AL JARREAU - AL JARREAU GETS READY FOR CHRISTMAS

AL JARREAU GETS READY FOR CHRISTMAS

Jazz icon AL JARREAU has scored a first - he's announced plans to record a Christmas album in February (08). The singer recently released a Love Songs collection timed for St. Valentine's Day (14Feb08), but he already has his sights on a bigger holiday. He's planning to record standards like White Christmas and Joy to the World this spring (08) with a view to conquering the U.S. festive market in the same way opera singer Josh Groban did last year (07). Jarreau says, "The guys in my band have outdone themselves with special pieces of music that we will do. They're standards. The way we're gonna do them is going to be respectful to the tradition but ear candy for people to listen to in new ways. I'm just excited to tears about this record." Groban's festive LP Noel was a runaway success last year (07), scooping the accolade of biggest selling album of 2007 in the U.S.