After a year 2016 marked by capital musical losses, especially in the world of Jazz / Funk / Soul, the year 2017 will not start in a lull. We are in mourning; Al Jarreau died on Sunday, February 12, 2017.
Grandpa bought his first vinyls in the 70's; Dad has owned his entire nightclub since forever; me today, 20 years old (and all my teeth), not a single title is missing in my personal iTunes.What a shock for the whole family when on TF1 we paid tribute to "Al" at the very end of the Journal of 20 hours Sunday.
At 76, the man with 7 Grammy Awards leaves a barely bearable void for fans, but also for those whose name AL JARREAU does not say much. Because if you think you don't know his work, you misunderstand. You've heard his songs before, necessarily. In his register, he is a bit like the Stevie Wonder of Jazz Funk: often discreet, but capable of the most astonishing performances on stage; interplanetary tubes, which are no longer on the radio; An extraordinary talent, which will not be fully recognized until after his death formalized – the mark of the greats.
Al Jarreau: An exceptional artist
So what to say, and where to start? Maybe by simply inviting you at the end of this article, to rush on Youtube or Deezer, and listen to his genius (Playlist of the essentials below). Al Jarreau is the one who reconciles Jazz and people, the one who perfectly marries all styles, the one who transformed and transcended himself on stage just to see people smile. The one that covered classics, which we prefer to the originals (Take Five, Spain, etc …). A man who innovated in the fields of "scat" (language made of rhythmic onomatopoeias initiated in the early twentieth century), gestures on stage (he used to imitate the sounds of all instruments to the voice, while mimicking to play them) and improvisation to the voice (often Al Jarreau surprised by his improvised "solos" on singing, as a jazz instrumentalist would).
Jarreau has never been afraid of ridicule – as evidenced by his video clips, each more cheesy and twisting than the last. Specifically, he was never afraid to be himself. He never let anyone dictate to him the commercial image he had to convey. It was whole. Moreover, he said it himself: "Family first, music second". We make more artists like him. Who could argue otherwise?
His talent has always required him to surround himself with the best. "Monsieur Groove", just like any of the great Jazzmen, carefully selected his musicians on each album and each track. An example? But of course, I give it to you! On the album Breakin' Away, released on June 30, 1981, in my opinion one of his most successful, he takes Steve Gadd on drums (considered one of the most precise and technical drummers in the game and the search for groove). Go ahead, listen to "Roof Garden", and tell me what you hear on the drums? Or "We're in this Love Together"? Maybe you'll have noticed some brilliant Ghost notes from the drummer. It was always Jarreau, great and unusual arrangements.
One of the greatest in Jazz music
George Duke, who died in 2013, was one of his great friends. He dedicated an entire album to her – My Old Friend. He covered his songs by adding his little personal touches, just out of friendship. He preferred love to money, sharing to egocentrism, search to the easy solution. Among his notable collaborations is that of George Benson, on an album entitled Givin' it up – released in October 2006. He participated in We Are The World for Africa, by his friend Michael Jackson, a song co-written by MJ himself and Lionel Richie. It's simple, everyone recognized Al Jarreau as a reference.
There would be so much to say about the career of this great of Music with a capital "M". Let us remember his smile, his facial expressions, his love for others and for music, his talent. No doubt the United States is already preparing a commemorative "Show" in memory of JARREAU. Maybe for the next JAVA JAZZ FESTIVAL? Who knows… The Justfocus team will keep you informed.
This death reminds us of a reality that is increasingly becoming terrifying fatality: The golden age of music in the 70's, 80's and following, is about to lose its main representatives. Al Jarreau was one of them. Let's continue to cherish its great characters, at the origin of almost all the sounds that pass through your headphones. Let us enjoy them, as long as they are alive; fortunately Art, this is what makes its beauty, can be appreciated posthumously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhq7fSrXn0c
The non-exhaustive list of what you need to know about Al Jarreau:
Breakin' Away album (1981):
- Closer to Your Love
- We're in this Love Together
- Easy
- Roof Garden
- Breakin Away
This Time album (1980):
- Never Givin up
- Gimme what you Got
- Love is Real
- Spain (I can Recall)
- Distracted
Album Jarreau (1983) :
- Mornin'
- Boogie Down
- I Will Be here for You
- Save ME
- Step By Step
Album L is for Lover (1986):
- Tell me What I Gotta do
- L is for Lover
- Golden Girl
- Says
- Real Tight
Everything else, but we should be able to start with that…!
