Al Jarreau says that the rapid recording process for Givin' It Up, his smooth jazz album with fellow Grammy winner George Benson, created a pressure he'd never experienced before in his long career. At first her thought he never wanted to make another album that quickly again. "It's normally 14 to 16 weeks for a record, and I'm beginning to trust that as a process itself," he confessed to us. "I don't want to do another record like that. It's pressure, pressure, not enough time to write, not enough time to listen back to what you just did before. You have to make a decision and make that a permanent part of the record, and that's too much pressure."

 At the same time, the rapid pace forced him to be creative on a deadline, creating some exciting moments on the album. He says that after years of professional success, he had to trust that the process would work. "On the other hand, it pulls out of you some latent, hidden understanding and gut feelings that you've been developing over years and years of doing this kind of work, and you begin to trust even though you're uncomfortable with being forced into that kind of time constraint," he added.

With a Number One smooth jazz radio hit already with the tune "Mornin'," and significant urban AC airplay for the track "Let It Rain" featuring Patti Austin, the process clearly was successful. Said Jarreau, "To the extent that the time constraint was such a big part of the process, if it worked, then it had to be hailed and commended and thanked for what it brought to the process."

Jarreau and Benson -- who earned a Grammy with Jill Scott for their version of "God Bless The Child" -- are now releasing another single from Givin' It Up. This time it's a version of John Legend's hit, "Ordinary People."