In Blue

Karrin Allyson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B000069JZ8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,973 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Album to Add to Your Collection, November 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: In Blue (Audio CD)

This album was featured at Borders one day. I was not familiar with Karrin and so I decided to put the headphones on. I was floored. This is such a wonderful album. Its very creative and moving music. I love the way Karrin delivers each song.

Rachelle Farrell once said, it is a writer's job to take emotion and translate that to words. It is a singer's job to take those words and translate them back into emotion. Karrin Allyson accomplishes this feat with the highest of standards.

This is a slow to medium tempo album and yet ... its very exciting music. She delivers each tune with such moving, understated authority and her scatting work is magical. This is a blues tinged jazz album. Or is it a jazz tinged blues album?

I also love the way she gives her band lots of space to play. Mulgrew Miller does a nice job on piano. Danny Embrey on guitar plays creatively and with a unique sound on guitar. Pete Washington on bass is great.

The most underrated drummer (in my opinion) Lewis Nash is FANTASTIC. While listening to this CD I kept getting drawn to the drummer. His cymbal work is so interesting and he also does some hand drumming which is perfect for the tune "Long As Your Living". I can't say enough about the colors that his drumming adds. He is an exciting drummer that should be payed close attention to on this recording.

Speaking of recording .... the quality of the sound is first rate. My hat is off to Josiah Gluck for capturing such a gorgeous sound for Karrin and the band.

The bottom line is: this is one of the best vocal jazz albums I have heard in a long, long time .... one of the best ever in fact....just buy it...you'll hear what I mean.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful musical hue, December 10, 2002

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: In Blue (Audio CD)

This is another top notch release fom Karrin Allyson and her incredibly good band, most notably Steve Wilson on sax and Danny Embrey on guitar. Both of these musicians are of exceptional talent and add tremondously to the texture of the CD; their solos mix to create a perfect jazz ambience.The side musicians are allowed the jazz space for improvistation within the lines and structure of an amazing voice for a startling yet soothing result. Beginning with "Moanin" Allyson demonstrates her varied talents with scat singing and a guttural,sexy voice for a bluesy rendition that swings gently and provocatively. This disc is a throwback that is progressive and looking forward yet following the rich traditions of jazz. The Oscar Brown Jr .song "Long as you're Living" is a song that packs a powerful message about the here and now and the importance of relishing every moment. Many of the songs featured contain a message that soothes the consciousness . Allyson demonstrates her ability to be true to the musical roots of these great songs of jazz in a rich, saucy style that can be sensous or raucous, leaving the listener fully satisfied. If this were an old black and white film you would see blue grey smoke curling through the pitch black screeen of a night spot. This is a "blues" album that is unlike your preconceptions of the blues, it is the vivid color of a blue sky after a rainy day that has cleansed the earth. The blues according to Karrin Allyson are "universal-it's hard to not respond to them" and that is exatcly what you will do after listening to this disc, you will respond, you 'll respond postively. Her sulty voice is full of emotion and brings joy . If you like your blues with a fine jazz treatment, and a genuine interpretive voice, backed by super musicians, for a cozy, intimate result ,than this is a fine disc to add to your collection. File her next to the other female greats like Sarah Vaughn, Abbey Lincoln or Ella fitzgerald. If you are drawn to the female vocalist stylings of Diana Krall or other jazz singers than you will like Karrin Allyson. Her version of the blues will lighten your spirit.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB!!, September 14, 2002

By 

B. J. Lane "jazzbo" (Levittown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Blue (Audio CD)

Just a year or so ago, I borrowed one of Karrin Allyson's previous CDs - "From Paris to Rio," and her voice impressed me so much that I had to include this new one in my collection.

This Kansas City gal demonstrates her ability to make a song her own distinctive property, and these blues-tinged offerings are no exception. Here, she tackles classic standards like "Angel Eyes" (Sinatra) and "How Long Has This Been Going On?", breathes new life into Bobby Troup's "Meaning of the Blues," takes her own personal spin on Oscar Brown's "Hum Drum Blues" and "Long as You're Living," Bonnie Raitt's "Love Me Like a Man," and swings her way through "Moanin'" and Wes Montgomery's "West Coast Blues." There are 13 tracks on this CD...hard to pick one standout.

Kudos to the talented musicians who backed Karrin up on this outing. Let's hope that another Grammy nod is in this talented lady's resume!!