Karrin Allyson - Imagina: Songs of Brasil

How is it that I've ...........................

.............never heard of Karryn Allison until just now? I am nearly 60 years old and love love love "musica brasileira" from almost anyone who can pull off a good recording. This CD is just amazing, and I've heard lots of artists try to record these songs.
I spent 2 years in Brasil many years ago and loved what I heard so have always loved the music. Karryn has a great voice and I am going to go seek out other things she has done.
Great CD!! June 19, 2008

Karrin outdoes the Brazilians

I believe I own all of Karrin Allyson's recordings. I also own a lot of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Egberto Gismonti, Laurindo Almeida, et al. So when I ordered this CD from Amazon, I also ordered a Bebel Gilberto recording and one by Morelenbaum2/Sakamoto. I found the Allyson recording, in total, to be the most satisfying of the three. Her tone, energy, skill, and understanding of each of the selection's attributes is unequalled amongst most of her contemporaries. And that goes for not just singers of Brazilian music but the larger category of jazz. In observing Karrin Allyson's growth from her earliest recordings, I'm aware that her choice of bandmates has expanded to keep up. Finally, her adept handling of non-native language is outstanding. June 14, 2008

The Gabacha Does Saudade

Karrin Allyson is one who will not be pigeonholed. From "Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane," to "In Blue," to "Wild For You," to "Footprints," and now to "Imagina," about all one can say is that Karrin Allyson is a jazz singer with a straighter-than-straight tone and a voice quality that evokes either sadness or playfulness.

How fitting, then, that she performs an "all Bossa Nova" program, as here, and does a program of virtually all Jobim tunes. And like Dee Dee Bridgewater's tremendous "Jai Deux Amours" viz. the French language, Ms. Allyson performs many of these tunes in alternate Portuguese and English translations.

This format absolutely works. Her voice is a natural for this style. To mix cultural references, this is one "Gabacha" who does "Saudade," very well.

I do have one concern, though: Either her voice has gotten raspy over time, or these arrangements were pitched too low. But too many times Ms. Allyson doesn't get to the low notes - and I never noticed that about her before. Hopefully, that will be addressed in her next release.

Otherwise,Lucia Guimaraes notes in the liner notes that Jobim was influenced by Ravel. I had never thought of that before, but she's absolutely right. In tunes such as "Correnteza," "Estrada Do Sol," and the title track, I definitely hear the influence of French impressionism.

But when I think of Bossa Nova, I think of "saudade" first and foremost. That quality is very definitely present in my two favorite tracks on this c.d., "Estrada Branca" and "Vivo Sonhando." They alone are worth the price of this disc.

But truly, all of the tracks have beauty abounding. The instrumentalists, Rod Fleeman (g.), Gil Goldstein (p., acc.), David Finck (b.) and Todd Strait (d.), do great work in making this sound like a multi-cultural affair.

Recommended, especially if you're a fan of Bossa Nova. This c.d. won't make you forget Elis and Tom, or Getz/Gilberto, but it will certainly make you remember those masterworks. RC June 4, 2008

One of the best records of Brazilian songs in times

Karryn Allyson is a fantastic singer that faced challenges like her version of Ballads, but the challenge in this CD is far more relevant as she sings in Portuguese like a Brazilian soul and picked some tunes that really surprises us.
Very well done! May 23, 2008

Welcome back Karrin

At last an All Brazilian album, even bravely attempt to vocalize one of my favorite Jobim songs:Estrada Do Sol which I believe should always be an instrumental. Karrin's sweet and fragile(in a good way) voice is all over the album. I didn't think much of the last two CDs....so I'd say- Boa Vinda Outra Vez, Karrin! May 10, 2008

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