1. Something Worth Waiting For (Con Alma)
2. All You Need To Say (Never Say Yes)
3. Lightning (Lazy Bird)
4. A Long Way To Go (Equinox)
5. Strollin?
6. I Found The Turnaround (The Turnaround)
7. Follow The Footprints (Footprints)
8. Life Is A Groove (Jordu)
9. A Tree And Me
10. I Can?t Say (Teaneck)
11. But I Was Cool
12. Give Me A Break (Unit 7)
13. Everybody?s Boppin?
Amazon.com
On this CD, vocalist Karrin Allyson generously shares the spotlight with a trio of guests, one of whom comes in from an unexpected angle. Indeed, Chris Caswell doesn't sing or play an instrument here: What he's done is set lyrics to some classic jazz instrumentals by the likes of John Coltrane, Nat "Cannonball" Adderley and Wayne Shorter. (A few of these tracks have been renamed--"a detail that has to do with royalties," as the liner notes explain.) The other two guests are Jon Hendricks (whose little whistled solo on "Strollin'" is rather cute) and the Pacific Northwest-based scat expert Nancy King. King shows up on 6 of the 13 tracks and the manner in which her and Allyson's voices-—both equally burnished and agile--dialogue, particularly on "Life Is a Groove (Jordu)" is unusually lovely. Add to the mix a tight core group comprised of Bruce Barth (piano), Peter Washington (bass), and Todd Strait (drums), and you've got yourself an excellent jazz album. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
|
Footprints
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2006-04-18)
- Publisher: Concord Records
- Label: Concord Records
- Studio: Concord Records
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 10 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #67132
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Welcome back, Karrin! 2008-05-02
Comment: A return to the purity and integrity of 'From Paris to Rio' with grace and style.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not destined to be a classic. 2007-09-27
Comment: I'm a huge fan of Karrin and her music, but this has left me disappointed. If you are just discovering her, I'd suggest you spend your money on some of her earlier recordings, which are superb. Try "From Paris to Rio", "Azure-Té", "I Didn't Know About You", "Ballads - Remembering John Coltrain" or "Daydream".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: How did I not hear of Karrin Allyson .Love her style and interpretation of a song. 2007-03-07
Comment: Turned on my car radio a couple of weeks ago to WBGO NPR Jazz out of Newark,NJ and heard this great vocal rendition of Dizzy's Con Alma and was totally mesmerized. The singers voice and style were just perfect for the song, almost as though the song written more than 50 years ago was waiting for these beautiful lyrics and this wonderfull singers heart-felt rendition. I just flipped. Thanks to Amazon search and sample takes, I came up with Karrin Allyson and this terrific CD "Footprints".
Karrin handles every tune creativly and with class and style, and what a style. I thought I was hip to all the good jazz singers on the scene, but wow, did I miss her. Karrin swings like crazy on the up tunes and sings with tremendous feeling on the ballads.The choice of songs on this CD are a terrific blend of some of the best jazz of the 50"s and 60's that every real jazz fan knows, since they are trully jazz classics.This CD gives them a whole set of new imaginative lyrics and fresh new arrangements. This group plays as one, and you sense they have played together for a long period. The addition of Jon Hendricks and Nancy King really make this CD even more outstandinng.Chris Caswell's Lyrics are brilliant and a perfect fit, all these many years later.
Jordu, Strollin, But I was Cool, Never Say Yes---all swing.Footprints and Con Alma are just beautifull ballads. What can I say but that this is one of the best vocal albums I have ever listened to.
I can't believe this is Karrin Allysons 10th CD and I never new of her. She is one of those few singers that makes the song she sings her song, and you will always associate these tunes with her after hearing this CD
Now I guess I just have to order some of these CD's she's released through the years to catch up with her, and enjoy even more of this fantastic singers work.
I see Karrin's going to be in my town, New York, at Birdland in May '07 and at the Lichfield Jazz concert in Connecticut in August '07. You better believe I won't miss those performances. I bet she must be just great in a jazz club. I really have to make up for lost time.
Not to buy this CD would be one big mistake.I listen to it over and over. Concord, you just have to have Allyson do another one with the same theme. There are so many other Jazz Classics crying out for her to interprete. Let's do a whole bunch of these CDs and you can add even more of your talented guest to join in, as you did with "Footprints"
What a delight.....Long live this great music.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Karrin needs to do a live album! 2006-11-24
Comment: First of all, even the KA albums I care for least are still worth listening to. She never fails to stretch the song list and try something new,which is beyond commendable in my book.
I've seen Karrin numerous times live, and she is truly amazing, especially as a singer (although she's truly a musician). Her interplay with other musicians, the audience, and the songs is remarkable. She is comfortable and playful on stage, and willing to mess around with arrangements/solos/lyrics etc. in a loose and fun way. I most recently saw her at the Green Mill in Chicago (great great place) and her interplay with Todd Strait (her longtime drummer, and one of the best IMHO) and Larry Kohut (local bassist who seems to be playing melodies all the time, even when not soloing) was spectacular.
That said, her recent albums (this one, Wild for You, In Blue) have failed to capture that spirit, and sound a bit flat to me. The songs on Footprints really came alive in performance, especially Turnaround, which really rocked, and listening to the album again, I wondered why it didn't have that life to it. Perhaps too much New York studio perfectionism was the culprit. My favorite album of hers is still Paris to Reo; expansive song list, vibrant performances, and always fun to listen to.
Karrin should do a live album that really shows people what she's all about as a performer. I think then many people who've not seen her in person would "get it", and really enjoy her musicianship. Perhaps if she recorded an album "live in the studio" that would help, since she and the musicians could play around as they do on stage.
If you get the chance to see Karrin perform, especially in a small club, please go; you won't be dissapointed!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Knockout 2006-08-21
Comment: Karrin Allyson from my native Kansas City, Mo. just gets better as time goes on. Her latest CD, "Footprints," is a knockout and deserves 6 stars out of 5. I am not a jazz-a-holic or an expert on technical music analysis, but as a jazz fan I am just blown away by Karrin's new one -- especially "Strollin" and "A Tree and Me." And the guest artists are superb. Keep it up, Karrin. Everyone should have the thrill of listening to "Footprints," a great addition to your already outstanding CD offerings.
|
Footprints
Enlarge View