AL JARREAU “Wow! Live at the Childe Harold”

ARTIST

Al Jarreau

ALBUM TITLE

“Wow! Live at the Childe Harold”

LABEL

Resonance

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Thanks to the tireless efforts of Zev Feldman, Resonance delivers yet another previously unreleased gem. This album documents Al Jarreau’s first concert in Washington, D.C., recorded in August 1976 at the Childe Harold, a bar that welcomed an eclectic range of artists, from the Ramones to Bruce Springsteen. The venue closed in 2007, but this particular show was taped for local radio station WHFS and remained unheard for nearly half a century.

At the time, Jarreau was at the very start of his career yet already at the height of his expressive powers. All the qualities that would make him one of the most distinctive and versatile vocalists in modern music are vividly present here – vocal elasticity, mastery of scat and improvisation, impeccable technique, unmistakable timbre, stylistic flexibility, and emotional depth. His voice moves effortlessly across jazz, soul, R&B, and pop, uniting them in dazzling fashion.

The set includes Take Five, Rainbow in Your Eyes, Letter Perfect, and closes with We Got By. This recording captures an artist on the rise, destined to leave an indelible mark on the music we love. It is a joy to hear him again – and a reminder of how much we have lost with his passing.

—Nicola Gaeta

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