Karrin Allyson, A Kiss for Brazil Review

Karrin Allyson’s A Kiss for Brazil: A Love Letter to the Heart of Brazilian Music

by Sylvannia Garutch

Karrin Allyson returns to navigate the musical landscapes of multiple languages and styles with her latest album, A Kiss for Brazil, released on May 17, 2024, under Origin Records. Allyson’s graceful voice can simultaneously convey the intimacy of a small club performance and the grandeur of a concert hall. A five-time Grammy Award nominee, Allyson’s album is built upon her enduring love affair with Brazilian music—a relationship she has cultivated with care and respect over decades.

From the first note, A Kiss for Brazil wraps the listener in a warm embrace, much like the country it pays homage to. With a runtime of approximately 48 minutes and ten tracks that blend bossa nova, samba, and jazz, this album is a journey through some of the rhythms and melodies that define Brazil’s rich musical heritage. Allyson’s return to this genre isn’t just a revisitation; it’s a deep dive into the emotional and cultural currents that make Brazilian music so timeless.

Allyson’s background as a polyglot vocalist is well known. Having honed her craft across a repertoire that spans French chansons and Portuguese bossa novas, she stands out for her technical prowess and deep emotional connection to the material. At this stage in her career, Allyson shows she is an interpreter of melody, capable of infusing each lyric with a lifetime of experience and insight. A Kiss for Brazil is an extension of this journey, building on the foundation laid by her previous Brazilian-inspired albums, From Paris to Rio (1999) and Imagina: Songs of Brasil (2008).

The album’s opening track, “Flor de Lis,” is an up-tempo samba groove that showcases Allyson’s playful melody interpretation and solid scat singing. It’s an invigorating introduction that captures the joyful essence of Brazilian music, inviting the listener to embark on the sonic journey ahead. The energy of this track contrasts beautifully with the more intimate moments that follow, such as “Month of March in Salvador (Dunas),” where Allyson’s voice intertwines with the legendary Rosa Passos. This collaboration highlights their two voices, both masters of their craft, coming together in a duet that feels like a conversation shared with the listener.

Passos also joins Allyson on “O Grande Amor,” a Jobim classic interpreted by countless artists. The song has a new energy in Allyson and Passos’ hands. The interplay between English and Portuguese lyrics adds to the authenticity and romance, and the musical depth of their performance makes this version stand out in a crowded field of interpretations.

Throughout the album, Allyson is accompanied by an ensemble of top-tier musicians who bring authenticity and vitality to each track. The lineup includes Rafael Barata on drums, Vitor Gonçalves on piano, Fender Rhodes and accordion, Yotam Silberstein on guitar, and Harvie S on bass. Their contributions are integral to the album’s success, providing an engaging backdrop against which Allyson’s vocals shine. Tracks like “The Island” and “So Many Stars” are perfect examples of this synergy, where the interplay between voice and instrument creates a lush and inviting sound.

The production quality of A Kiss for Brazil is also worth noting. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dave Kowalski at Teaneck Sound in New Jersey, the album has a polished yet warm sound that enhances the organic feel of the performances. Allyson, Harvie S, and Bill McGlaughlin oversaw the mixing, ensuring that the final product stayed true to the artistic vision. The album’s aesthetic is further complemented by the cover design and layout by John Bishop, with photography by Jim O’Keefe, making it visually as well as sonically appealing.

However, the album’s closing track, “Only Trust Your Heart,” perhaps best encapsulates Allyson’s spirit in A Kiss for Brazil. Here, Allyson accompanies herself on piano, with only the support of S on bass. The simplicity of the arrangement allows the song’s lyrics—and Allyson’s voice—to take center stage, leaving the listener with a sense of peaceful resolution. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album that is as much about introspection as it is about celebration.

While A Kiss for Brazil is a thoroughly enjoyable listen from start to finish, it is not without its moments of quiet contemplation. The album’s slower tracks, such as “The Island,” require patience from the listener. Still, they reward that patience with layers of emotional nuance and depth. These tracks, along with the more upbeat numbers, create a balanced and cohesive listening experience that reflects the duality often found in Brazilian music—joy and melancholy, celebration and reflection.

In many ways, A Kiss for Brazil is a culmination of Karrin Allyson’s career-long exploration of Brazilian music. It’s an album that feels both timeless and contemporary, rooted in the rich traditions of the past while also pushing forward into new territory. For vocal jazz and Brazilian music fans, this album is a must-listen—a beautifully crafted love letter to Brazil that only someone with Allyson’s skill and sensitivity could deliver.

As Allyson continues to build her discography, A Kiss for Brazil will be a showing of her ability to bring the music of Brazil to life with authenticity and grace. It leaves us eagerly anticipating her next steps, wondering where her musical journey will take us next. One thing is sure: wherever she goes, it will be worth following.