Search - Al Jarreau :: Heaven & Earth

Anick L. (Islandgirl) from COLUMBIA, SC
Reviewed on 8/16/2006...

Typical AL Jarreau style. Great for relaxing and easy listening.

One of Jarreau's best albums

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 08/23/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Heaven and Earth (1992) was Jarreau's first release since 1988 and was a lot more R & B oriented than previous efforts. This was probably due in part to the producer/arranger Narada Michael Walden who was one of the hot producers (for Whitney Houston, among others) at the time. The uptempo numbers - a Walden specialty - are the least impressive. The opener "What You Do To Me" is a fine dance track, but doesn't take advantage of Jarreau's immense vocal abilities, and the new jack swingin' "Blue Angel" and "Love Of My Life" would have both been better suited to any of the New Edition alumni.Jarreau shines brightest on the ballads. The title track and the soaring "If I Break" melodically showcased the stylish sensitivity in his voice, with the single "It's Not Hard To Love You" and "Superfine Love" utilizing Jarreau's vocal gymnastics best of all. On the latter, the orchestrations are challenging enough to push Jarreau's voice toward its limit yet still allow it to remain in the forefront.Jarreau concludes the album with his two-movement rendition of Miles Davis' "Blue In Green," with lyrics added by Jarreau and Frank Martin. On a jazz number like this, Jarreau proved that he was still peerless. Ultimately, Heaven and Earth was an admirable effort by Jarreau to create a contemporary sound while remaining true to his roots."

Better than Celine Dion...barely

Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 01/31/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Such a pitty this great vocal tallent made so many of these sweeeeeet recordings...



In order not to come off as too strict a jazz purist, I would like to point that I recall buying an Aretha Franklin record in the 80's, the one in which she sounded ridiculosly close to Whitney Houston. If memory serves me well, Narada Michael Walden was responsible for that misdemeanor (not to say crime) as well. It's the album where she had a hit duo with George Michael and, as sole (at least remotely) creative point, recorded "Jumpin'Jack Flash" (was Keith Richards on guitar at that particular song?).



Don't get me wrong, if Jarreau sounds like Whitney Houston on this album, it still makes this CD better than the music of Celine Dion... But if you want my humble opinion, only barely!"