Karrin Allyson

Karrin Allyson is one of the best young jazz singers on the scene today. She may have a feeling for lyrics that recalls Susannah McCorkle, but Allyson mixes in Post Bop jazz leanings and even touches of Blue-Eyed Soul (think of Dusty Springfield or Shelby Lynne learning from Miles and 'Trane). Allyson also knows how to mix modern tunes (by such talents as Randy Newman) with classic standards. The way she discovers new insights into material both old and new puts her ahead of most of her peers. On From Rio to Paris, Allyson shows that she doesn't even have to sing in English to get at the heart of a song, though it was Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane (2001) that finally broke this talent to most jazz audiences. With a hit album under her belt, Allyson looks like someone who could actually receive the kind of reception with the general public that Diana Krall enjoys.