A Kiss for Brazil

In 2001, singer Karrin Allyson released a near-perfect jazz concept album in Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane (Concord Music Group). Well known for her fine song programming, Allyson released a string of recordings right after that: In Blue (Concord Music Group, 2003), Wild For You (Concord Music Group, 2004), and 'Round Midnight (Concord Music Group, 2011), among others.

The singer has always had a fondness for the music of Brazil, having previously released From Paris To Rio (Concord Music Group, 1999) and Imagina: Songs Of Brazil (Concord Music Group, 2008). Allyson completes a Brazilian trilogy with A Kiss For Brazil. This project grew out of the intersection of Allyson with Brazilian asset Rosa Passos the pair having agreed to record a couple of songs that neither knew what would happen with. The resulting two songs replicated into a full album after the band—

Allyson led them through eight more tunes, including works by such titans as Djavan, Ivan Lins, and Luiz Bonfá as well as Jobim. The singer's and her accompaniment's performance of Jobim's "Wave" features Vitor Gonçalves' Fender Rhodes, a sound that gives the song a timeless feel. Allyson is joined by Rosa Passos on the original composition "Month Of March In Salvador (Dunas)" and Jobim's elegant " O Grande Amor." The singers trade verses and languages over Passos' piquant rhythm guitar and Gonçalves' accordion on the former and piano on the latter.

Karrin Allyson is a beautiful creation, and her talent reminds us that there are many fine singers but few exceptional ones.