Footprints (Concord Records)
Karrin Allyson
Released April 25, 2006
Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album 2007
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD1v-low_t9QIHZv1f1FRn5CWM0R85d4U
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5skovHyXcd63vlji3RV8kr?si=Cl0LyluJTT25LQ_dS0XvOA
About:
Singer Karrin Allyson has never been satisfied merely to repeat herself. With Footprints, her tenth Concord Jazz CD, she fulfills the dream of recording with two of her vocal heroes—Jon Hendricks and Nancy King—while illustrating that she too is undeniably one of today’s most distinctive and masterful jazz vocal stylists. The album also introduces Chris Caswell, whose literate, inventive new lyrics bring fresh perspectives to several of the modern jazz perennials featured herein. With a spirit that is, by turns, ebullient and affecting, Footprints shows Karrin Allyson to be a pacesetter among contemporary jazz singers.
Track Listing:
1. Something Worth Waiting For (Con Alma) (Chris Caswell / Dizzy Gillespie) 3:34
2. All You Need to Say (Never Say Yes) (Nat Adderley / Chris Caswell) 4:22
3. Lightining (Lazy Bird) (Chris Caswell / John Coltrane) 2:58
4. A Long Way to Go (Equinox) (Chris Caswell / John Coltrane) 4:39
5. Strollin’ (Jon Hendricks / Horace Silver) 4:43
6. I Found the Turnaround (The Turnaround) (Chris Caswell / Hank Mobley) 4:03
7. Follow the Footprints (Footprints) (Chris Caswell / Dizzy Gillespie) 4:07
8. Life Is a Groove (Jordu) (Karrin Allyson / Duke Jordan) 4:14
9. A Tree and Me (Oscar Brown, Jr.) 3:09
10. I Can’t Say (Teaneck) (Nat Adderley / Chris Caswell) 3:44
11. But I Was Cool (Oscar Brown, Jr.) 4:06
12. Give Me a Break (Unit 7) (Chris Caswell) 3:48
13. Everybody’s Boppin’ (Jon Hendricks) 3:35
Personnel:
Karrin Allyson: vocals, shaker
Jon Hendricks: vocals, whistle solo
Nancy King: vocals
Bruce Barth: piano, Fender Rhodes
Peter Washington: bass
Todd Strait: drums
Frank Wess: tenor sax, flute
Nick Phillips: trumpet
Recorded September 24, 2005 – October 18, 2005, at Fantasy Studios, Berkley, CA and Sear Sound Studios, New York, NY
Review:
Jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson has one peer: Cassandra Wilson. Both women have impacted jazz vocals in the last decade, swerving the genre into interesting places. Allyson’s most critically acclaimed release, Ballads (Concord, 2001), came after the release of six solid, if less received, releases for the label. This concept recording gave way to forays into sleek blues (In Blue, 2002) and pop jazz (Wild for You, 2004). Allyson returns to the vocalese concept of Ballads with Footprints.
On this recording Allyson takes on modern jazz instrumental classics adapted for vocals. Represented here are Dizzy Gillespie’s “Con Alma” (“Something Worth Waiting For”), John Coltrane’s “Lazybird” (“Lightening”) and “Equinox” (“A Long Way to Go”), and Wayne Shorter’s title cut (“Follow the Footprints”). The lyrics, all newly penned by Chris Caswell, give these songs new personality. Allyson is joined by scat-vocalese masters Jon Hendricks and Nancy King. Hendricks, who performs with Allyson on “Strollin,'” sounds every bit of his 85 years but still scats better than anyone on his trademark, “Everybody’s Boppin.'”
Allyson’s band is a beauty. Pianist Bruce Barth steers a nominal trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Todd Strait, joined by guests Frank Wess and Nick Phillips. Barth contributes playing on both acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, the latter on a hopping version of Hank Mobley’s “The Turnaround” (“I Found the Turnaround”). “Follow the Footprints” features a muted Phillips and Frank Wess on flute in a light interpretation, as it could only be. Allyson is joined by Nancy King’s smoky alto.
It is safe to consider Footprints Karrin Allyson’s best recording since Ballads. The inventiveness on display here only whets the appetite of fans expecting more from this productive artist.
C. Michael Bailey (All About Jazz)
