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| Backup Musicians |
| Backup Musicians on "Accentuate The Positive" Larry Williams: Keyboards and arrangements Larry has been in the studio and on the road with Al since "All Fly Home". He was also in the pioneering contemporary jazz band "Seawind" which also included Jerry Hey. He doesn't have a website but there is some info on the Seawind website Christian McBride- Bass His discography has an eye popping list of whos who in jazz. He toured with Pat Metheny on the "Trio" tour and is heading out with Metheny again this fall. Russell Ferrante-Piano A founding member of the Yellowjackets Larry Goldings- B3 Has a new CD out! Anthony Wilson-Guitar Currently touring with Diana Krall. Has several solo CDs available on the site. Peter Erskine - Drums. Check out the late 70s Weather Report pix on his site! Luis Conte- Percussion. If YOu own a lot of contemporary jazz, pop and RnB CDs you own a lot of CDs that he is on. Check out his discography! Keith Anderson- Sax Doesn't have a website but heres a short bio.. He is also featured on Roy Hargrove's innovative RH Factor CD (this site includes soundclips). Other Musicians who have been in the Touring bands or on CDs. (obviously not all of them. This page would be really long and your attention span would be gone long before it finished) Freddie Ravel - Keyboards Musical director for several late 90s/early 2000s tours. Also did the arrangements for the symphony concerts. Has 3 excellent solo CDs. He also co-wrote "Jacaranda Bougainvillea" and "Tomorrow, Today". Two of Al's coolest songs. Michael Paulo - Sax Toured with Al thru most of the 80s and early 90s. Has 6 solo CDs. Currently in Peter Whites band for west coast gigs and has a slammin ' solo on White's "Confidential" CD Michael "Patches" Stewart - Trumpet Has several solo CDs Ricky Lawson- Drums Another artists who has played with just about every big name in pop, r'n'b and contemporary/smooth jazz (oops his site has disappeared..stay tuned..) Bobby Lyle - Piano and Musical Director mid 80s. Chart topping career as solo artist. Check out his website for discography Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums during early 90s tours. Several solo CDs. Vonda Shepard Keyboards. Long before Ally she was with Al. Late 80s/early 90s. Bill Champlin Wrote and played on a lot of Jarreau CDs. Wanna hear his version of "Just to Be Loved By You"and a lot of other songs he wrote go here. Here's a great fan site. Personal Note: Check out the song "Proud of Our Blindness" Jay Graydon: multi-instrumentalist/producer. Produced most of the 80s CDs. He was to the 80s what Paul Brown is now. He produced everybody and had a lot of hits. His stuff was more interesting and diverse but this was before consultants and computers. Greg Mathieson Keyboards. Was he in the band on the 1980 tour?? Check out his solo CDs! George Duke- one of the guys that started it all! Artist, producer, songwriter, tell me I don't have to tell ya 'bout George Duke (smile)!! Produced "Heaven and Earth" and a lot of "Hearts Horizon" Please spend some time reading his articles on the music business (click here) Very enlightening, very important! Marcus Miller (website) (Interview) Again..I don't have to tell ya' bout him?? One of the most influential bass players in CJazz. Period. Produced "Tenderness" Richard Page & Steve George (Pages, Mr. Mister) Al sang on their 1981 CD (see guest shots) and they did backup vocals on "Live in London" Neil Larsen and Buzz Feiten: Larsen was musical director/keyboards for quite a few Jarreau tours. He had 2 solo albums on A&M/Horizon during the late 70s/early 80s and two excellent CDs on MCA in the late 80s. Feiten was guitarist during quite a few tours. They were both well known session musicians when they formed Larsen-Feiten band and had a top 40/AC hit with "Who'll Be The Fool Tonight". A lot of the same musicians also reconfigured as "Full Moon". For the whole story go here. Neil Larsen doesn't have a website and only occasionally shows up on other artist's CDs. "Smooth Talk" and "Through Any Window" are excellent and don't sound a bit dated. "High Gear" and "Jungle Fever" are available as imports (pricey!) If you like cjazz with rock overtones don't miss them! Latest Larsen sighting: plays B3 on "Temptation", from Diana Krall's "The Girl in the Other Room". "Temptatoin" is currently on the Smooth Jazz and AAA radio charts. (7/04) Personal Note: These guys have a special place in my heart not just because they are incredible musicians but because if I had not been fired from my first radio Music Director gig for playing Larsen-Feiten band's "Who'll Be The Fool Tonight" (the managers wife thought it was too "hard rock" for a "soft rock" station) I would not have moved to North Carolina for a new job a month before a Jarreau concert..which was the first one I attended. Larsen-Feiten opened for Jarreau on quite a few dates during that tour too (Fall 1980). Not on information overload yet??? Here's more!! Blue Desert website Excellent website with updates and information on a lot of the artists who have played with Al or written songs he has recorded. Created and Maintained by Kenneth Bremer and friends. Check out the "about" page for contributors. |
| Touring and Session Musicians |