NEW RELEASES

AL JARREAU

“Tenderly”

Reprise

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Jarreau on recordings and Jarreau in performance have always been two distinct experiences. Producer Marcus Miller has finally solved the problem by capturing much of the singer’s high-voltage stage spontaneity on this in-studio live production.

Jarreau’s most appealing quality is his capacity to find utterly unique interpretations in well-known material--in this case, a funk-rocking reading of “Summertime”; personalized, even quirky renderings of “Your Song” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” and a new slant on “My Favorite Things” (in a duet with opera singer Kathleen Battle).

Jarreau may not fit the traditional mold, but his persistent musical probing and unerring sense of swing represent a fascinating model of contemporary jazz vocalizing.

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