SOME OF THAT SUNSHINE
Release date – August 3, 2018
Karrin steps out on her own —
“Ever since her impressive debut (I Didn’t Know About You, Concord, 1992) Karrin Allyson has successfully pulled material from both the pop and jazz world and it all works well with her voluptuous huskiness and rhythmic sensibility.” – Roger Crane, The International Review of Music
Stephen Holden, in a NY TIMES concert review, praised Allyson as “one of the most grounded singers working today,” with an “exceptionally keen eye for the smart, semi-obscure pop or jazz number that speaks directly to the moment.” In his WALL STREET JOURNAL preview, writer Will Friedwald buzzed, “she sings with amazing subtlety.” And in his lead JAZZTIMES MAGAZINE CD review, VOX critic Christopher Loudon said Allyson’s songs “shimmer with tender vibrancy.”
Now, in a brand-new album to be released on 3 August 2018, Karrin steps forward commandingly in a new role — as songwriter, revealing thirteen new songs in an astonishing range of styles and moods.
Teaming up with the remarkable L.A. producer and recording artist Chris Caswell and her very talented current working band — Miro Sprague on piano, Jeff Johnson on bass, Rod Fleeman on guitar and Jerome Jennings on drums and featuring guest artists Regina Carter on violin and the magisterial Houston Person on tenor saxophone, she has produced an album full of unexpected delights, including a guest appearance from mega-bassist Lee Sklar.
“It feels like coming home in a way,” says Allyson “As a young musician I was writing songs in a variety of styles, even before I discovered jazz. I loved the singer-songwriters of my youth and I followed their influence. Now, after years of performing all sorts of jazz and Brazilian and French music, I’m coming back to where I started.”
“These songs are quite varied in style — very ‘Allyson-like’, I suppose you could say. I’ve always loved to mix things up —
Take the title track “Wrap Up Some of that Sunshine” featuring violinist and MacArthur fellow Regina Carter — that’s more of a traditional swing- standard. And then there are a few unabashedly romantic ballads like “Just As Well” featuring Houston, “You Don’t Care”, (lyrics by my Dad) and “Time is a Funny Thing”.
I drop back more into my pop roots with songs like “As Long as I Know You Love Me”, “One of these Days”, “Happy Now”, and “Home”…and dig into the blues with “Right Here Right Now”, “Wish You Were Mine” and “Nobody Said Love was Easy”.
I am acutely aware of the political scene and its challenges and so I penned a couple songs begging for change; “Big Discount” and “Shake it Up”.”
“Though I take every song I sing very personally, of course, there’s something extremely personal –and scary too, about singing your own stuff… the audience gets to know you even better — And I’m ready for that.”
So, if you like soulful, sly, heartfelt, groovy songs with meaningful (and fun) lyrics — here they are — brand new, welcome and somehow beautifully familiar.
Personnel:
Karrin Allyson, voice and piano, Rhodes
Chris Caswell, Hammond B-3, accordion
Miro Sprague;, acoustic piano and Rhodes
Jeff Johnson, bass
Jerome Jennings. drums
Special Guests:
Lee Sklar featured on “One of These Days”
Regina Carter (Some of That Sunshine, Time is a Funny Thing, Big Discount)
Houston Person (Right Here, Right Now, Just as Well, Nobody Said Love Was Easy)
MORE ALBUMS
RELEASE DATE: Sep 18, 2015 ℗ 2015 Motema Music LLC
Four-time ‘Best Vocal Jazz Album ‘Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson’s ‘Many A New Day (Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein)’ is a 14-song collection featuring Allyson’s romantic, sly and swinging take on songs that have become part of our cultural fabric, from ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’ to ‘Happy Talk’ to ‘I Cain’t Say No’ and numerous others. The collection, which marks the singer’s debut on the Motéma label, features the distinctive pairing of Kenny Barron on piano and John Patitucci on bass (only the second time the two have recorded together). Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s legendary musical partnership is among the greatest of the 20th century, resulting in such seminal Broadway productions as The King and I, South Pacific, Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Carousel. With her distinctive vocals, Allyson takes an array of these beloved songs on an elegant, intimate and joyful ride. Her arrangements, impeccably performed by Barron and Patitucci, manage to infuse these musical theater gems with a spare, sophisticated and intimate vibe that recalls the wee-hours in a late night Paris jazz club.
TRACK LISTING
1. Oh, What A Beautiful Morning 4:11
2. Many A New Day 3:00
3. Happy Talk 3:54
4. I Cain’t Say No 4:19
5. I Have Dreamed 4:56
6. Out Of My Dreams 3:35
7. Bali H’ai 5:08
8. When I Think Of Tom/Hello Young Lovers 4:35
9. We Kiss In A Shadow 4:38
10. You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught 4:12
11. Something Wonderful 2:37
12. The Surrey With A Fringe On Top 3:32
13. Something Good 3:19
14. Edelweiss 2:33
15. This Nearly Was Mine (iTunes bonus track) 3:57
GRAMMY NOMINATED
RELEASE DATE: 01 NOVEMBER 2013 INDEPENDENT RELEASE GENRE: JAZZ CAT # kasrecords1
A heart-warming collection of holiday songs, old and new from Karrin Allyson. Featuring Chris Caswell, Lee Sklar, Rod Feeman, Todd Strait and Gerald Spaits.
A warm, inviting and original set, this is a recording you’ll want to keep close at hand in your collection.
‘ROUND MIDNIGHT
RELEASE DATE: 03 MAY 2011
LABEL: CONCORD JAZZ
GENRE: JAZZ
CAT # CJA-32662-02
1. Turn Out The Stars 4:05
2. April Come She Will 3:14
3. Goodbye 4:28
4. I’m Always Chasing Rainbows 4:40
5. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 6:38
6. Smile 4:54
7. Sophisticated Lady 4:38
8. There’s No Such Thing As Love 3:04
9. The Shadow Of Your Smile 4:24
10. Send In The Clowns 4:48
11. ‘Round Midnight 5:51
Click here to buy this album on Amazon.
Concord Jazz is delighted to announce the release of Karrin Allyson’s new album, ‘Round Midnight. The 11 track collection was recorded at Sear Sound in New York City. The tracks on ’Round Midnight come from a wide variety of sources, including Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mandel, Thelonious Monk, Stephen Sondheim, even Charlie Chaplin. But regardless of who wrote the songs and when, Allyson ties them all together with the same melancholy thread with which they were originally spun.
The three-time GRAMMY nominated vocalist describes her new album best in her liner notes: “Imagine yourself, in the city, walking late at night,” she writes. “It’s ‘Round Midnight. The wind is cold, but you hear some warm sounds and you follow your ear down into a small, dark club. There’s a woman at the piano singing these intimate ballads – one after the other. Maybe you’ve just recently suffered a heartache, or maybe the lyrics, melodies and harmonies evoke feelings you have somewhere deep down inside.”
This album marks the first time in 13 records that Allyson plays all the keyboard parts — piano and Rhodes. “In a way, I’m just returning to my roots. I’ve been playing keyboards more and more in my live shows for the last three years, and it just seemed like the natural thing to do on this album. The shape and emotional feel of ‘Smile’ and ‘I’m Always Chasing Rainbows’ grew directly from my piano playing.” In ‘Round Midnight Allyson is joined by her long time partner, guitarist Rod Fleeman, with Bob Sheppard on woodwinds, harmonicist Randy Weinstein, bassist Ed Howard, whose previous associations include balladeer Shirley Horn, and drummer Matt Wilson.
In the end, telling the story is what it’s all about – even if the story is about heartbreak. Sometimes the best way to do it is to draw people into a quiet space in the late hours ‘Round Midnight – a time and place where their guard is down and they’re open to music that speaks the language of the heart.
“What I’m most interested in doing on this record – and on all my records – is reaching people and communicating with them,” says Allyson. “That’s the thing that inspires me more than anything else.”
GRAMMY NOMINATED
BY REQUEST
RELEASE DATE: 30 JUN 2009
LABEL: CONCORD JAZZ
GENRE: JAZZ VOCALS
CAT # CJA-31459-25
1. Night And Day 5:28
2. Moanin’ 6:02
3. What’s New 5:55
4. O Pato (The Duck) 3:54
5. Sous Le Ciel De Paris (Under Paris Skies) 4:07
6. Life Is a Groove (Jordu) 4:12
7. Everything Must Change 6:45
8. A Felicidade (Happiness) 4:20
9. Sweet Home Cookin’ Man 6:12
10. Nature Boy 6:20
11. And So It Goes 3:44
12. Cherokee 3:49
13. Next Time Around