Karrin Allyson - From Paris to Rio - Music & Performance - CD

Allyson gets it all together once again for this lovely selection of mostly French and Portuguese tunes, which the vocalist generally sings in the original language. While there is a lesser jazz element than in some of her other recordings, Allyson is a proven stylist who knows how to make each tune hers alone. Sometimes sounding like Susannah McCorkle, Allyson floats through more than a dozen carefully picked melodies, including "Te Amo (I Love You)," "That Day (From Cinema Paradiso)," and Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare." While she scats highly effectively on occasion, most of the songs are interpreted by her rather than used as vehicles to improvise. A tasteful group of rhythm and strings (including Gil Goldstein on accordion) provides a notable backdrop. ~ Steven A. Loewy, Rovi