Al Jarreau

Living I Manhattan in the 1980’s, I would bop to work with Al Jarreau in my headset.  Thirty blocks was nothing with Jarreau as my companion. I was always lifted into a great mood when accompanied by Al and his runaway best-selling album, Breaking Away.

You may not know him by name, you may not recognize him by his picture but if you ever saw the T.V. series, Moonlighting, you heard Al Jarreau sing the Grammy nominated Theme song in 1987.  Recently in town for a performance at Florida Atlantic University, we got together to chat. For a man who has won five Grammy’s, earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and recently bestowed the 2001 Smooth Jazz Award, you’d think he would be aloof.  To the contrary, Al was and is, totally present.  It was a challenge to slow my pace and settle into his rhythm.  He was methodical, grounded and extremely aware of how we let our minds run our lives.  He told me that he looks into matters deeply. “We have a big part in our own destiny,’ he said, “and it’s up to us to realize a lot has to do with how we think.  I think a lot,” he continued,  “and even though I would like to be more lightly spirited, it’s okay, because I am human. That means I am always seeking to better myself.”   I was thinking maybe he ought to join the lecture circuit or become a preacher because his personal philosophy is simple, to the point and effective.  He told me,” we must plan and dream and revise our plan often to accommodate how we, and the world are changing. We have to remember who we are.  We have to think about tomorrow.”  I‘m not surprised he is thinking about tomorrow, given the title of his newest release,Tomorrow Today.(2000)  This salsa style song reminds us to care for our planet and our children.  “Can’t put it off anymore,” he tells me, “we many not see all the problems in the world, but they’re there and it requires our attention now. So, I encourage people in my song to enjoy themselves, to experience life and to take time to think about tomorrow today.“

We turned our attention to music.  Turns out, Jarreau was trained as a Rehabilitation Counselor andpracticed for four years in San Francisco. He was interested in music only as a hobby  but held a vision that one day he would make it in the music scene.  A small stint in a jazz club led to an apprenticeship in the Troubadour in L.A. and then onto the Improv in NewYork City.  Along side up-and-coming comics including John Belushi, Bette Midler, Robert Klein and David Brenner, Jarreau found himself on the fast track and quickly saw the bright lights of fame as he gained national television exposure with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and David Frost.  That was the beginning of the vision, which Al adds to everyday. “Music,” he told me, “puts me in the zone.  Sometimes I loose time, everything slows down and there is no thought.  It’s like I am in a flow and time is almost missing.  To me, a performance is like one continuous breath. I like to use the term “The Zone” because that’s the way it feels for me. This is a good thing.  Athletes experience this often.  It’s part of how I experience life.”


“What about you,” I asked,” what about your life?”  “I have been married for 32 years and it takes a lot of love, forgiveness, openness and understanding.  I also try to be more patient, andflexible.  I want a lot for myself and I’m always seeking to improve the person I am. As humans, we all have challenges.  I think that’s what being human is all about. The human experience leads us into opportunities to deal with these challenges.  From pauper to king, we are all part of the same human family dealing with the same issues.”

Well I know Al Jarreau does life in a very special way.  Even now, twenty years later, as I listen to his music it reminds me that life is like the Big Apple in New York City.  It’s a melting pot that includes working, having fun, playing, living with the challenges and most of all…seeking to better our world and ourselves. 

We gratefully acknowledge the Sunset Entertainment Group for assisting in securing this interview.

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