Al Jarreau - Best Of (1996) [FLAC]

Al Jarreau - Best Of (1996) [FLAC]


Label Warner Bros.
Orig Year 1996
Catalog number 46454
Discs 1
Release Date Nov 01, 1996
Studio/Live Studio
Mono/Stereo Stereo
Recording Time 74 minutes
Personnel Paulinho Da Costa
David Foster - piano, synthesizer
Paul Jackson Jr.
Jerry Hey - trumpet, flugelhorn
Jeff Porcaro
Gary Grant
Steve Gadd
Reggie Young - trombone
Chuck Findley - trumpet
Victor Feldman


Personnel includes: Al Jarreau (vocals); Steve Lukather (electric guitar); Eric Gale, Paul Jackson, Jr., Larry Carlton (guitar); Everette Harp (tenor & alto saxophones); David Sanborn (alto saxophone, saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Reggie Young (trombone); George Duke (piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards); Michael Omartian (Fender Rhodes, synthesizer); Bob James (keyboards, synthesizer); Abe Laboriel, Marcus Miller, Wilton Felder (bass); Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Ricky Lawson (drums); Paulhino Da Costa, Steve Forman (percussion); Bill Champlin, Richard Page, Lynn Davis, Josie James, Philip Ingram, Lori Perry (background vocals).

Producers: George Duke, Tommy LiPuma, Jay Graydon, Nile Rodgers, Narada Michael Walden, Ettore Stratta, Jorge Calandrelli, Al Schmitt.

Compilation producer: Matt Pierson.

Engineers include: Erik Zobler.

Lyricists: George Duke; Al Jarreau.

Personnel: Al Jarreau (background vocals); Jay Graydon (guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer, programming); Ray Fuller (guitar, electric guitar); Eric Gale , Larry Carlton, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Kevin Chokan (guitar); John Chiodini (acoustic guitar); Steve Lukather (electric guitar); Oscar Castro-Neves (gut-string guitar); David Sanborn (saxophone); Everette Harp (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Lon Price (alto saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Reggie C. Young , Bill Reichenbach Jr. , Lew McCreary (trombone); George Duke (piano, keyboards); David Foster (piano, synthesizer); Greg Mathieson (piano, string synthesizer); Tom Canning (electric piano, keyboards); Louis Biancaniello, Bob James (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Jorge Calandrelli (keyboards, synthesizer); Russell Ferrante (keyboards); Fender Rhodes, Michael Boddicker, Michael Omartian, Robbie Buchanan (synthesizer); Lynn Blessing (vibraphone); Dave Carpenter (acoustic bass, electric bass); Mike Shapiro (drums, percussion); Michael Baird , Jeff Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Ricky Lawson, Steve Gadd , Joe Correro, Carlos Vega (drums); Victor Feldman, Paulinho Da Costa, Rafael Padilla, Steve Forman (percussion); Lynn Fiddmont, Carl Carwell, Howard Smith , Rebecca West, Venette Gloud, Jeanie Tracy, Jim Gilstrap, Josie James, Lori Perry, Alex Brown, Lynn Davis , Phillip Ingram, Richard Page, Tony Lindsay, Bill Champlin (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Erik Zobler.

Recording information: Gonks (1977-1996).

Photographers: Hans Neleman; Bonnie Schiffman.

Unknown Contributor Role: Bob James.

Arrangers: Jay Graydon; Jeremy Lubbock; Al Jarreau; Narada Michael Walden; Robbie Buchanan; Jorge Calandrelli; David Foster.

This is one intelligently programmed greatest-hits album, for after leading with two fine, new 1996 tracks, "Compared to What" and "Goodhands Tonight," the CD actually becomes a cogent chronological account of Jarreau's 20 years with the label -- and a most revealing one at that. Early Latin-flavored tracks from the mid-'70s, like "Agua de Beber," "Take Five," and "Spain," reveal a unique jazz voice with extraordinary rhythmic flexibility and an angular, scattershot, unpredictable approach to a tune that must have been as startling to audiences as Lambert, Hendricks & Ross were when they broke through. With "Never Givin' Up" and "Roof Garden," the transition away from jazz begins. By the time we reach the feel-good hit "Mornin'," the productions have become more intricate, polished, and comfortable, suitable either for dancing or making out, with little room for the old vocal spontaneity. And things go downhill from there. Curiously, one of Jarreau's best crossover albums, L Is for Lover, is ignored, but guest appearances on Bob James/David Sanborn's Double Vision ("Since I Fell for You") and Symphonic Bossa (a surprisingly lethargic "Like a Lover"), plus the saccharine theme from Moonlighting, are included.


Tracks:

1 Compared to What
2 Goodhands Tonight
3 Agua De Beber
4 Take Five
5 Spain (I Can Recall)
6 Never Givin'
7 Roof Garden
8 We're In This Love Together
9 Mornin'
10 Boogie Down
11 Moonlighting
12 Since I Fell for You
13 After All
14 So Good
15 Heaven And Earth
16 Like a Lover