All I Got

1	Random Act of Love 4:43
2	Life Is 4:00
3	Never Too Late 4:04
4	Feels Like Heaven 4:38
5	Lost and Found / Joe Cocker 4:52
6	Secrets of Love 4:37
7	All I Got 5:30
8	Until You Love Me 4:40
9	Oasis 6:19
10	Jacaranda Bougainvillea 4:46
11	Route 66 2:33

Barnes & Noble

Vocalist Al Jarreau’s career has followed the money trail, taking him from jazz to pop, R&B, and adult-contemporary audiences. But his singing is so true and his style so classy that he excels at everything and has taken home Grammys in the first three of those categories. On All I Got,Jarreau comes up with a set of gentle tunes that sound as easy and expansive as if several generations of a family were casually gathered for a singing session. “Life Is” begins with the rootsy feel of Oscar Brown Jr., then flowers into today's sounds with layers of vocals and a loud, solid beat. “Random Act of Love” is a smooth-jazz anthem, the touchy-feely lyrics grounded by Jarreau’s gospel roots. Plucked strings, programmed beats, and a bed of voices give way for Jarreau’s interpretation of the Seal tune “Feels like Heaven to Me.” For a ‘60s flashback, Brit rocker Joe Cocker shares vocals with Jarreau on “Lost and Found.” The ballad of the outing, “Oasis,” a Jarreau original, isn’t about love but about the ephemeral things in life. The lyrics are lovely and poetic, and Jarreau delivers them with his high-pitched voice soaring as if it too were reaching for that heavenly spot that is never quite attainable. For old-school fans, Jarreau ends with a hipster version of “Route 66.” All I Got is just that, a sampling of the many sides and sounds of Al Jarreau’s talents. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

Al Jarreau hits you with all he's got on his second release for the GRP/Verve recording label. The 11-song program, appropriately titled All I Got, features Jarreau's imaginative vocal stylings, lots of innovative urban sensibilities, and top-tier performances from a stellar band that includes his longtime musical director, Freddie Ravel, and a duet with guest star Joe Cocker. Urban innovation is more than a buzzword here. The urban sound of producer Paul Brown imparts a soulful message on such songs as "Random Act of Love,""Secrets of Love," the title track, and the very hip a cappella rendition of "Route 66," each of which reflects Jarreau's pioneered use of unfolding a musical story layer by layer. A prime example is his reverse take on street violence called "Random Act of Love," something this world desperately needs. Instead of just another range of excessive scatting and vocal gymnastics, Jarreau presents his listeners with real-world concepts that make a difference in your interpretations of these aural pleasures. He becomes a vehicle of revelation on the gospel-tinged "Feels Like Heaven to Me." On the other side of his musical personality is the lovely fullness of "Until You Love Me" and "Jacaranda Bougainvillea," both of which feature a string orchestra set against an oasis of vocal skills. Overall, All I Got showcases the award-winning Jarreau's unmistakable stylistic diversity in settings that are fluid, soulful, jazzy, and romantic. In some ways, the music even exceeds the versatility heard on the critically acclaimed Tomorrow Today. Paula Edelstein