Jazz / Vocal, Soft Rock
Al Jarreau - Rhythm Arrangements, Vocals, Percussion, Vocal Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Abraham Laboriel Bass
Bernie Grundman Mastering
Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone
Carlos Vega Drums
Chuck Findley Trumpet, Horn
David Foster Fender Rhodes, Piano
Dean Parks Guitar (Electric), Guitar
Debbie Thompson Engineer
Earl Klugh Rhythm Arrangements, Gut String Guitar, Guitar
Earl Lon Price Saxophone
George Duke Fender Rhodes, Piano
Greg Mathieson Synthesizer, Rhythm Arrangements, Piano, Synthesizer Strings, Keyboards
Harry Mittman Art Direction
Jay Graydon Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer, Engineer, Guitar, Producer, Guitar (Electric)
Jerry Hey Horn, Horn Arrangements, Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Joe Bogan Engineer
Larry Williams Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Piano
Les Thompson Harmonica
Lon Price Sax (Alto)
Michael Omartian Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer
Michael Rice Photography
Oscar Castro-Neves Guitar, Gut String Guitar
Ralph Humphrey Percussion, Drums
Richard Avedon Photography
Richard Seireeni Art Direction
Steve Gadd Drums
Steve George Synthesizer
Tom Canning Piano, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements, Bells
Tom Kellock Rhythm Arrangements
Al Jarreau finally found success in the U.S. after 1975's We Got By. The later albums that followed ,like 1977's live Look to the Rainbow and 1978's All Fly Home found him attaining the all-important cult status and accolades from the jazz community. Those facts made his switch to pop/r&b on This Time even more surprising. For This Time, Jarreau is paired with producer Jay Graydon. Despite his jazz credentials, This Time does prove that this style is where Jarreau truly prospers. The jittery "Never Give It Up" and the melodic and pensive "Gimme What You Got" have a crisp and refined L.A. sound, and Jarreau gives the songs weight with his methodical yet playful vocals. In the same vein, the poignantly sung and arranged "Your Sweet Love" displays Jarreau's gift of ringing emotion where you'd least expect it. Jarreau also adds deft lyrics to jazz standards "(A Rhyme) This Time" and "(I Can Recall) Spain." The best song to bridge the gap between the two incarnations, "Alonzo," is strikingly beautiful and has Jarreau nearly reaching operatic heights. During its release, This Time was stunning for its fresh sound and a sense of warmth. Upon repeated plays, those attributes still ring true. ~ Jason Elias, 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 |
