It seems the more I hear Al Jarreau, the better he gets. His latest is called All I Got and that title says it all. Jarreau knows what he does best and his releases never disappoint. He is the consummate pop/jazz vocalist that always shows what cool is all about. All I Gotis an instant classic, as all of Jarreau's releases are and shows how Jarreau continues to remain cool through every decade.
From Random Act of Love through his take on the classic Route 66, Al Jarreau makes each song his own. Something that a lot of people don't know is that Jarreau is a great songwriter himself. Jarreau co-writes six of the eleven tracks on All I Got and all of them are strong numbers. Jarreau knows how to balance the tracks so that you can just put the CD in your machine and let it rip. He is vibrant with the uptempo numbers as he is smooth on the ballads.
Al Jarreau not only give it all he's got, but his people behind him give it all they got, too. Keyboardists Robbie Nevel, Freddie Ravel and Ricky Peterson, guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., percussionist Paulinho da Costa and bassist Larry Kimpel all give solid backing to Jarreau's musical styles. One unusual track on All I Got is a duet teaming Jarreau with the legendary Joe Cocker. Lost and Found is a song that is the perfect paring of the graveling Cocker trying to help the venerable Jarreau from having a seventh drink at a bar.
All I Got is Al Jarreau's best CD yet. It is worth not only a listen, but many, many more as well. Jarreau is a classic and All I Got gives it all he's got and more. An instant classic.
