and waving at first row people. And the band is playing that fanfare front of Earth, Wind & Fire’s, “In The Stone.” Now THAT’S a beautiful steal. And pow we snap right into, “Maybe She’s Looking For You, L is for Lover.” This was a very big hit in Europe.

“Hello Gleisdorf.” Sorry I’m almost 2 years late for the show. I didn’t go in detail, but this is a date that got cancelled two years ago during the “health hiccup summer.” There’s something about a standing audience, chest and belly’s pressed against the edge of the stage. All crowded against each other. The energy passes like wildfire. They are on fire. And it makes me and the band get hot. New music like, “L Is For Lover,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Jacaranda Bougainvillea,” Chris Walker’s, “Heal,” “Random Act of Love,” “Scootcha-booty,” “Puddit,” get an open mouthed wow expression that is on the spot reassuring to me and the band. This is only the second performance of this set.

Mayor Stark, the Burgermeister, came to say a special hello with gifts and his lovely wife. And I found myself thinking in the middle of the set, that I hope he can see what I’m seeing. This auditorium was crowded and everybody all across the front was touching the stage with hands and forearms, but right down front in the middle they had made room for Elka, a lady in a wheelchair. Need I say more? These people were very special people. I tried several times to hear her name when I asked her, but when I failed to be able to hear her I just said, “Ok, Ok I’m going to call you Barbara.” Big laugh! She stayed all night, and they took good care of her.

This is Austria, Zawinul country. Our promoter is Erich Zawinul, Joe Zawinul’s son. He’s been bringing the band and me to Austria for 20 years. So, one of the encore pieces is, “Something That You Said,” and it’s a great moment. We signed CD’s, with Julia and Hans, organizing and helping out. Wow! Beautiful people. Women and men alike… short hair with Christmas tree earrings. And the guy with record albums dating back to prehistoric times. Fans of my music, getting to see me for the first time. They bought CD’s, we laughed and their excitement spilled over. We hopped on the bus ride. Very fun! We were as excited as 6th graders on a field trip. Laughin’, shouting, and snacking, certain of a success in Gleisdorf!

Dear Gleisdorf you laughed and clapped in time and danced in the aisle. Especially 2 or 3 women down front on the left. You scootcha-bootied!

Let’s do it again before 2 years. See you in Bratislava, Slovakia.

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Al Jarreau For The Jazz Roots – Director Larry Rosen

Las Vegas, NV

The Smith Center is a marvelously wonderful new performing venue to play in Las Vegas. It’s brand new since April, and is the only standalone performing arts center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a very important addition to the list of performance facilities in Las Vegas; especially because it exists solely and entirely for performing. Everything is geared to and focused on that. There’s no gambling here. And there’s no hotel. I was so impressed by the staff at The Smith Center. They are top shelf professionals and are exceptionally warm and outgoing and welcoming and inviting. And so I thank you again Myron Martin for your personal greeting to me, and for a wonderful experience at The Smith Center.

Larry Rosen and Carl Griffin produced the Jazz Roots education program for high school kids. It has a real focus on the performance experience, and it gives music students a very important opportunity to experience live music performance in a top tier setting. Music in the schools is disappearing. The Department of Education in Washington, DC can tell you that kids who study music, tend to read better, get higher math scores, and tend to go on to college. So this is important stuff. About 100 kids from local schools visited us at sound check where they heard us play. And then we did a question and answer session. And Carl cajoled a few of them into coming onto the stage to play their instrument with me and my band. It was big fun! And really inspiring. I’m so touched and impressed… During the first part of the concert, I could hear that crowd clapping and cheering and yelling for the Ramsey Lewis Trio all the way in my dressing room. Ramsey brings his style of music right to today, and makes it relevant for any listeners. Of course there’s no scantily clad dancers or moonwalking. It’s just a simple, hard-drivin’ roots… all happening inside of a trio. Thanks Ramsey let’s do it again.

We tried out our new program for the first time. Moments like this can become a bit of a blur because one is concentrating so much on doing the new material correctly, with new lyrics and new arrangements, that perspective gets a little hazy. But what I sensed is this audience really enjoyed this new set of songs. They were up on their feet, grinning with eyes like silver dollars when we did, “Puddit,” with that humorous lyric that I wrote for an old Crusader song. Chris Walker’s, “How Do You Heal A Broken Heart,” followed by the two of us doing a duet on, “Random Act Of Love,” was a sure-fire hit. And so was, “Double Face,” and, “Jacaranda.” When we left with, “Roof Garden,” that talks about, “party,” they did just that and jumped to their feet and got that boogie down.

A nice little meet and greet with some wonderful friends was a perfect cherry on top of the whole event. James Lewis was there from Warner Records of the 70’s and 80’s. And we hugged and reminisced. And Cathy Tiffany and the “Girls Gone Mild,” almost squealed with delight. My Susan smiled shyly.
I got up early next morning to hang out with my old friend Steve Edwards and chat on air with him for an hour. Steve put together a beautiful hour of my music during the station’s public radio fundraiser. There were times he made me real emotional with his smart insightful selections out of my entire catalog. He’s brilliant.

What a wonderful weekend in Las Vegas. I’ll take that time every time. Hugs and kisses again to the Las Vegas audience. You were fantastic.

Love,

Al

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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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