Customer Rating:  
Summary: Vocal extravaganza
Comment: I heard "Better than Anything" from this album quite a long time ago and felt compelled to find the source; it is such a magnificent jazz performance; at times extremely subtle, at times showing off Jarreau's remarkable vocal technique. Maybe that's why it's hard for me to put it into the right perspective, but most of the album is, I believe, far from that level: already showing the signs of the artists smoooooth path, which is a pitty.
Don't get me wrong; this album still has some other fine jazz performances - particularly "Take Five", but overall it is a bit disappointing. Too commercial if you ask me.
Incidentally, at the same time I heard "Better than anything" I have stumbled upon a much more recent recording of Jon Hendricks - "Trickle Trickle" from his "Freddie Freeloader" album ( Freddie Freeloader ). Recently I acquired that one as well... And that's quite another story. A true jazz classic.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The album of century...
Comment: LP edition is better.
CD edition is cutted. Unbelieved!
Al Jarreau on their best!
My favorite CD...
Customer Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS!!!
Comment: THIS is AL JARREAU at his finest!!! I loved this on vinyl YEARS AGO and was so happy to locate it on CD. THANK YOU AL JARREAU for the pleasure of enjoying your creativity at its BEST!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Timeless
Comment: I was in college, when I first heard this lp. It was good but left me unmoved. Howver I shortly realized that portions of "Burst In With The Dawn", "Look to the Rainbow", "Rainbow in Your Eyes" were imprinted in my
head. The energy of the crowd, the fantastic band performance, and Jarreau's unique phrasing and spot on vocal styling was and is remarkable. My admiration of this work has only deeped over the years.
A have for existing Jarreau fans and IMO a 'Desert Island Disk'.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Seoulimprov
Comment: This is a fantastic live recording, originally done in Europe in 1977. It's one of the best live performances of a jazz singer there is. I'm glad it scored high in the R&B and pop categories too. I wanted to comment about track#10 (Take Five).
The original LP had an extra 45 seconds of Take Five at the beginning of the recording; this is lacking in the CD version. That 45 seconds has some fantastic a capella scat that is worthy of inclusion. Obviously, some producer or recording engineer screwed up big time. Additions to LPs are fine; deletions are not. Beware of idiots who work for studios.
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