Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane

Karrin Allyson

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 22, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B00005J716
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,074 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

More than most tribute albums, singer Karrin Allyson's remembrance of John Coltrane makes a genuine attempt to relate to its subject--not only in retracing his 1961 offering, Ballads, song by song and luxuriating in the deep, swelling tenor sounds of Bob Berg and James Carter, but also in giving the tunes plenty of room to breathe. Resisting the temptation to dress them up with overt displays of style, she approaches them in a straightforward, emotionally understated fashion, capturing their essence with taste and intelligence. In the end, Allyson doesn't have quite enough color or depth to sustain such a long set of slow stuff (the album, also featuring Steve Wilson on soprano sax, concludes with three other ballads associated with Trane, notably his classic "Naima"). This is a singer who needs to breathe as much as sigh. But taken individually or in short doses, songs such as "Say It (Over and Over Again)" and "What's New" impart an exquisite sense of control. Allyson's radiant high notes never fail to move you. --Lloyd Sachs

Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 22-MAY-2001

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "silky smooth delivery with style thrown in", May 24, 2001

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Karrin Allyson sings with such feeling, her delivery is silky smooth with so much style thrown in, a perfect blend. What's so interesting about this CD ~ "Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane", is the fact each tune is interpretated with just the right ingredients. Her setting for "SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN", so special ~ "TOO YOUNG TO GO STEADY", lyrics ring true ~ "ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL", an early Sinatra hit during the big band era, just listen to this arrangement and the syncopated rhythm underlay-tempo Karrin gives this one ~ "IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER", with an easy-does-it approach ~ "NANCY (WITH THE LAUGHING FACE)", another beautiful ballad during Sinatra's reign, the piano background is so soothing ~ but the highlight, is the John Coltrane composition "NAIMA", mesmirizing effect has you drifting, drifting into deep unconsciousness, simply saturates each emotion ~ can't say enough about each track, except she gives you the impression you're hearing them for the very first time.

Hats off to ~ James Williams (piano), John Patitucci (acoustic bass), Lewis Nash (drums), Bob Berg (tenor sax), James Carter (tenor sax), Steven Wilson (soprano sax) ~ less we not forget Nick Phillips (producer), Glen Barros & John Burk (executive producers), Josiah Gluch (recording/mixing engineer) and Concord Jazz who has been there with Karrin from the very beginning ~ each recording gets better and better, enjoyable memories of Coltrane's career through the eyes of our young talented artist ~ KARRIN ALLYSON!

Total Time: 61:44 on 11 Tracks ~ Concord Jazz CCD-4950-2 ~ (2001)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The big time at last, June 21, 2001

By	Lisa Hindmarsh (Northern New Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This should be the recording that finally gives Karrin Allyson the big-time recognition she has so long deserved. She has come fully into her own with this gorgeous re-imagining of Coltrane's landmark recordings. Karrin's intelligent musicianship and pristine ear are evident throughout, and though her physical vocal range is rather limited, she surprises the listener with some of the most beautiful and perfectly placed high notes you're likely to hear on any vocal jazz recording. Her husky timbre will remind you of a sax at times, and if you listen to "Naima" (in my opinion the best track on this disc, requiring an incredible amount of vocal skill to pull off so effectively), the horn and the voice are indistinguishable from each other. Karrin's emotional interpretations are sensitive and mature as well. I recommend this CD highly for jazz fans, fans of great singing, and even to listeners who are new to jazz. Karrin Allyson is a great place to start - she has arrived, at last, into the upper echelon of the finest vocalists in the business. I think she's there to stay!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over and Over Again, June 8, 2001

By	Robert G. Klotz (Lawrence, KS United States) - See all my reviews

How could anyone, let alone a coy Midwestern young woman who's transplanted herself in New York, attempt to do the entire "Ballads" album by The John Coltrane Quartet, with tenor players and the tunes all lined up in order (although no A and B sides for us old timers).

Quite simply, KARRIN ALLYSON (say it CAR-in, not like Karen), uses the original lyrics Coltrane played (mostly, except on "Nancy", Sinatra's tune about his young daughter, where Karrin looks on as a man adores his little girl) and incredibly, just like Coltrane and Tyner, she and James Williams get right down deep into the EMOTIONAL CORE of these tunes, bringing out nuances referencing Trane, but also ones he could only hint at or make allusions to with his elegantly muscular tenor sound.

Allyson has her own deep strength and knows how to use it, with her voice, not as sweet and innocent as her first several Concord albums, but more lustrous and rich. She is a musician who uses her voice, no mere singer. She actually adds to my undying love of The Coltrane Quartet's original "Ballads". To me, this is nothing less than a magnificient achievement. NOTE TO GRAMMY MEMBERS: Here's your front-runner by a long shot.

Buy this Karrin Allyson release. Check out her previous, light airy stuff on "From Paris to Rio" after you dig deep into "Ballads" -- a CD you'll listen to, I promise, over and over again.

Rob Klotz, KANU Jazz in the Night, University of Kansas