Al Jarreau to help launch Edmonds theater

When Al Jarreau, the sweet-voiced jazz and pop legend of "Moonlighting" and "We're in This Love Together" fame, performs at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, he'll be making history.

The 700-seat theater, saved from the wrecking ball, was rebuilt from a 1939 Roosevelt-era facility from plans by LMN Architects, designers of Seattle's Benaroya Hall.

Jarreau, a five-time Grammy winner and a 2006 nominee, quickly rose to the top of a wish list of headliners when the theater was planning its gala opening.

Putting a jazzy spin on all his work, Jarreau constantly reinvents his songs, never repeating a performance the same way.

"That's my approach to things," Jarreau, 66, said from California in a recent phone interview. "You don't rewrite the song every time or change the arrangement, but there is such openness in the arrangement within the phrase.

"You can't help it when you open the door to the moment," Jarreau said. "The whole evening is a conversation in music and verbal language, back and forth between the audience. You can't come late without me pointing it out. That's what makes it special for people, when you recognize that individuality."

Jarreau's 1981song "We're in This Love Together" was a top-40 hit, and he's still the only performer to win Grammy awards as best vocalist in three different categories: pop, jazz and R&B. He also sang in the 1985 ensemble that produced "We Are the World."

In 2006, he wrote lyrics to George Benson's instrumental "Breezin' " and re-released that and a new version of one of his biggest hits, "Mornin'." Audiences will hear those songs and others from his newest album, "Givin' It Up," as well as jazz standards from his previous release "Accentuate the Positive."

Revered by jazz educators, Jarreau also has degrees in psychology and vocational rehabilitation, and has worked with the Department of Education and Verizon in fighting illiteracy.

"It's deeply satisfying and at the same time frustrating," Jarreau said. "Reading to kids, you get the sense that you've seen this twinkle in their eyes, and you walk away thinking maybe you've touched some kids."

He tours worldwide.

"I just want to have a broad audience," he said. "I think the music can be appreciated by folks in Oslo, Norway and Indonesia. There's [an] audience for me there. And I think they deserve to know that there's choices. Lots of kids aged 15 to 25 and even 30 are down front with their bellies pressed against the security rail and they're waving their hands and dancing. My music gets played right along with Bon Jovi and Usher, and when that happens, it's not relegated to the irrelevant."

Singing with an "American Idol" finalist, Paris Bennett, who asked for Jarreau to perform a duet in the season-five finale in May, was a high point of his past year; " 'Idol' is a fantastic, refreshing program that reminds us that there's still real singing to be done," he said.

He takes the same approach whether it's the opening of a theater in Edmonds or a performance in Baku, Azerbaijan — "These are people who appreciate arts and education," he said. "It's flattering to me to be asked to come and be part of the opening of a place where people will walk away and smile and feel a little lighter."

Joe McIalwain, executive director for the Edmonds Center for the Arts, said Jarreau is "a great fit and a great performer."

"His music is wonderful, his performance is fabulous," McIalwain said. "He's very personable — and the right kind of energy for that night."

With Jarreau's Saturday concert, the theater launches a season of national and international attractions, a dozen acts comparable to the University of Washington's world-music, dance and theater programs.

ECA's 2007 preview season averages two or three attractions a month in a variety of genres.

Cascade Symphony, Olympic Ballet Theatre and Sno-King Community Chorale will salute the theater in a showcase performance called Coming Home at 3 p.m. Jan. 13, with an admission price of $5 at the door.

Taylor 2, Paul Taylor's modern-dance touring company, starts the dance offerings Jan. 18 and 19, presenting favorite works of the dance master. Other dance performances include Aché Brasil's big, flashy Brazilian capoeira dance show Jan. 27 and Tap Kids' street-dance pop, jazz and funk March 30 and 31.

Concerts include chamber music with the Ahn Trio Feb. 3, and three legendary rock 'n' roll groups in two performances Feb. 24. The Aulos Ensemble performs baroque works March 20, and there's folk fiddle and guitar with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill April 12. Latin offerings include the Juan Sanchez Ensemble April 21, and Los Pinguos from Argentina May 5. Rounding out the music is Ladies of the Slack Key, a guitar trio, May 13.

In stage shows, the Los Angeles-based Taikoproject combines video, storytelling and hip-hop culture with traditional drumming for a show March 15.

And Chicago's Second City brings original sketch comedy and improv to the theater Feb. 14. Two local jazz festivals also will take place at the center, March 1-3 and May 26.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com