Jazz / Vocal, Christmas, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Holidays
Al Jarreau - Author, Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Arranger, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Allison Revilla Project Assistant
Alvin Chea Vocals
Alyncia Mack Vocals (Background)
Andrew Hey Engineer
Anna Tes Design
Avital Ferd Project Assistant
Bernie Grundman Mastering
Bob Wilson & His Orchestra Drums
Brent Fischer Arranger
Cedric Dent Vocals
Chris Walker Arranger, Bass, Vocal Arrangement, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Clare Fischer Arranger
Claude McKnight Vocals
Dan Higgins Flute (Wood), Penny Whistle, Flute
Dave & Ian Thomas Engineer, Vocals
Dave Carpenter Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
David Witham Arranger, Fender Rhodes
Haniel Trisna Vocal Recording, Engineer
Jay Graydon Arranger
Jerry Hey Flugelhorn
Joe Turano Arranger, Sax (Tenor), Piano, Producer, Sleigh Bells, Overdub Engineer, Vocals (Background)
Joey Kibble Vocals
Jorge Calandrelli Arranger
Joshua Blanchard Assistant Engineer
Larry Andrew Williams Horn Arrangements, Keyboards, Producer, Fender Rhodes, Overdub Engineer, Flute, Vibraphone, Arranger, Synthesizer Bass, Vocal Arrangement, Clarinet, Vocal Recording, Synthesizer, Bells, Orchestral Realizations, Sleigh Bells, Sax (Tenor), Piano, Soloist
Larry Goldings Organ
Larry Tuttle Stick
Lenny Castro Tambourine, Udu, Percussion
Liuba Shapiro Project Assistant
Lynne Bugai Stylist
Mark Kibble Engineer, Producer, Vocals
Mark Simmons Drums
Mason Williams Project Assistant
Matt Taylor Band Design
Michael O'Neill Guitar (Nylon String), Guitar (Electric)
Michael Thompson Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Mike Ging Engineer
Montina Cooper Vocals (Background)
Phil Ayling Oboe
Ramon Stagnaro Guitar (Nylon String)
Reggie Collins Project Assistant
Rocky Schenck Photography
Ross Bolton Guitar
Scott Webber Art Direction
Steve Sykes Mixing, Engineer
Take 6 Vocals
Zach Cowie Project Assistant
After signing with Reprise in 1975, Al Jarreau has become a master of both studio and stage. He is one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time. He now releases his first holiday collection and first album of newly recorded music since 2006's Givin' It Up. Christmas includes the singer's disctinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics.
If ever there was a singer suited for a holiday album it was Al Jarreau, whose friendly, honeyed croon always felt warm and welcoming. Those traits are evident on his 2008 seasonal album Christmas but so are his scatting roots, perhaps a little bit too much so for this to be the kind of soothing soundtrack to a Christmas party that it might initially seem to be, particularly as the first section of the album is loaded with just a little bit too much syncopation and swing. As Christmas rolls on, things settle down into a smooth quiet storm groove, never pushing too hard on either the vocal or arrangement front, which is a bit of a relief after the slightly overcooked first half. This back-end -- containing a silken "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," a light "The Little Christmas Tree" and a mildly funky "Gloria in Excelsis" -- is what Jarreau fans would hope, even expect, from an Al Jarreau Christmas album and it's the reason to give this a seasonal spin. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Al Jarreau
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Mar 12, 1940 in Milwaukee, WI
Genre: Vocal
Styles: Pop, Soft Rock, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Smooth Jazz, AM Pop
The only vocalist in history to net Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B, respectively), Al Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, WI, on March 12, 1940. The son of a vicar, he earned his first performing experience singing in the church choir. After receiving his master's degree in psychology, Jarreau pursued a career as a social worker, but eventually he decided to relocate to Los Angeles and try his hand in show business, playing small clubs throughout the West Coast.
He recorded an LP in the mid-'60s, but largely remained an unknown, not reentering the studio for another decade. Upon signing to Reprise, Jarreau resurfaced in 1975 with We Got By, earning acclaim for his sophisticated brand of vocalese and winning positive comparison to the likes of Billy Eckstine and Johnny Mathis. After 1976's Glow, Jarreau issued the following year's Look to the Rainbow, a two-disc live set that reached the Top 50 on the U.S. album charts. With 1981's Breakin' Away, he entered the Top Ten, scoring a pair of hits with "We're in This Love Together" and the title track. After recording 1986's L Is for Lover with producer Nile Rodgers, Jarreau scored a hit with the theme to the popular television program Moonlighting, but his mainstream pop success was on the wane, and subsequent efforts like 1992's Heaven and Earth and 1994's Tenderness found greater success with adult contemporary audiences.
A string of budget compilations and original albums hit the shelves at the end of the decade, but into the turn of the century his original output slowed down. That was until he signed with the VerveGRP label in 1998 and reunited with producer Tommy LiPuma. LiPuma had produced Jarreau's ostensible 1975 debut, We Got By, and the pairing seemed to reinvigorate Jarreau, who went on to release three stellar albums under LiPuma's guidance, including 2000's Tomorrow Today, 2002's All I Got, and 2004's Accentuate the Positive. Givin' It Up, recorded with George Benson and released in 2006, was nominated for three Grammy Awards -- each one for a different song. Jarreau returned with his first ever full-length holiday-themed album, Christmas, in 2008.
---Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide |
