This could be good news for Al Jarreau fans - more vocals. The Grammy winning vocalist plans a more simple clean production on his next album that should really highlight his voice.
The album due August 3rd will also go in a more traditional Jazz direction.
"Just a few words for now about the new CD. It is so new that we still haven't come up with a title for it. We're hoping for a spring or summer release of 2004. This new CD is quite different than any other that I have recorded. Simplicity and sparseness was the first and last commandment for this project. All songs were recorded live in the studio with a quartet. There was no string arrangements, no background arrangements, background vocals or overdubs, only two solo's by on harmonica and tenor sax were added after the original sessions where I sang along with the quartet. The quartet includes piano, bass, drums and guitar. I'll list the songs in a moment but in effect what we did was to select some classic standards, some jazz standards and added two original pieces. We allowed those classic compositions to lead us to new but simple arrangements of themselves. I sang more differently than ever!"

Tracks
Cold Duck
The Nearness of You
I'm Beginning to See the Light
My Foolish Heart
The Midnight Sun
Accentuate the Positive
Betty Bee Bop's Song
Waltz for Debbie
Groovin' High
Lotus Flower
Scootch-a-Bootie.