Take Five
Al JarreauDuration: 8:03
Al Jarreau was without doubt one of the most skilled and unique jazz singers of the last 50 years, especially when it comes to scatting. As can be seen in the 1976 video for "Take Five," Jarreau could turn the extemporaneous words of a song intro into an array of uptempo vocal percussion. The typically hypnotic, 5/4 meter of composer Dave Brubeck’s piece in Jarreau’s hands becomes more urgent, even frenetic, as backed by his top-notch band and his improvisation. Hear the singer give a scat master class at the inflection point of his straight-ahead jazz popularity and a few years preceding his transformation into a light jazz juggernaut. Note: the intro transitions into the song at [1:45].
Posted by Scott Lichtman.
