Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein (Motéma Music)

Karrin Allyson

Released September 18, 2015

Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album 2016

YouTube:

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mt9jqTAcREpV8v0kBZemsHJLJBdcKHH0A

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/6HwfKSV3bM0Dc5IgJq3qpv?si=g4MBeuq5T8e0Evze7v9qiA

About:

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 Mornin’ 04:11

2. Many a New Day 03:00

3. Happy Talk 03:54

4. I Cain’t Say No 04:19

5. I Have Dreamed 04:56

6. Out of My Dreams 03:35

7. Bali Ha’i 05:08

8. When I Think of Tom/Hello Young Lovers 04:35

9. We Kiss in a Shadow 04:38

10. You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught 04:12

11. Something Wonderful 02:37

12. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top 03:32

13. Something Good 03:19

14. Edelweiss 02:33

All songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, except “Something Good” by Richard Rodgers

Personnel:

Karrin Allyson: vocals

Kenny Barron: piano

John Patitucci: upright bass

Recorded May 1, 2015 – May 2, 2015, at Sear Sound Studios, New York City, NY

Produced by Michael Leonhart and Karrin Allyson

Recording and Mixing: Katherine Miller

Assistant Engineer: Grant Valentine

Photography: Ingrid Hertfelder

Graphic Design: Rebecca Meek

Executive Producer: Jana Herzen

Review:

Why do jazz singers embrace so many songs by Rodgers and Hart yet so few-save the Coltrane-blessed “My Favorite Things”-by Rodgers and Hammerstein? While Rodgers’ music is accepted as consistently top-drawer, Hart’s lyrics are widely considered sharper, wittier and more intellectual than Hammerstein’s. Which is, in a word, hogwash. Yes, Hammerstein’s lyrics are often brighter and frillier, but they are in no way less skillfully crafted nor less sophisticated either in sentiment or structure. (Hammerstein’s work with Rodgers has also been tarnished with that most toxic of brushes, immense commercial success.)
At last, the Hammerstein portion of the Rodgers canon is getting serious, full-length appreciation, and Karrin Allyson, one of the finest jazz interpreters around, is at the helm. Accompanying Allyson is the similarly adroit duo of bassist John Patitucci and pianist Kenny Barron. It’s a heady feast, extending from the sweet lilt of “Many a New Day” to the embittered anguish of “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” and from the playful sauciness of “I Cain’t Say No” to the sage tenderness of “Hello Young Lovers.” There’s no room on this album for splashy solos or virtuosic grandstanding. The focus is squarely on sensitive, intelligent arrangements shaped around Allyson’s unique sound-slightly parched and gently tremulous-expressly built to exalt a spectrum of instantly familiar yet largely underappreciated gems. An exquisitely thoughtful trio album, it’s also an important one.

Christopher Loudon (JazzTimes)