Singer and pianist Karrin Allyson has good cause for celebration as she winds up a successful four-day gig at Blues Alley with her last two performances at the club Sunday night. This Grammy-nominated artist marks a career milestone in the release of her latest album, “Round Midnight,” the 13th in a series dating back to her 1992 premier release, “I Didn’t Know About You.”
“It’s been a while since Blues Alley, and I’m really glad to be coming back,” she said. “I think we excel there in the intimate venue.”
| Onstage |
| Karrin Allyson |
| Where: Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW |
| When: 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday |
| Info: $25; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com, karrin.com |
Playing piano while rendering the timeless songs of George Gershwin and Cole Porter from the Great American Songbook is something she’s been doing often lately, and she says, “I’m really loving it.” But as her latest album illustrates, hers is a varied repertoire.
” ‘Round Midnight’ focuses on some beautiful ballads, but we also do Brazilian and a little bit of French music, plus bebop and pop music,” she continued. “There’s a lot of different facets to my music and I think in a way that’s hard for people to pin down. It’s not just one sound, it’s several different sounds.”
To help her with those varied sounds, Allyson has chosen a great trio of musicians for the road: guitarist David Stryker, drummer Mark Walker and bass player Ed Howard, a native of D.C.
“I always try to make the best use of the players I’m working with, [and] how I feature them varies,” said Allyson, the band leader. “I love the interaction with these wonderful players I get to work with, and, if the audience is into it, I’m there to converse with them as well.”
Amid all the vocal and stylistic variety in her show, Allyson sees herself, first and foremost, as a jazz singer, one whose job it is to tell a story. This is a challenge she seeks out and a reward she finds gratifying.
“It’s a very honest approach; not fluff,” she stated emphatically. “It’s all about the music and it is definitely telling stories.”
