Karrin Allyson

After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in piano, she spent her early professional career in Kansas City, finally moving to New York City with orchestra conductor husband Bill McGlaughlin a few years ago. In addition to her frequent appearances in jazz clubs and festivals around the world, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall (tribute to Ella Fitzgerald), Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, the New York City 92nd St. YMCA, on Public Radio International’s A Prairie Home Companion, and with symphony orchestras around the country, including the new Carnegie Hall concert series at Zankel Hall.

In the past decade, Karrin Allyson has made ten recordings for Concord reflecting classic American jazz roots as well as French and Brazilian influences. In fact her minor in college was French (her major was music), and her love of both French and Portuguese seeps into her live performances as well as recordings, most notably on From Paris to Rio. Her 2001 CD, Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane, was nominated for a Grammy (best female vocalist). Wild for You (2005), a tribute to the popular songs of her youth, garnered another Grammy nomination "These are the songs I grew up with," she said, "the songs that made me want to sing in the first place. Before I got into jazz, I studied classical piano. But when I became a teenager, I heard these songs, and they piqued my interest. I got the sheet music and learned to play them and pretty soon thought, 'I'd like to do this for a living.’ ”

Footprints, released in summer 2006 on Concord, brings Allyson back to the classic jazz literature. Working with lyricist Chris Caswell, classic jazz works by Nat Adderley, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and more are transformed into modern songs, along with contributions from Oscar Brown, Jr. and Jon Hendricks. Guest vocalists Hendricks and Nancy King join Allyson along with a smokin’ trio of Bruce Barth, Peter Washington and Todd Strait. “As a singer, I feel very influenced by instrumentalists and by many classic instrumental songs,” says Allyson. “It’s tricky to put lyrics to the great, iconic tunes, because you want to do them justice.” Justice is well served. [click here for a Jazz Police review ]

“There’s nothing better than hearing what you’ve written interpreted by a voice that understands and improves every word.” –Chris Caswell

Karrin Allyson appears at Catalina's September 13-16; www.catalinajazzclub.com. She travels north to Seattle for 5 nights at Jazz Alley, September 18-22; www.jazzalley.com. Her complete gig schedule can be found at www.karrin.com