Customer Reviews

In Blue

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!

After releasing an astounding tribute album to Coltrane, I found it hard to imagine that Karrin Allyson would be able to record anything that was even half as good. Well, I was wrong, 'In Blue' is that kind of album that touches you and makes you want to play it time and again. The reviewer who found this album to be lacking emotion needs to give it another try. Just one listen to her version of "The Meaning of the Blues" and you're hooked. Other highlights include "Moanin'," "Evil Gal Blues," and "Angel Eyes."

This album is the ideal introductory recommendation to what good jazz and blues female vocalists are about. Even more so, it is perfect for anyone who is a jazz fan and not familiar with Karrin's music. It is beautiful, melodic, fits every mood (perfect for a day when you're serioulsy hit by "the blues"), and it is flawlessly produced. Karrin's sincere, never-over-the-top, sultry, and emotional delivery is an example of what real music is about. File this one under "nearly perfect."

This CD absolutely is a must have for anyone who enjoys jazz/blues. Wonderfully crisp is her voice and the arrangements are well balanced. A couple of the songs ("My Bluebird", and "The Meaning of the Blues") are a little slower than I prefer, but her vocals on these tracks really make the songs enjoyable. A remarkable performance--fresh and intriquing.

Yes, she could almost be mistaken for Bonnie Raitt on one cut. But otherwise, her voice is her own. And what a wonderful instrument it is! Breathy, sultry and smooth; she can also get down and dirty when she wants. She does lots of scatting. The CD is a good mix of upbeat songs, mid-tempo, and ballads.

Excellent musicianship! The piano, bass, drums, and on most cuts guitar are simply outstanding. Alto sax on one, and soprano sax on two others; sounding like a gentle breeze on a summer day.

High point for me is "The Meaning of the Blues." Karrin's arrangements of the seven and a half minute song are so delicate, so intricate, I found myself not wanting to breathe for fear of causing the whole thing to collapse.

Other high points are "Moanin," "Everybody's Crying Mercy," "Bluebird"...I could go on and on.

Total time is 67 minutes.

I like all kinds of music from Jan & Dean to the Stone Temple Pilots to Aretha, though I don't listen to a lot of Jazz. I had the unique experience of seeing Karrin perform live before I ever heard any of her CDs (She appeared as a guest on the Prarie Home Companion). I was impressed, I went out and bought Paris to Rio, Ballads, and then In Blue. Her voice is very pretty and smooth sounding. In Blue is my favorite CD. It is pleasant to listen to anytime, especially late at night (unlike most of my music!). It's nicely sung, has a little scat, and has a great sounding band. Everyone thinks they're a music critic. I'm not a music critic but, I know what I like when I hear it. You will too.

Thank You, Amazon for your "If you like X, you might also like Y" feature.

I found Karrin Allyson that way via a Jane Monheit search, and what can I say? Karrin baby, you got it going on!!!

She's got "The Voice" down pat, she sings to YOU, and you ALONE. I get chills just listening to her sing "The Meaning of the Blues" and "Blue Hotel Room".

This one is a "no-brainer", it's good stuff from start to finish. Really glad I found her, and I think you will be too!

I can't believe that someone said this was "emotionally flat"! Is this person deaf? Did they confuse the fact that the CD was flat with the beauty it contains? I don't get it.

I listen to a lot of jazz, and I bought her Ballads Remembering John Coltrane and added this on a lark. Ballads is great. But "In Blue" is what blew me away. If you love music, then you must have this CD. If you don't find these reviews enough to convince, go to her web site and read the PAGES of critical reviews. They don't lie.

You've heard of "outside" jazz? Well, this is inside jazz at its best. Case in point: Pianist Mulgrew Miller's solo over a locked-in rhythm section of Peter Washington (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums) on "Hum Drum Blues." Miller gets so far inside the groove that we realize that it's a sheer act of will on his part to not take off and start flying, thus ruining the overall momentum of the piece. In fact, it was Miller's presence on the credits that persuaded me that this would be a session worth checking out. Along with the aforementioned rhythm section, his name is synonymous with quality in modern mainstream jazz.

Well, I was also persuaded by hearing the lead cut, Bobby Timmons' "Moanin," on a local radio station. It swung just right. Confession: I sometimes get frightened by the prospect of white women singing "the blues" (Janis Joplin, anyone?) but Allyson's vocals are so focused, textured, and, well, riveting, that my biases are easily set aside. It's true that she sometimes seems to be channeling Bonnie Raitt, but that's OK, because Bonnie is fantastic, redoubtable even. Most of the time, though, Allyson is her own person, her own musician, blessed with wonderful tone, time, and taste. The song choices and performances on this great CD are consistently engaging. This is a recording I can listen to several times during the same day. It's that good.