Review in France's Jazzman Magazine

June 24, 2013

This review just came in from France’s “Jazzman,” Magazine.  Here’s the translation; see below for the original…

This Californian was included in our “101 Essential Singers” issue of December 2010. A worthy representative of the American triptych “musician/dancer/actor” favoring the lyrics in her choice of repertoire, Karen Marguth is effortlessly comfortable in all styles she addresses with flawless technique: great accuracy in all registers of her clear voice, impeccable articulation and phrasing conducive to scat and swing.

Her previous disc, “Karen Marguth” echoed all of these qualities. Here, Karen wanted to “speak up” with a more ambitious project, a tribute to Carroll Coates, one of the great songwriters of the last half century who worked with many of the greatest voices in jazz, from Sinatra to Sarah Vaughan. In addition, Karen enlisted the services of saxophonist Richie Cole and a larger orchestra than on her last CD. This results in more arranged music that is more “mainstream,” and which leaves out much of the freshness and spontaneity that had seduced us.

Of course, her talent is still there: she superbly starts off with “You’ll See” in a trio with bass and drums (which is never easy), scats with so much ease in “A Miracle,” and her orchestra sounds almost like a big band on “A Way with Words.” This double CD is lacking perhaps only in the conciseness and simplicity that could have been achieved in a single disc, but this will not prevent us from continuing to follow this excellent singer.   

~ Philippe Vincent