Jarreau, Wilson outweigh the bad

Memo to Al Jarreau: Keep on keeping on. You brought energy, imagination and irrepressible spontaneity to the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday -- qualities that have been too rare in this summer’s uneven series of Bowl jazz concerts.

Your versions of “Take Five” and “Spain” continue to be incredible displays of musical virtuosity. Scatting in 5/4, ripping through the disjunct melody of “Spain,” doing it all with ease and improvisational invention, are the stuff of primo jazz singing. And, at your best, nobody does it better.

But it’s inevitable, I suppose, that the blandishments of the pop world would creep into your choice of repertoire and your accompanying music. After all, “crossover,” “fusion” and “smooth” have been considered magic words in the last decade or so (even though they don’t always deliver what they promise).

But it’s hard to experience talent of your magnitude squeezed into narrow channels of expression. And the persistent thought that kept coming to mind Wednesday was what it would be like to hear you doing a pure jazz set with a straight-ahead, supportive jazz quartet. Think about it.

Memo to Cassandra Wilson: Funny thing is, much of the above applies to you as well. Your dark, intimate voice is one of the wonders of contemporary music. When you sang “A Rainy Night in Georgia” and “Time After Time,” the Bowl was filled with your mesmerizing combination of embracing musical flow and born storyteller’s entrancement.

Sometimes you, too, however, allowed the frame to obscure the painting, the quirkiness of the accompaniment to intrude on the intimacy of the connections you make with your voice. You are so fine by yourself that it’s hard not to wish to hear more of you.

Memo to the Rippingtons: Music consists of sounds and silences. Your set’s nonstop stream of sound obscured all the good stuff with unnecessary filler. Allow your music to breathe and it will come to life.