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Karrin Allyson at Blue Note
Blue Note, Milano – Friday, March 23rd 2007 – First Set
by: Eva Simontacchi
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Karrin Allyson approaches music beginning to study the piano when she
was a child. During the college years, Karrin performs with a band made up of girls,
and she sings pop and funk-rock songs. Thanks to her fellow-bandmembers she discovers
the world of jazz, and starts to listen to Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, Carmen
Mcrae, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington,
Bill Evans
and Thelonious Monk, and she understands that what she wants to do in life is sing
and improvise and swing.
Karrin Allyson said she has been influenced by the greatest instrumentalists
and by the great instrumental standards of the jazz repertoire. "Footprints"
is Karrin Allyson's tenth album, and this new effort, gained her a nomination
for the 2007 Grammy Awards as best Jazz Singer.
This project, that includes prestigious collaborations such as that of great vocalist
Jon Hendricks, of singer Nancy King, who is featured in various of the record's
tracks such as: "A Long Way To go" based on
John Coltrane's
"Equinox" and "Follow The Footprints" based on
Wayne
Shorter's "Footprints" and of sax player Frank Wess of the
Count Basie Orchesta, includes 13 instrumental songs of the 50's and of the
60's which are all characterized by a strong melodic feel, impressive chord progressions
and suggestive lyrics. The album also introduces Southern California-based lyricist
Chris Caswell whose new lyrics bring fresh perspectives to several of the modern
jazz perennials featured in the album.
The lineup of Karrin Allyson's touring band features Rod Fleeman
(guitar), Alec Dankworth (double-bass) and Tristan Mailliot (drums).
During the first set Karrin Allyson proves her versatility and skills by
performing songs in different styles with different moods and tempos, performing
"vocalese", and adding lyrics on great jazz instrumentals. Her scat-singing is superb
and very accurate and conveys joy and playfulness.
Her First-set playlist includes lovely songs such as "Moonray",
"O Pato", Mose Allison's "Everybody's
Cryin' Mercy", Nat Adderley's "Never Say Yes",
and all these songs have in common the new life that Karrin Allison and her
band are bringing them through new lyrics or a very personal and masterful style
which is intimately communicative and reaches out to the audience.
Mr. Rod Fleeman on the guitar has a wonderful interplay with Karin
Allison's scatting and singing, and his solos are very appreciated by the audience.
Karrin Allison even scat-sang a solo in unison with Roy Fleeman on
the guitar which was welcomed with enthusiasm by the audience. The first set is
not over yet, and Karrin Allyson sits at the grand piano, her first love,
and accompanies her singing on the song "Con Alma"
(Dizzie Gillespie). The following pieces are "The Turnaround",
"Equinox", "Chovendo
Na Roseira" (Double Rainbow), the ballad "I
Wish I Knew" and Moanin' (lyrics
by Jon Hendricks). The audience cries for more, and she comes back on stage with
her band and sings Cole Porter's Night And Day
performing it as a very slow bossa.
What can we say? Karin Allison is a superb singer, and her "Footprints"
album is an absolute must.
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