Home » Jazz Musicians » Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy® Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide.

It’s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four, harmonizing with his brothers and performing solo at a variety of local events in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Music, however, was not always the major force in his life. He excelled in sports and was an above-average student throughout high school and college.

Enrolling at the respected Ripon College in Wisconsin, Jarreau continued singing for fun, performing locally with a group called The Indigos during weekends and holidays, and graduated with a Bachelor Of Science degree in Psychology. After moving on to the University of Iowa to earn his Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation, Jarreau subsequently relocated to San Francisco to begin a career in rehabilitation counseling.

In San Francisco, Al’s natural musical gifts began to shape his future. He found himself performing at a small jazz club with a trio headed by George Duke, and by the late 60s, he knew without a doubt that he would make singing his life. Relocating to Los Angeles, he began his apprenticeship in such famed nightspots as Dino’s, the Troubadour and the Bitter End West. Shortly thereafter, he branched out to New York City as well, where he gained national network television exposure with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, David Frost and Mike Douglas. Al teamed with guitarist Julio Martinez to “spell” up-and-coming comics John Belushi, Bette Midler, Robert Klein, David Brenner, Jimmie Walker and others at the famed comedy venue, The Improv.

In 1975, following an extended stint at the Bla Bla Cafe in Los Angeles, he was spotted by Warner Bros. Records talent scouts and was signed to a recording contract. His debut album for the label, We Got By, was released to unanimous acclaim. It was a reception that spread across the continent and over the Atlantic when Jarreau was awarded a German Grammy for Best New International Soloist that same year. A second German Grammy came his way with the release of his follow-up album, Glow.

aj3Al’s career breakthrough came in 1977 when Warner Brothers Records released Look to the Rainbow , his live double album, which was culled from his first world tour from that same year, and earned the vocalist his first Grammy® for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.

Read more

Tags

10
Interview

Al Jarreau holds forth on the art of singing, the decline of radio and the glory of the great American songbook

Read "Al Jarreau holds forth on the art of singing, the decline of radio and the glory of the great American songbook" reviewed by Jim Trageser


Note: This interview with Al Jarreau was originally published in 2004 on Turbula.net. Any doubts that Al Jarreau was born to sing are quickly dispensed with by a simple conversation with the man--he is incapable of holding forth on the topic of music without dipping into the subject at hand. Not ten minutes into a phone interview, Jarreau is scatting through a passage from a classic bop song of the 1960s, pointing out how the chord ...

19
Live Review

Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2015

Read "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2015" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Cape Town International Jazz Festival Cape Town International Convention Centre Cape Town, South Africa March 27 & 28, 2015 The Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place over two jam-packed nights, on five simultaneous stages. Now in its sixteenth year, it also includes a number of ancillary events during festival week: workshops, a photo exhibition, master classes, and an outdoor free concert in Greenmarket Square (on Wednesday night). The free concert offers a taste of ...

8
One LP

Al Jarreau: Les Double Six, Les Double Six

Read "Al Jarreau: Les Double Six, Les Double Six" reviewed by William Ellis


Double Six--when I was in college in my first year, I formed a singing group patterned along the lines of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross--and Double Six. Double Six changed my life; I listened to them instead of going to class--I think they almost sent me home! Very important music to me, I became friends with Michel Legrand--his sister sang in the group then, and Mimi Perrin--thank you Mimi! we'll all see you soon. So ...

183
Interview

Al Jarreau: Simple and Necessary Happiness

Read "Al Jarreau: Simple and Necessary Happiness" reviewed by Esther Berlanga-Ryan


There are very few jazz greats that make people who love this music smile in awe while witnessing their beautiful talent. Jazz is larger than life, and they all contribute to its greatness every day, whether it is from a small stage in the Village in New York, or from some old record, spinning while popping and clicking away with that undeniable charm, making the music flow. As long as jazz happens, the magnificence of it all remains flawless and ...

388
Album Review

Al Jarreau: The Very Best of: An Excellent Adventure

Read "The Very Best of: An Excellent Adventure" reviewed by Jeff Winbush


Al Jarreau is the most successful jazz singer of his time and has enjoyed a career that spans four decades. Oddly though, Jarreau has been never been represented with a career-spanning compilation, and his fans have been patiently waiting for a comprehensive overview. They will have to keep waiting. An Excellent Adventure casts a wider net than the now out-of-print Best of Al Jarreau (Warner Brothers, 1996), but with only 16 tracks is far from definitive. There's ...

1,427
Interview

Al Jarreau: Christmas Time At Last

Read "Al Jarreau: Christmas Time At Last" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


For someone for whom singing has been a part of their life since childhood and who comes from a church-going family, it's a natural thing each year to periodically croon the popular and traditional melodies of the Christmas holiday season. If that person is a professional--perhaps, one who's been singing for decades and has seven Grammys to his credit--it may seem a bit unnatural that he hasn't yet covered the holiday classics on an album.That's precisely been the ...

197
Live Review

A Romantic Evening in Central Park 2004

Read "A Romantic Evening in Central Park 2004" reviewed by Jim Santella


Pieces Of A Dream, Al Jarreau Central Park in Huntington Beach, California September 11, 2004

A quaint little park area behind the Central Library in Huntington Beach (CA) served as the backdrop for a daylong smooth jazz concert that featured Christine Day, Kevin Toney, Andre Delano, Richard Smith, Brian Bromberg, Pieces Of A Dream and Al Jarreau. L.A. was in the middle of a heat wave, but the park's ample shade trees ...

Read more articles

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today!

Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It’s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more.

Place ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today!

Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It’s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more.

Place ...

11

Recording

Composer/Keyboardist Carol Albert Keeps Her Career Momentum And Positive Vibes Flowing On A Vibrant Re-imagining Of The Al Jarreau Classic “one Way”

Composer/Keyboardist Carol Albert Keeps Her Career Momentum And Positive Vibes Flowing On A Vibrant Re-imagining Of The Al Jarreau Classic “one Way”

Source: Carol Albert

By Jonathan Widran, Music Connection and Jazziz Magazine A few months after energizing smooth jazz radio with her vibrant, optimistic early 2017 single “On My Way,” Atlanta based composer, keyboardist and vocalist Carol Albert keeps the positive, optimistic vibes and the momentum flowing with her fresh and vibrant re- imagining of legendary singer Al Jarreau’s classic “One Way.” The soulfully exotic, high energy piano driven tune, which evolves from gently seductive opening verses into a spirited, intensely grooving ensemble jam, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today!

Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It’s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more.

Place ...

6

Event

The Jazz Cruise 2017 Celebrating Its 16th Sailing Welcomes Al Jarreau

The Jazz Cruise 2017 Celebrating Its 16th Sailing Welcomes Al Jarreau

Source: All About Jazz

VOCAL LEGEND TO JOINS SUPERSTARS OF JAZZ, INCLUDING JIMMY COBB, FREDDY COLE, EDDIE DANIELS, LEWIS NASH, HOUSTON PERSON, PAQUITO D’RIVERA, ELIANE, ELIAS, TAKE 6, CYRILLE AIMEE, RANDY BRECKER, MIKE STERN, BILL EVANS, RENE MARIE Music Director SHELLY BERG Special Hosts JOHN PIZZARELLI and MARCUS MILLER AND DOZENS MORE The Jazz Cruise will set sail next February with one of the greatest treasures in the musical world onboard when Al Jarreau sails on the cruise for the first time ever. One ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today!

Al Jarreau\'s unique vocal style is one of the world\'s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with five Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It\'s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more.

Place ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today! Al Jarreau\'s unique vocal style is one of the world\'s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with five Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It\'s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more. Place ...

1

Education

Celebrated Jazz Vocalist, Al Jarreau, To Share His Craft With Young Artists

Celebrated Jazz Vocalist, Al Jarreau, To Share His Craft With Young Artists

Source: Brianna Taylor

This October, up-and-coming vocalists from three jny: Philadelphia high schools will experience an infusion of artistic excellence and mentorship during a three-day master class with jazz great, Al Jarreau, thanks to the work of The Mann Center for the Performing Arts. From October 14 to 16, Jarreau and three teaching artists, including Marc Johnson, Michal Beckman and Sherry Butler, will lead an intensive master class with selected vocal students from The Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy in Camden, the Girard ...

1

Recording

Al Jarreau To Honor The Legacy Of His Dear Friend George Duke

Al Jarreau To Honor The Legacy Of His Dear Friend George Duke

Source: Muse Media

MY OLD FRIEND: CELEBRATING GEORGE DUKE Domestic Release Scheduled for August 5, 2014 Includes Guest Artists Gerald Albright, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller, Lalah Hathaway, Jeffrey Osborne, Kelly Price, Dr. John and More Plus a special performance by George Duke Los Angeles, CA: The world of music was forever changed in 2013 with the passing of legendary keyboardist, composer and producer George Duke. This year, Al Jarreau, famed vocalist and long-time friend of Duke, re-interprets some of Duke’s renowned catalog of ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Jazz Musician of the Day: Al Jarreau

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Al Jarreau's birthday today!

Al Jarreau\'s unique vocal style is one of the world\'s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with five Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. It\'s not surprising that he has perfected his technique to such an art. After all, he has been singing since the age of four... Read more.

Place ...

Photos

Music

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.