Jazz vocalist Al Jarreau delights his loyal fans

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Jazz lovers satisfied their thirst for a good show without the need to envy the MTV generation which had the Westlife concert here last month. Last Tuesday night, they got the best treat they could: Al Jarreau himself.

After his second show in Jakarta in 1995, Al Jarreau was back in town to entertain his most receptive and of loyal fans at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, South Jakarta.

There were no sweating fans in jeans and t-shirts. Al Jarreau's fans came in style.

A line-up of fancy cars crowded the concert hall's parking lots, neatly dressed men and perfume-scented women in high-heels, wearing the latest fashion (and wigs) were the jazz lovers, and certainly, Al Jarreau's fans. Celebrities were even spotted among the guests.

At the entry gates, security was tight as the concert's promoter, Buena Produktama, set the ticket prices between Rp 75,000 and Rp 500,000. Expensive, but they sold relatively well. From over 250 seats available for the 500,000 tickets, only about 20 of them were empty, although scalpers "helped" to sell the tickets outside the concert hall, but at Rp 25,000 higher than the normal price.

Tuesday's concert started only 15 minutes behind schedule -- not over an hour as in his 1995 concert which left waiting fans tired and yawning by time the concert began -- and spared no time for opening bands as most concerts do.

Jarreau got down right to the business with the classic song Mornin' from his 1983 album, Jarreau.

But it was not until he finished his fourth song that Jarreau gained his fans' real attention. The five-time Grammy Award winner had a good rapport with the audience, talking and reaching to his fans who loved him back.

"Thanks for remembering live music after MTV ... I would not mind showing up at MTV, I also have albums to sell. But it's my duty to do music that feels good ..."

He was then introducing his band and singers for the Jakarta show -- backing vocalist Deborah Davis-Vacher, guitarist Ross Bolton, bassist Christ Walker, keyboardist Freddie Ravel, drummer Jota Morelli, percussionist Arno Lucas and saxophonist Joseph Turano -- by singing out their names.

Jarreau then performed In My Music, a duet with local jazz vocalist Syaharani. The song was taken from his latest album Tomorrow Today.

Prior to his show here -- which is part of his tour of Asia, Europe and the U.S. to promote Tomorrow Today -- the native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, entertained jazz buffs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 18. Next month, he will start his European tour, before embarking on a tour across the U.S.

At Tuesday's concert, the sound system was good, although coupled with the high pitch of the band's musical interpretations, those sitting in the front rows might still be suffering from painful eardrums.

But some of the crowd were not familiar with the new album. They soon became restless as Jarreau became more and more absorbed with his vocal calisthenics.

"All I want is hits," whispered a man to his friends.

As if sensing the crowd's desire, Jarreau moved his body following the dynamic and sensuous rhythm of the classic samba Mas que Nada, prompting the audience to move their bodies in their rigid seats.

Jarreau's two upcoming songs After All and We're In Love Together were delivered right from the heart with his deep silky voice. The two pop hits were the crowd-pleasers and their catchy tunes turned the audience into a bunch of lip-synchers.

His repertoire is familiar to many Indonesians who know his hits, such as So Good, Breakin' Away, Moonlighting and Elton John's Your Song.

His crossovers between pop, blues and jazz are unique, and may be one of the reasons why his albums sell so well. He has won five Grammys for best jazz and pop vocal performances and the last one in 1992 as rhythm & blues male vocal performance for his Heaven and Earth album.

Because the concert was part of a tour to promote his album, Tomorrow Today, which was composed by Jarreau and Freddie Ravel, was the concert's final song. The new song was superb and dynamic, showing all of Jarreau's celebrated scat-singing and vocal calisthenics that glued the crowd to their seats. Some, who could not simply watch, cheered loudly and clapped their hands.

After completing 13 songs straight, the lights went off and the musicians and singers left the stage. But the crowd could not be so easily deceived. Although some started to leave their seats and headed for the exits, most remained inside -- sitting or standing up -- and screamed "More, more ...," or, "Spain...."

And, of course, Jarreau, who seemed to be more relaxed, came back for an encore with Spain, which led some of the audience to swing to the beat and sing loudly.

During the two-hour concert, the 60-year-old's stamina was stunning. Apart from sipping from drinks, he took no long breaks.

"Good food, enough rest, good training and exercise..," Jarreau shared his tips backstage after the concert.

And famous as he is, Jarreau is still warm at heart. With perspiration dripping from his face, he patiently tended to all the fans wanting his autograph. "I don't mind, they are my fans," he smiled.