Karrin Allyson - 14 Albums (1993-2015)

Karrin Allyson (pronounced KAH-rin; born Karrin Allyson Schoonover on July 27, 1963 in Great Bend, Kansas) is an American jazz vocalist. She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, and has received positive reviews from several prominent sources, including the New York Times, which has called her a "singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation." Karrin Allyson was born in Great Bend, Kansas; her father was a Lutheran minister and her mother was a psychotherapist, teacher and classical pianist. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and spent her last year of high school in San Francisco. In her youth she studied classical piano, sang at her local church and in musical theatre, and also began songwriting.

Allyson attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha on a classical piano scholarship; she majored in classical piano and minored in French. She was lead singer for an all-female rock band called Tomboy. She also developed an avid interest in jazz, performing both in a jazz swing choir in college and in her own jazz ensemble, which had gigs at venues in Omaha.

Career
After graduating from college in 1986, Allyson moved to Minneapolis and concentrated on her jazz career. In 1990, she moved to Kansas City, where her career took off. In 1992 she recorded her debut album, I Didn't Know About You, which was so well received it was re-released on Concord Records in 1993. She subsequently recorded eight more Concord-released albums in Kansas City. In 1998, she moved to New York City with her longtime partner, classical music radio host Bill McGlaughlin, whom she met in Kansas City in the early 1990s.

Allyson sings in English, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. The songs she performs are drawn from a variety of genres, including bossa nova, blues, bebop, samba, jazz standards, and other jazz modalities, and also ballads, pop standards, the Great American Songbook, soft rock, and folk rock. She has also recorded vocal performances of several instrumental jazz compositions, using both scat and vocalese techniques. She has recorded 12 original studio albums for the Concord Jazz label, and in 2009 she released a career-spanning "best of" collection.

Five of Allyson's albums have received Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album: Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane (2001), Footprints (2006), Imagina: Songs of Brasil (2008), 'Round Midnight (2011), and Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein (2015).



This CD was the debut of the talented singer Karrin Allyson, a creative scat singer also very capable of holding her own on ballads. She primarily utilizes top Kansas City musicians (including pianists Paul Smith, Russ Long and Joe Cartwright, guitarists Danny Embrey and Rod Fleeman, bassists Bob Bowman and Gerald Spaits, drummer Todd Strait, cornetist Gary Sivils and flugelhornist Mike Metheny) on a variety of bop-based material. Among the highlights are "Nature Boy," Karrin's chancetaking duet with drummer Strait on "What A Little Moonlight Can Do," a rapid version of "'S Wonderful" and a bossa-novatized "It Might As Well Be Spring." Karrin Allyson, who also plays piano on three numbers, shows a great deal of potential throughout her rewarding debut. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano
Gary Sivils - cornet
Mike Metheny - flugelhorn
Joe Cartwright, Russ Long, Paul Smith - piano
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar
Danny Embrey - electric guitar
Bob Bowman, Gerald Spaits - bass
Todd Strait - drums, percussion
Doug Auwarter - percussion
Bryan Hicks - vocals

Recorded at Soundtrek studios, Kansas City, MO.

Track List:
01. Nature Boy (Ahbez) - 6:22
02. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers-Hart) - 4:35
03. Chopin Prelude Op.28 No.4 (Chopin)/Insensatez (How Insensitive) (Gimbel-Jobim-DeMoraes) - 6:35
04. (Pack Your) Suitcase Blues (Colette) - 3:24
05. I Didn't Know About You (Ellington-Russell) - 4:32
06. Line for Lyons (Mulligan) - 3:33
07. Jesse (Ian) - 4:33
08. What a Little Moonlight Can Do (Woods) - 2:40
09. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You (Young-Crosby-Washington) - 5:57
10. 'S Wonderful (Gershwin-Gershwin) - 4:30
11. Save That Time (Long) - 3:48
12. Guilty (Newman) - 5:40
13. It Might as Well Be Spring (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 5:11





Karrin Allyson has a small and sometimes hoarse voice but she does so much with it that her bop session is easily recommended. Her all-star sextet (comprised of trumpeter Randy Sandke, the late tenor Bob Cooper, guitarist Danny Embrey, pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist Putter Smith, and drummer Sherman Ferguson) has plenty of short solos on colorful charts by Alan Broadbent. Allyson sounds perfectly at ease, whether scatting on "No Moon at All," finding fresh melodic variations on "I Cover the Waterfront," or singing her original blues "Sweet Home Cookin' Man." She always swings. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano
Alan Broadbent, Paul Smith - piano
Putter Smith, Bob Bowman - bass
Sherman Ferguson, Todd Strait - drums
Bob Cooper - tenor saxophone
Danny Embrey - guitar
Randy Sandke - trumpet
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar

Recorded at Sage & Sound Recording, Hollywood, CA on June 9-10, 1993.
Additional recording at Soundtrek, Kansas City, MO on September 9, 1993.

Track List:
01. One Note Samba (Jobim-Mendonca) - 3:41
02. I Cover the Waterfront (Green-Heyman) - 5:56
03. Can't We Be Friends (Swift-James) - 3:28
04. Yeh! Yeh! (Grant-Patrick-Hendricks) - 4:21
05. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Mingus) - 5:22
06. No Moon at All (Evans-Mann) - 4:20
07. Sweet Home Cookin' Man (Allyson) - 6:12
08. You Are Too Beautiful (Rodgers-Hart) - 5:35
09. Social Call (Hendricks-Gryce) - 4:47
10. Dindi (Jobim-Gilbert-Oliveira) - 8:03
11. In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington-Mills-Kurtz) - 5:29
12. I Love Paris (Porter) - 3:27





Karrin Allyson is one of the best jazz singers to emerge in the 1990s. She is a masterful scatter, as she shows on some of these selections (including "How High the Moon" and "Yardbird Suite"), but she is also quite expressive on ballads (including "Blame It on My Youth" and "Some Other Time"). The strong backup musicians (a variety of top Kansas City players with guest spots for violinist Claude Williams and flügelhornist Mike Metheny) keep the music swinging. Highly recommended. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano (#7)
Paul Smith (#1,5,6,8), Laura Caviani (#3,10,11) - piano
Bob Bowman (#1,2,5,6,8,9), Gerald Spaits (#3,10,11) - bass
Todd Strait - drums (#1-6,8-11)
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar (#2,4,7,9,11,12)
Danny Embrey - electric guitar (#1,3,4,10,12)
Kim Park - alto saxophone (#3,6), tenor saxophone (#3,8)
Claude "Fiddler" Williams - violin (#2)
Bryan Hicks - vocals (#3)
Stan Kessler - trumpet, flugelhorn (#3)
Mike Metheny - flugelhorn (#5)
Randy Weinstein - harmonica (#9)

Recorded at Soundtrek Studios, Kansas City, MO on November 14-16, 1994.

Track List:
01. How High the Moon/Ornithology (Hamilton-Lewis) - 5:19
02. Gee Baby (Redman-Razaf) - 4:39
03. Bernie's Tune (Miller-Lieber-Stoller) - 4:17
04. Night and Day (Porter) - 5:27
05. Blame It on My Youth (Heyman-Levant) - 7:02
06. Yardbird Suite (Parker) - 4:11
07. Good Morning Heartache (Drake-Fisher-Higginbotham) - 6:01
08. Stompin' at the Savoy (Razaf-Goodman-Sampson-Webb) - 5:27
09. Azure-Te (Davis-Wolf) - 6:36
10. Some Other Time (Bernstein-Comden-Green) - 6:21
11. Samba '88 (Embrey-Allyson) - 6:18





Vocalist Karrin Allyson stretches herself during this diverse set. A superior jazz singer, Allyson scats quite well during "It Could Happen to You/Fried Bananas" and "Cherokee," sings lyrics in English, French ("Autumn Leaves") and Italian, interprets some fairly current pop tunes, is touching on Thelonious Monk's "Ask Me Now" and is quite memorable on "Joy Spring" and "All of You." With assistance from her fine Kansas City-based rhythm section (led by pianist Paul Smith) and with some worthy guests (including altoist Kim Park, violinist Claude Williams and flugelhornist Mike Metheny), Karrin Allyson shows just how versatile and talented a singer she is. Recommended. ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano (#5,10), percussion (#1), whistle (#12)
Paul Smith (#1-4,6,8), Laura Caviani (#7) - piano
Bob Bowman - bass (#1-4,6-12)
Todd Strait - drums (#1,3,4,6-12), percussion (#1,11)
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar (#2,8-12)
Danny Embrey - electric guitar (#1,4,6,11)
Kim Park - alto saxophone (#6-8)
Randy Weinstein - harmonica (#10,12), bass harmonica (#12)
Claude "Fiddler" Williams - violin (#2)
Carter Brey - cello (#5)
Mike Metheny - flugelhorn (#6)

Recorded at Soundtrek Studios, Kansas City, Missouri, January 5-10, 1996.

Track List:
01. It Could Happen to You (Van Heusen-Burke)/Fried Bananas (Gordon) - 4:46
02. Autumn Leaves (Les Fueilles Mortes) (Kosma-Prevert-Mercer) - 4:46
03. Robert Frost (Leonhart) - 5:07
04. All of You (Porter) - 4:45
05. And So It Goes (Joel) - 3:44
06. Joy Spring (Brown) - 4:19
07. Ask Me Now (Monk-Hendricks) - 6:42
08. Cherokee (Noble) - 3:49
09. Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon-McCartney) - 4:51
10. Give It Up or Let Me Go (Raitt) - 4:12
11. Faltando um Pedaco (Missing a Piece) (Viana) - 6:11
12. Live for Life (Gimbel-Lai) - 4:55





Karrin Allyson has a beautiful voice that is also quite flexible, as she shows throughout this consistently interesting release. The emphasis is a little more on ballads than usual, but there are some heated moments too. Joined by some of her favorite Kansas City-based musicians, plus a few guests (trumpeter Randy Brecker, vibraphonist Gary Burton and altoist Kim Park), Allyson sounds both lyrical and enthusiastic. High points include a touching rendition of "Everything Must Change" (a solo performance in which she accompanies herself on piano), "Daydream," "My Foolish Heart" and "So Danco Samba." ~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Karrin Allyson - vocals, percussion (#2,4,5), piano
Gary Burton - vibraphone (#1,4,9)
Randy Brecker - flugelhorn (#3,4), trumpet (#7)
Bob Bowman - acoustic bass
Todd Strait - drums (#1,3,4,6-11), percussion (#2,5)
Paul Smith – piano (#1,2,4-6,9-11)
Danny Embrey - electric guitar (#2,6,9), acoustic guitar (#4,5)
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar (#3,8,10,11)
Kim Park - alto saxophone (#2,9), flute (#5)
Randy Weinstein - harmonica (#8,11)
Laura Caviani - piano (#7)

Recorded at Soundtrek Studios, Kansas City, MO on March 10-14, 1997.
#10 recorded on January 5, 1996.
Additional recording at Sound on Sound Studios, New York on March 17, 1997 and A Wing & A Prayer Productions, Central Point, OR on April 24-25, 1997.

Track List:
01. Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington-LaTouche) - 4:36
02. Like Someone in Love (Van Heusen-Burke) - 5:51
03. My Foolish Heart (Young-Washington) - 7:47
04. So Danco Samba (Jobim-Gimbel-DeMoraes) - 5:26
05. Corcovado (Quiet Nights) (Jobim-Lees-DeMoraes) - 6:57
06. Show Me (Lerner-Loewe) - 3:40
07. Monk Medley: Straight No Chaser/Blue Monk/I Mean You (Monk-Lincoln-Hendricks-Swisher) - 6:23
08. Everything Must Change (Ighner) - 6:45
09. Donna Lee/(Back Home Again In) Indiana (Parker-Hanley-MacDonald) - 4:44
10. Nothin' But the Blues (Ellington-George) - 6:59
11. You Can't Rush Spring (Callaway) - 4:14





Allyson gets it all together once again for this lovely selection of mostly French and Portuguese tunes, which the vocalist generally sings in the original language. While there is a lesser jazz element than in some of her other recordings, Allyson is a proven stylist who knows how to make each tune hers alone. Sometimes sounding like Susannah McCorkle, Allyson floats through more than a dozen carefully picked melodies, including "Te Amo (I Love You)," "That Day (From Cinema Paradiso)," and Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare." While she scats highly effectively on occasion, most of the songs are interpreted by her rather than used as vehicles to improvise. A tasteful group of rhythm and strings (including Gil Goldstein on accordion) provides a notable backdrop. ~ AllMusic Review by Steve Loewy

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano, percussion
Gil Goldstein - accordion, piano
Paul Smith - piano, synthesizer
Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar
Bob Bowman - bass
Todd Strait - drums, percussion
Doug Auwarter - surdo, drums
Kim Park - alto saxophone, flute
Grigori Sandomirsky - 1st violin
Paul J. Hatton - 2nd violin
John Adams - viola
Steven Elisha - cello

Recorded at Soundtrek, Kansas City, MO on March 15-28, 1999.

Track List:
01. Sous le Ciel de Paris (Under Paris Skies) (Giraud-Brun) - 4:07
02. Samba Saravah (Barouh-Powell-DeMoraes) - 5:10
03. Te Amo (I Love You) (Lins-Martins) - 5:03
04. O Pato (The Duck) (DaSilva-Hendricks) - 3:54
05. Ne Me Quitte Pas (If You Go Away) (Brel) - 4:42
06. Plasir d'Amour (The Pleasure of Love) (Martini) - 4:56
07. O Barquinho (My Little Boat) (Boscoli-Menescal) - 4:29
08. Coracao Vagabundo (My Vagabond Heart) (Veloso) - 4:27
09. Parisian Thoroughfare (Powell) - 3:29
10. Des Histoires (Dumont-Vaucaire) - 5:13
11. Inutil Paisagem (Useless Landscape) (DeOliveira-Jobim-Gilbert) - 5:27
12. Catavento e Girasol (Windmill and Sunflower) (Blanc-Guinga) - 5:01
13. Aria (From Bachianas Brasileiras No.5) (Villa-Lobos)/Belo Horizonte (Embrey) - 6:48
14. That Day (Cinema Paradiso) (Morricone-Dunn) - 5:01





Jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson strikes a sentimental chord with this super fine 2001 release, inspired by tenor sax titan John Coltrane's infamous Ballads LP. The diva exhibits her near flawless phraseology and alluring vigor throughout these wonderfully executed pieces. Allyson also receives exemplary support from what some might consider an all-star band, featuring bassist John Patitucci; saxophonists Bob Berg, Steve Wilson, and James Carter; pianist/educator James Williams; and drummer Lewis Nash. All told, the musicians inject their distinct musical personas into these moving portraitures amid Allyson's trance-like renderings of pieces such as "You Don't Know What Love Is," "All or Nothing at All," and others. The singer's wordless incantation of "Naima" bespeaks poignant imagery as Patitucci and Nash generate a grooving samba beat atop Williams' shrewdly placed lower-register ostinato motifs and the saxophonists' breezy lines. Basically, Ballads is a very special occurrence, one that provides yet another mark of distinction for this extremely talented artiste. Highly recommended. ~ AllMusic Review by Glenn Astarita

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano (#5)
James Williams - piano (#1-4,6-11)
John Patitucci - acoustic bass (#1-9,11)
Lewis Nash - drums (#1-9,11)
Bob Berg (#2,6), James Carter (#1,4,9) - tenor saxophone
Steve Wilson - soprano saxophone (#3,8,11)

Recorded at Sound on Sound, New York on November 6-12, 2000.

Track List:
01. Say It (Over and Over Again) (Loesser-McHugh) - 6:03
02. You Don't Know What Love Is (Raye-DePaul) - 5:38
03. Too Young to Go Steady (Adamson-McHugh) - 5:44
04. All or Nothing at All (Lawrence-Altman) - 6:50
05. I Wish I Knew (Warren-Gordon) - 4:22
06. What's New (Haggart-Burke) - 5:55
07. It's Easy to Remember (Hart-Rodgers) - 6:03
08. Nancy (With the Laughing Face) (Van Heusen-Silvers) - 4:46
09. Naima (Coltrane) - 6:39
10. Why Was I Born? (Kern-Hammerstein) - 3:42
11. Every Time We Say Goodbye (Porter) - 6:01





Much like Wynton Marsalis' Soul Gestures in Southern Blue trilogy, vocalist Karrin Allyson's In Blue is a celebration of the blues. But where Marsalis focused on original post-bop compositions, Allyson simply performs some of her favorite tunes by composers such as Mose Allison, George & Ira Gershwin, Blossom Dearie, Bonnie Raitt, and others. Coming on the heels of her much-lauded double-Grammy-nominated Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane, In Blue may seem less ambitious than its predecessor, but this would be an unfair judgment. Allyson tackles this concept with as much verve and artistry as the Coltrane project and it's never a bad thing to hear her interpret a standard. Interestingly, this is apparently virgin ground for the singer, as she has never attempted such an extended foray into blues territory before. Not surprisingly, the results are stellar, with Allyson's ruddy voice – here sounding not dissimilar to Raitt's – tailor-made for the blues. It doesn't hurt either that she brings along such consummate sidemen as pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash. ~ AllMusic Review by Matt Collar

Karrin Allyson - vocals
Danny Embrey - guitar
Mulgrew Miller - piano, Fender Rhodes
Peter Washington - bass
Lewis Nash - drums
Steve Wilson - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone

Recorded at Sear Sound, New York on February 11-14, 2002.
Additional recording at G Studio Digital, Studio City, CA on March 19-20, 2002.

Track List:
01. Moanin' (Timmons-Hendricks) - 6:02
02. Everybody's Cryin' Mercy (Allison) - 3:57
03. Long as You're Living (Brown-Priester-Turrentine) - 4:35
04. The Meaning of the Blues (Troup-Worth) - 7:35
05. My Bluebird (Flanagan-Leonhart) - 4:32
06. Hum Drum Blues (Brown) - 5:40
07. How Long Has This Been Going On? (Gershwin-Gershwin) - 5:41
08. West Coast Blues (Burland-Montgomery) - 5:02
09. Evil Gal Blues (Feather-Hampton) - 4:13
10. Blue Motel Room (Mitchell) - 6:03
11. Bye Bye Country Boy (Dearie-Segal) - 4:11
12. Love Me Like a Man (Smither) - 4:20
13. Angel Eyes (Dennis-Brent) - 4:50





It's always a blast hearing the way a child of the '70s will interpret the classics from that era, and the two-time Grammy nominee picks plenty of gems, some mega-popular, others more obscure, to sink her stylized jazzy teeth into. Although she's most celebrated for her interpretations of Gershwin, bossa nova, Monk, and Coltrane, in her liner notes Allyson reminds listeners that she has scattered various similar covers throughout her extensive catalog. Weaving her wistful vocals like a precise thread through the needle-sharp, often sparse piano-based arrangements of Gil Goldstein, she does an admirable job with Cat Stevens, Elton John, and James Taylor, but seems most comfortable and passionate tackling hits by the ladies who no doubt fostered her childhood dreams. She adds elegance and a lightly swinging grace to "Feel Like Makin' Love," offers thoughtful, plaintive twists on two Carly Simon gems, and earns a quote of praise from Melissa Manchester herself for a soulful, rangy rendition of "I Got Eyes." Hands down, however, Allyson's voice is best suited to interpret Joni Mitchell, and her vibrant, alternately restrained and powerful cruises through percussive arrangements of "All I Want" and "Help Me" are the album's true highlights. Since Allyson has made past recordings focused on covers of one artist's material, it wouldn't be fantasizing too much to want her at some point to do an all-Mitchell tribute. She's at her wildest when she's taking chances. ~ AllMusic Review by Jonathan Widran

Karrin Allyson - vocals, percussion, piano, Fender Rhodes
Gil Goldstein - piano, accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, Fender Rhodes
Paul Smith - Fender Rhodes
Danny Embrey - acoustic guitar
Rod Fleeman - electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Bob Bowman - acoustic bass
Todd Strait - drums, percussion

Recorded at Sear Sound, Studio C, New York on December 13-16, 2003.

Track List:
01. All I Want (Mitchell) - 4:33
02. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (Taylor) - 4:11
03. Wild World (Stevens) - 5:11
04. (Goin') Wild for You Baby (Batteau-Snow) - 5:27
05. Help Me (Mitchell) - 5:29
06. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (Taupin-John) - 5:08
07. I Got Eyes (Manchester) - 4:19
08. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Webb) - 3:25
09. It's Too Late (King-Stern) - 3:52
10. Mind on My Man (Simon) - 3:21
11. The Right Thing to Do (Simon) - 2:56
12. Feel Like Makin' Love (McDaniels) - 4:18
13. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (MacColl) - 4:49





Vocalist Karrin Allyson has been making waves on the mainstream jazz scene since the '90s, which leaves fans eagerly awaiting new collections like Footprints. While the album features a number of things that fans have come to expect – good songs, scat singing, and fine vocals – Footprints also adds a number of guest spots to sweeten the package. Most notably, Allyson is joined by vocalists Nancy King and Jon Hendricks for duets on about half of the songs, and on "Everybody's Boppin'," all three join in the fun. Allyson and King's vocals styles intertwine easily on "All You Need to Say (Never Say Yes)," one of the high points of the album. They also turn in a fine, relaxed take on John Coltrane and Chris Caswell's "A Long Way to Go (Equinox)." Allyson's lighter tone also reflects well with Hendricks' deeper, granular approach on "Strollin'." All three really cut loose on "Everybody's Boppin'," an upbeat bit of nonsense that had to be difficult to record no matter how much fun it sounds. Footprints only downside is that the set list and approach, while always tasteful, is too evenly paced and tame; at times, it follows its mainstream jazz predecessors too closely. Fans who have enjoyed Allyson's early work, however, will embrace the album warmly. ~ AllMusic Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano (#6), shaker (#1)
Jon Hendricks - vocals (#5,13), whistle solo (#5)
Nancy King - vocals (#2,4,7-9,13)
Bruce Barth - piano, Fender Rhodes (#6)
Peter Washington - bass
Todd Strait - drums
Frank Wess - tenor saxophone (#3,10), flute (#11)
Nick Phillips - trumpet (#7)

Recorded at Sear Sound, New York on September 24-29, 2005 and Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA on October 13-18, 2005.

Track List:
01. Something Worth Waiting For (Con Alma) (Gillespie-Caswell) - 3:35
02. All You Need to Say (Never Say Yes) (Adderley-Caswell) - 4:23
03. Lightning (Lazy Bird) (Coltrane-Caswell) - 2:59
04. A Long Way to Go (Equinox) (Coltrane-Caswell) - 4:40
05. Strollin' (Silver-Hendricks) - 4:43
06. I Found the Turnaround (The Turnaround) (Mobley-Caswell) - 4:03
07. Follow the Footprints (Footprints) (Shorter-Caswell) - 4:08
08. Life Is a Groove (Jordu) (Jordan-Allyson) - 4:14
09. A Tree and Me (Brown) - 3:09
10. I Can't Say (Teaneck) (Adderley-Caswell) - 3:44
11. But I Was Cool (Brown) - 4:06
12. Give Me a Break (Unit 7) (Jones-Caswell) - 3:48
13. Everybody's Boppin' (Hendricks) - 3:35





Karrin Allyson has sung Brazilian tunes before, notably on 1999's From Paris to Rio, but this time she's dedicated an entire album to the swaying rhythms of bossa nova and samba, and she's never sounded lovelier. Allyson has always been a gifted interpreter, and while her material in the past has drawn from any number of sources, her prime focus here is on the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. While choosing oft-covered tunes like "Desafinado" and "A Felicidade" may not be the riskiest thing Allyson could have done, nor the most original, she is so clearly in love with these compositions that she's easily forgiven for adding her name to the list of artists who have lent their voices to them. Allyson's vocal instrument is somewhat coarser and more world-weary than the majority of singers who gravitate toward Jobim's material, and here she favors stripped-down arrangements that accentuate the vulnerabilities and lived-in qualities of that voice. It works to great effect, as on "Double Rainbow," a ballad that begins sparsely, Allyson singing in Portuguese before switching over to English, a tactic she employs throughout much of the record. Accompanying herself on piano, Allyson phrases Gene Lees' Tin Pan Alley-esque lyrics, a meditation on the wonders of nature, carefully and thoughtfully, before handing the tune over to bassist David Finck, who turns in a solo that's creative but not showy. Not all of the songs here come courtesy of Jobim, and Allyson does equal justice to the moody "Pra Dizer Adeus" (Time to Say Goodbye), co-penned by Edú Lobo, Torquato Neto, and Chris Caswell, and the closing "É Com Esse Que Eu Vou," by Pedro Caetano, which pushes the beat somewhat harder than the more ballad-oriented music that populates most of the record. But in the end it's those Jobim songs that stick: Steve Nelson's vibes and marimba work lends a sensuality to "O Morro Não Tem Vez (Favela)," by Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, and Gil Goldstein's accordion injects a bit of France into the Brazilian mood on the title track. Through it all, Karrin Allyson reminds listeners why she has consistently received praise over the years for her inherent ability to make any song her own. ~ AllMusic Review by Jeff Tamarkin

Karrin Allyson - vocals
David Finck - acoustic bass
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar
Gil Goldstein - piano, accordion
Steve Nelson - marimba, vibraphone
Michael Spiro - percussion
Todd Strait - drums

Recorded at Sear Sound, New York on June 29 - July 1, 2007.

Track List:
01. A Felicidade (Happiness) (Jobim-McCorkle-DeMoraes) - 4:20
02. Correnteza (Jobim) - 2:27
03. So Tinha de Ser com Voce (Jobim-DeOliveira) - 3:45
04. Medo de Amar (Surrender the Soul) (Caswell-DeMoraes) - 3:43
05. O Morro Nao Tem Vez (Favela) (Jobim-DeMoraes) - 5:18
06. Estrada Branca (This Happy Madness) (Jobim-Lees-DeMoraes) - 4:49
07. Outono (Stay) (DeOliveira-Passos-Williams) - 5:02
08. Double Rainbow (Jobim-Lees) - 5:33
09. Imagina (Buarque-Jobim) - 2:55
10. Desafinado (Slightly Out of Tune) (Cavanaugh-Hendricks-Jobim) - 5:13
11. Pra Dizer Adeus (Time to Say Goodbye) (Caswell-Neto) - 4:46
12. Vivo Sonhando (Living on Dreams) (Jobim-McCorkle) - 4:49
13. Estrada do Sol (Duran-Jobim) - 3:07
14. E com Esse Que eu Vou (Caetano) - 4:44





Straight-ahead jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson came from Kansas City to the world at large, becoming as popular as any singer of her generation. These 12 selections plus one previously unissued track, done over a span of 11 recordings and 15 years, show why she has become likable, marketable, and admired within certain circles of the mainstream standard-bearers. She also writes a little, plays some piano, interprets others' lyrics to well-known standards, and tosses in a considerable amount of seductive Brazilian or French tunes done in their native language. Allyson's controlled voice never soars skyward or through wispy clouds, but her sensible style is one that easily attracts regular nightclubbers, as well as festival crowds who just want to hear good music professionally performed. Her sophistication through the years has grown considerably, but she has never been the cutesy singer who needed to grow up, and has remained as poised and polished as the first day she chose to sing for a living. This recording also displays a mix of the many collaborators she has worked with, including many of her friends from home. She's very comfortable with the blues, as the Bobby Timmons evergreen "Moanin'" displays, going from a scatted intro to the famous Jon Hendricks lyric. She uses two guitarists for the light samba take of "Night and Day," the perky "O Pato," and the convincing, heartfelt "Nature Boy." An accordion accompanies the waltz "Sous le Ceil de Paris," and she sings well in Portuguese on the happy, bouncy "A Felicidade." Working separately and together with the wonderful singer Nancy King, Duke Jordan's "Jordu" is turned into "Life Is a Groove" with Allyson's swinging lyrics, while her original "Sweet Home Cookin' Man" is a fan favorite about an imaginary sweetheart gourmet chef, with the modal piano of Paul Smith keeping the griddle sizzling. In retrospect, her version of the ballad "What's New?" is especially poignant and bittersweet to hear, considering that the late tenor saxophonist Bob Berg and pianist James Williams are backing her up. Both died far too young, making this statement a forever unanswered question. "Cherokee" is the most unusual arrangement, jamming the gears from idle neutral to furiously fast sixth gear at the drop of a flag like a drag race. Certainly there are those who would choose different tracks, but this is a very good overview of what Allyson has done in her relatively short career – and there's much more to come. ~ AllMusic Review by Michael G. Nastos

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano (#7,11), shaker (#1,4)
Bruce Barth, Mulgrew Miller, Paul Smith, James Williams - piano
Bob Berg - tenor saxophone
Bob Bowman, David Finck, John Patitucci, Peter Washington - acoustic bass
Carter Brey - cello
Danny Embrey - guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar
Gil Goldstein - accordion, piano
Nancy King - vocals
Lewis Nash - drums
Kim Park - alto saxophone
Michael Spiro - pandeiro, shaker, surdo
Todd Strait - drums, percussion
Steve Wilson - soprano saxophone
Randy Weinstein - harmonica

Recorded at Sear Sound Studios, New York; Sound on Sound Studios, New York; Soundtrek studios, Kansas City, MO in September 1993 - June 2007.

Track List:
01. Night and Day (Porter) - 5:27
02. Moanin' (Timmons-Hendricks) - 6:03
03. What's New (Haggart-Burke) - 5:55
04. O Pato (The Duck) (DaSilva-Hendricks) - 3:54
05. Sous le Ciel de Paris (Under Paris skies) (Giraud-Brun) - 4:07
06. Life Is a Groove (Jordu) (Jordan-Allyson) - 4:16
07. Everything Must Change (Ighner) - 6:45
08. A Felicidade (Happiness) (Jobim-McCorkle-DeMoraes) - 4:21
09. Sweet Home Cookin' Man (Allyson) - 6:12
10. Nature Boy (Ahbez) - 6:20
11. And So It Goes (Joel) - 3:44
12. Cherokee (Noble) - 3:48
13. Next Time Around (Soultrane) (Dameron-Caswell) - 4:54





Vocalist/pianist Karrin Allyson's 2011 effort 'Round Midnight is a smoky, afterglow affair that builds upon the singer's noted skill for interpreting jazz and pop standards. Conceptualized around the classic Thelonious Monk title track, the album plays like a darkly cool nightclub set – not dissimilar to the kind of live performances Allyson is known for. Backing Allyson here is a superb lineup featuring guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Ed Howard, and drummer Matt Wilson, as well as saxophonist Bob Sheppard and harmonica player Randy Weinstein. Together, Allyson and her ensemble deliver intensely dramatic and romantic takes on such standards as the leadoff "Turn Out the Stars," the mid-album "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and of course the title track, which Allyson performs starkly with just bass accompaniment. Elsewhere, Allyson gives a sweetly moving take on Paul Simon's "April Come She Will" and goes against the usual uptempo style of "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," instead delivering a ruminative, impressionistic slow-ballad version that allows her to reveal the nuances of Gene Lee's lyrics. Ultimately, it's Allyson's emotive voice and her ability to bring out these soft, bittersweet nuances in every track that makes 'Round Midnight such a listenable and heartfelt album. ~ AllMusic Review by Matt Collar

Karrin Allyson - vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes
Rod Fleeman - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Bob Sheppard - alto flute, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Randy Weinstein - harmonica
Ed Howard - acoustic bass
Matt Wilson - drums

Recorded at Sear Sound, New York.

Track List:
01. Turn Out the Stars (Evans-Lees) - 4:05
02. April Come She Will (Simon) - 3:14
03. Goodbye (Jenkins) - 4:28
04. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (Carroll-McCarthy) - 4:41
05. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (Landesman-Wolf) - 6:38
06. Smile (Chaplin) - 4:55
07. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington-Mills-Parish) - 4:38
08. There Is No Such Thing as Love (Fraser-Newley) - 3:04
09. The Shadow of Your Smile (Mandel-Webster) - 4:25
10. Send In the Clowns (Sondheim) - 4:48
11. 'Round Midnight (Hanighen-Monk-Williams) - 5:52





The songs of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II have long been honored as some of Broadway's best and would be usually associated with large orchestras and/or exaggerated semi-operatic belting. But here Karrin Allyson defies the above stereotypes and sings these classic tunes in a subtle understated conversational fashion and backs herself with only a piano & bass. Thus, songs like I Have Dreamed & Something Wonderful are stripped of their melodramatic flamboyance and performed as tender intimate ballads. On numbers like Happy Talk & The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, Karrin and her band take things further by swinging away with confidence. Her pianist (Kenny Barron) and bassist (John Patitucci) are always supportive; shining when it's the time and space to solo but unobtrusive when Karrin's performing Hammerstein's top-notched lyrics. All in all, an enjoyable laid-back celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein that's sure to thrill any vocal jazz fan, Karrin Allyson supporter or Rodgers & Hammerstein devotee. – Le Real Luc Ow

Karrin Allyson - vocals
Kenny Barron - piano
John Patitucci - upright bass

Recorded at Sear Sound on May 1-2, 2015.

Track List:
01. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:12
02. Many a New Day (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 3:01
03. Happy Talk (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 3:54
04. I Cain't Say No (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:19
05. I Have Dreamed (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:57
06. Out of My Dreams (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 3:35
07. Bali Ha'i (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 5:09
08. When I Think of Tom/Hello Young Lovers (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:35
09. We Kiss in a Shadow (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:39
10. You've Got to Be Carefully Taught (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 4:13
11. Something Wonderful (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 2:37
12. Surrey with the Fringe on Top (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 3:33
13. Something Good (Rodgers) - 3:20
14. Edelweiss (Rodgers-Hammerstein) - 2:33



All thanks go to the fiks22, What.CD, ROB42 (hqshare), emule, grumpycat, catfish27, Zelou

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