Jazz singers mix in pop tunes during Red Bank show By RICHARD SKELLY CORRESPONDENT
Published in the Asbury Park Press [February 9, 2005]

Four singers with four distinct styles and approaches to the art of jazz vocals showcased their talents Saturday night at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

All four singers — Diane Schuur, Karrin Allyson, Sara Gazarek and Oleta Adams — record for the California-based Concord Jazz Records. And while each performer sang at least three tunes, things weren't so scripted as to when they would get onstage together in various couplings. It gave the show an improvised flair, in keeping with the jazz tradition.

Allyson played the role of musical hostess for the evening. She and the others recognized the hall's namesake throughout the concert in their spoken introductions to tunes. Allyson told the crowd, "I spent a lot of time learning about this music in Kansas City, like Count Basie."

Gazarek, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, caught the crowd's ear with her version of the Great American Songbook classic "The Masquerade Is Over" and her own arrangement of "Never Will I Marry."

"I arranged this song last year in college for my senior recital," she told the audience. "So you might say this arrangement cost $140,000. So if you don't like the arrangement, you might say you like it anyway, so my mother will be happy."

A high point before the intermission came when Allyson, seated at a piano, was joined by Adams for a stirring duet of John Lennon's classic "Imagine." While even an important pop tune like this might be lost on a straight-ahead jazz audience, the crowd received it warmly, as it did Allyson's renditions of Joni Mitchell's "All I Want" and Melissa Manchester's "I Got Eyes," both from Allyson's current Concord Records release, "Wild for You."

Other highlights in the concert included Adams' take on Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," rendered while she sat at the piano, and Schuur's delicate version of Johnny Mercer's "When October Goes." When Schuur, a two-time Grammy Award winner, was introduced later during the second set, she opened — appropriately enough — by playing a piano blues from her recording with the Count Basie Orchestra. Her mellower take on "Every Day I Have The Blues," rendered while she sat at the piano, also drew cheers from the crowd. The women were accompanied during their performances by guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Scott Steed, drummer Todd Strait and pianist Laura Caviani. For her selections, Adams was accompanied by her husband, drummer John Cushon.

The vocalists ended a well-paced show with two finales. They were onstage together trading vocals on "That's All" and an off-the-cuff version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." In performing a variety of blues, Brazilian, Great American Songbook standards and pop tunes, all four singers are doing a fine job of broadening the audience for jazz. [top]

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CONCORD JAZZ FESTIVAL Presented By
jetBlue AIRWAYS Back With More Dates for 2005
Divas Diane Schuur, Oleta Adams, Karrin Allyson, & Sara Gazarek
Team for Night of Jazz

Four distinct ladies of song will team for the Concord Jazz Festival presented by jetBlue AIRWAYS. The evening of jazz will feature duets between the critically acclaimed vocalists with all four on-stage for a rousing finale. Diane Schuur, Oleta Adams, Karrin Allyson, are known as three of the best song stylists today. And with the introduction of newcomer Sara Gazarek, the night will prove to be memorable.

Diane Schuur has been dubbed the First Lady of Jazz. And with a body of work spanning 25 years, picking up two Grammy Awards along the way, no one will argue. Her current release, “Midnight” (Concord Records), has the singer crooning original tunes especially co-written for her by Barry Manilow and produced by Manilow and Eddie Arkin. Her new album “Schuur Fire”, a Latin flavored project she recorded with Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, will be released in April.

She burst on the scene with the top 10 pop hit, “Get Here,” in 1990. Today, Oleta Adams continues to be one of the most praised voices in music. The three-time Grammy nominee recently released “All For Love” (Pioneer) which features tunes co-penned by Adams, as well as her take on the country hit “I Hope You Dance.”

Karrin Allyson quickly became the critics’ darling upon her first release 10 years ago. The Grammy nominee is currently enjoying success with her Concord album “Wild For You.” Constantly touring, the Seattle Times called her an “immaculate, genuine talent.” Allyson will serve as host for the evening.

Newcomer Sara Gazarek received the 2003 DownBeat Student Music Award for Best Collegiate Jazz Vocalist. The young student of jazz has been called “sublime” by the New York Times. Her debut recording is expected later this summer.

The Concord Jazz Festival launches it’s 2005 run with the following dates.

The Concord Jazz Festival presented by jetBlue AIRWAYS is produced by Stiletto Entertainment and represented by the William Morris Agency. [top]

4 Different Voices, Styles Come Together For Evening of High-Energy Jazz By NANCY STETSON
Naples Daily News [April 29, 2004]

VH1 may have its Diva series, with a lineup of women from pop, rock and R&B, but it's no match for the Concord Jazz Festival, which played at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts on Tuesday night.

The festival's lineup consisted of Karrin Allyson, Oleta Adams, Diane Schuur and newcomer Sara Gazarek.

These women are true divas. They have plenty of attitude and sass, and they know how to turn out a song. And despite the sadness of some blues songs and ballads they performed, the energy was high.

Allyson, whose most recent CDs "In Blue" and the double-Grammy nominated "Ballads — Remembering John Coltrane," received critical acclaim, acted as the show's hostess, opening the show and introducing the other performers.

She's an energetic performer, gesturing and moving to the music as she sings. She opened with a samba-flavored rendition of "Might As Well Be Spring," and her lively performance set the tone for the entire evening.

Allyson performed a couple of tunes from her upcoming CD, "Wild For You": Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" and Joni Mitchell's "Help Me."

She and Gazarek joined up for a duet on a Duke Ellington tune, and Gazarek sang a couple on her own, including a medley of "Blackbird/Bye Bye Blackbird," which had a drum solo by Todd Strait at the end.

Gazarek is still in college and joked about missing a class to perform, inquiring if anyone wanted to write a six- to eight-page paper for her about Greek mythology.

She's scheduled to release a debut album on Concord later this year; I suspect the label has teamed her up with these women to have her learn about touring and performing from the pros, get some more stage time, and to introduce her to audiences.

Allyson also sang a duet with Oleta Adams during the first half: "Good Morning Heartache."

It's obvious that Allyson won some new fans, as people flocked to the merchandise table at the end of the show, snapping up her CDs.

Pianist Laura Caviani had some impressive solos during the first set, receiving repeated applause.

Adams and Schuur dominated the second half of the show, with Adams taking the piano and belting out a number of tunes, including "Circle of One" and a funky, soulful version of "New York State of Mind" that —amazingly — made you forget the Billy Joel original.

Regrettably, she didn't perform her version of Brenda Russell's "Get Here," which had been such a hit in the early '90s.

Her rich voice reflected her early gospel upbringing.

Unfortunately, the second half seemed too amplified for the venue, especially Denny Embrey's electric guitar playing, which seemed a little shrill at times. It was almost as if the sound balance was set for a rock show rather than a jazz concert.

Schuur closed the show, singing favorites such as "Deedles' Blues," "When October Goes," from her latest CD, "Midnight," and a swinging version of "Besame Mucho."

The Phil crowd, unfortunately, is rarely one for dancing, but word has it that the three other singers were salsa dancing backstage as Schuur performed.

Schuur can swing, she can scat, and she can jive. It's no wonder she's been called The First Lady of Jazz.

Adams came out and did a duet of "Stormy Monday Blues" with Schuur; it was a pleasure to hear these two women trade lines and do a call-and-response. They seemed to bring out the best in each other.

For an encore, all four sang Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," with Schuur and Gazarek and Adams and Allyson teaming up on duets.

It was a rousing finish, with Adams and Allyson breaking into dance together.

These singers all seem to have a genuine affection for each other, and their joy in performing was obvious.

Schuur, especially, displayed a mischievous wit, joking with the crowd.

The evening never lagged. It was glorious to hear these four different voices and styles, and how they sounded when they teamed up with each other for duets and quartets. I just reveled in the beautiful diversity of these women's voices. [top]