Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away

This must be one of the many great things about digging into ‘old second-hand’ vinyl, someone elses treasures become our treasures. This album, for $4, was one of those gems. I started with Side 1 and right from the top I knew I was in for a treat! This album is smooth, with mellow vocals and an upbeat melodies. All in all, I listened and couldn’t help but feel happy.

As for songs, I wasn’t familiar with this artist and then he launched into ‘We’re in this Love Together’, I haven’t heard this song in years….and it turns out this is one of Al Jarreau’s popular songs. That was on side 1. Then I flipped to Side 2 and while continuing to enjoy the songs, I heard something both familiar…and yet unfamiliar. I pulled out the album sleeve, which had more details about each song. Well, the song being played was ‘Blue Rondo A La Turk’, known to me because it’s a Dave Brubeck piece of music (check out this blast from the past) on one of my all-time favourite Jazz albums: Dave Brubeck’s Quartet ‘Timeout’! But here’s the thing about this version, Al Jarreau is performing a vocal arrangement written by him, Tom Canning and Jay Graydon to this incredible piece of music. Brilliant! Simply Brilliant!!