Review in "Singer's Singers"

February 23, 2016

In the March 2016 issue of the UK’s magazine, In Tune International, New Yorker Dan Singer features Karen’s new album in his column, “Singer’s Singers.” Dan writes:

“Here’s a fine jazz duo (bass & voice) that really cooks on eleven songs. Their abilities are truly uncanny, and they pull you into their glorious musical world. The entire program is just a masterful delight.

‘Just You, Just Me’ (Greer/Klagens) whisks by so fast that unhappily it is over all too soon. Karen has some scat interwoven in the brief, delicious vocal, and I just had to keep toe-tapping throughout this one.

Karen’s take on the blues song ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light’ (George/Hodges/James) is sung so lyrically and abundantly-silky-like. Her matchless blues singing is continued on ‘I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good (Webster), a wonderful emotional example of a one-of-a-kind treatment of the blues.

‘Imagination’ (VanHeusen/Burke) for a change here is sung in a wonderful upbeat take. The song works very well for this pair as a bass/vocal duo. ‘It’s Alright with Me’ (Porter) is another of their fine duo arrangements on which they really swing. This one works extremely well.

‘Baby, What’s Your Alibi’ is a neglected Nellie Lutcher obscurity. Nellie really left us with some delightful goodies as this swinging song shows.

Bear in mind that the spotlight throughout this CD is also on her remarkable bass player, Kevin Hill. He is a consistently marvelous participant.’