Songs of Brasil

great tribute from a rising jazz legend
by: Tim Wardyn

Have you heard of the Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson yet? Jazz aficionados have known how talented Allyson is for over 16 years and on her 11th disc Imagina: Songs of Brasil she crafts another fine work and her second tribute album.

Allyson had to learn a lot of Portuguese, but she sounds like a native speaker on tracks like 'So Tinha De Ser Com Voce' and 'E Com Esse Que Eu Vou.' Her voice is goes from sultry (like Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit) to just downright gorgeous (like Ella Fitzgerald).

Allyson has been nominated for three Grammys in her career; two for her brilliant tribute to John Coltrane Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane and one for her last disc Footprints. This is sure to garner another Grammy nomination and hopefully her first Grammy win.

Imagina: Songs of Brasil sounds a lot like something you’d hear in a hotel lobby. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it is a perfect tribute to Brazilian music and their culture.