Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 05/22/2001
Jazz vocalist
Karrin Allyson strikes a sentimental chord with this super fine 2001 release, inspired by tenor sax titan
John Coltrane's infamous
Ballads LP. The diva exhibits her near flawless phraseology and alluring vigor throughout these wonderfully executed pieces.
Allyson also receives exemplary support from what some might consider an all-star band, featuring bassist
John Patitucci; saxophonists
Bob Berg,
Steve Wilson, and
James Carter; pianist/educator
James Williams; and drummer
Lewis Nash. All told, the musicians inject their distinct musical personas into these moving portraitures amid
Allyson's trance-like renderings of pieces such as
"You Don't Know What Love Is," "All or Nothing at All," and others. The singer's wordless incantation of
"Naima" bespeaks poignant imagery as
Patitucci and
Nash generate a grooving
samba beat atop
Williams' shrewdly placed lower-register ostinato motifs and the saxophonists' breezy lines. Basically,
Ballads is a very special occurrence, one that provides yet another mark of distinction for this extremely talented artiste. Highly recommended.
~Glenn Astarita, All Music Guide
;)
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