from WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER – CELEBRATING AL JARREAU
Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon & Al Jarreau
Born in Houston TX in 1968, Chris Walker is a singer, musician and producer. This gifted music-maker spent more than twenty years on the road with the exceptional Al Jarreau (1940-2017) as musicial director, bass player and backing vocalist. Starting in the early Nineties, Walker released a string of good solo albums in the R&B vein. He charts with a few songs on the R&B singles chart including the 1992 multi-format hit, “Take Time,” that reached #29 on Billboard’s Hot 100, #6 on the R&B chart and #17 on Adult Contemporary.
Right after Jarreau’s passing, Walker started working on a new solo project to celebrate his former boss. To achieve his goal, he collaborated with the cream of the LA session musicians, many of whom had appeareded on Jarreau’s seminal recordings between the Seventies and Eighties. Walker approached Jay Graydon and David Foster who gladly agreed to appear on the cd. The final result saw the light of day in 2019 under the title We’re In This Love Together – A Tribute To Al Jarreau.
A true labor of love, We’re In This Love Together – A Tribute To Al Jarreau presents a number of magnificent covers from Jarreau’s songbook. Walker co-produced and arranged the cd with the legendary Larry Williams of Seawind fame who was also part of Jarreau’s live band for many years playing keyboards and saxophone. We’re In This Love Together – A Tribute To Al Jarreau includes top names like Greg Phillinganes, Jerry Hey, Bob James, Arturo Sandoval, Kirk Whalum and many others. Graydon and Foster appear, playing guitar and synth respectively, on the rendition of their classic 1983 hit, “Mornin’.” For this project, Walker recorded two other gems, “Save Me” and “After All,” co-written by Foster and Graydon with the late vocal virtuoso.
“Save Me” was reviewed on these pages sometime ago. This week, the spotlight goes on the reworking of the 1984 hit ballad, “After All.”
Walker provided an arrangement that remains faithful to the original version of “After All,” although he added some tasteful changes here and there. The instrumental track was delivered with the help of other talented Jarreau alumni; John Calderon on guitar and Mark Simmons on drums. Co-producer Williams plays the beautiful electric piano while Walker appears on bass and delivers a vocal performance that would have made his friend and mentor Jarreau very proud.
Foster kindly sent a note about Jarreau and this beautiful song: “Al (Jarreau) was all Jay’s doing. He was the producer and the connection between all of us. We did write some great songs the three of us and one was ‘After All.’ About this ballad I must say I think I really drove the writing session. Jay, of course, helped with the music and then he produced the record. I always trusted his instincts, he is such a great producer and we were a great team. ‘After All’ really has some great chord changes. Really unique stuff.”
- Lead Vocals & Bass: Chris Walker
- Drums: Mark Simmons
- Guitar: John Calderon
- Keyboards: Larry Williams
- Additional Keyboards & Backing Vocals: John Stoddart
- Percussion: Arno Lucas
- Arranged by Chris Walker
- Strings Arrangement by John Stoddart
- Produced by Larry Williams & Chris Walker
Lyrics
There, there was a time I knew
That no matter, come what may, love
Would prevail
And then inside the dreams I knew
Came the question lovers fear
Can true love fail
Then I would miss the childhood wish
And haven’t I sung to you
Of the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you
Darling, after all
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
After all
I will be the one to hold you
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
In my arms
I know in my heart and mind
That no matter, come what may, love will survive
And love, the author of space and time
Keeps the galaxies and each sparrow alive
And the love that heals the wound
After the war is through
Is the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you
Darling, after all
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
After all
I will be the one to hold you
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
In my arms