Al Jarreau- a jazz singer of the highest quality.

Al Jarreau, a jazz singing legend


I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the American jazz and soul singer Al Jarreau. Jarreau, 76, died over the weekend after suffering from exhaustion and breathing problems. He was widely acknowledged as one of American's finest of jazz singers and the silkiest of crooners. Few were able to capture the flavour and soul of America in the heart of its soulful heartland.

Having caught up with some of  his greatest hits on You Tube I was reminded of the depth and range of Jarreau's voice. Sometimes music provides us with something that strikes a chord within us and restores our faith in human nature. Frequently Jarreau provided the world with an instantly recognisable jazzy riff that transported us right into the heart of a New York jazz club.

But Jarreau will always be remembered for the theme from the immensely popular 1980s TV show Moonlighting starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. The voice was light and feathery, a rich fusion of smooth, easy listening and laid back cool. There was an effortless style and sassiness about the Jarreau sound that rested beautifully on the ear, as he continued to go from strength to strength in a career that seemed to span a number of decades.

It may be easy to assume that Jarreau was easily influenced by that galaxy of black soul singers such as George Benson, with whom he paired up in a magnificent collaboration, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder and most assuredly Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. Jarreau, though was  the purest of all stylists and as his recording career flourished so did the burgeoning jazz scene in both America and the rest of the world.

One of his first singles Morning is quite the most endearing of all videos. I've recently taken the chance to look back at some of his greatest hits on You Tube and Morning is the ultimate mood lifter, a song of sweetness and simplicity in a complicated world. There is something deeply imaginative about the cartoon imagery that brought the widest of smiles to my face. Morning, you feel, may well have been recorded at breakfast time when Mr Radio was at his most alert and the bowl of Cheerios cereal simply couldn't stop dancing.

Boogie Down, is breathtakingly funky, magnificently upbeat and full of dance floor vitality. You find yourself drawn almost hypnotically into its web of jumping jazz. There is a definitive beat and rhythm that makes you want to sing all evening and all night. Boogie Down has funky trumpets, a solid, jazzy theme and all of the easy going vocal variations you could possibly ask for in a jazz singer.

We're in this Love Together fully emphasises the rich soulfulness of Jarreau and the true originality of his vocals. Jarreau celebrates not only the joy that love brings but a vocal delivery that is full of meaning and sentiment. It has triumph, resonance and the most delicate of touches.

I can remembering buying a couple of Al Jarreau's albums and being blown away by his ability to make a song cross the whole emotional spectrum. There is a warmth and tenderness in a voice which will continue to be played on every radio station that values such qualities. In a world that is sometimes both angry and explosive Al Jarreau brought solidity, reassurance and smoothness. I, for one, will miss him deeply. Thanks for the memories Al.