CD Review: Kristina Koller, "Walk On By"

Jazz Vocalist, Songwriter, and Arranger Kristina Koller has published her fourth album as leader.  The Album is titled "Walk On By" and it's a tribute to one of the greatest American composers, Burt Bacharach.

Bacharach's compositions are always strong on melodies and fit perfectly with Koller's love of taking popular songs to new places with her arrangements and her free ranging voice that can be soft or strong but always hip.  As I listened to "Walk On By" on "Youtube" I was able to listen to other Albums that Koller has published and they are very impressive.  Her voice and phrasing are very exciting and accessible. She is a true Jazz vocalist in every aspect.  She won a scholarship at the The Hartt School's Jackie MacLean Institute of Jazz where she turned her attention to full-time Jazz.  She then transferred to City College of New York where she earned a Batchelor of Music in Jazz studies.  Koller says, "I love Jazz because it gives you room to take different approaches to music.  You can add funk or R & B to a song but still keep it in the Jazz idiom". 

Joining Koller on "Walk On By" are a group of longtime and talented bandmates including Brooklyn-based Ukrainian Jazz Pianist and Rhodes player Fima Chupakhin.  Koller is an admired and well-known Jazz singer in all the New York Jazz clubs like Smalls, Smoke, Minton's and Mezzrow.  If you love Jazz vocals you must get to know Kristina Koller, she is a real Jazz pro!

I have attached two "YouTube" music videos for you to sample.  The first Bacharach classic, "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and the second is "That's What Friends Are For".  Koller is joined on this song by her long-time friend and Vocalist, Rosemary Minkler.

PLAYERS:

Kristina Koller, Vocals, Arrangements

Fima Chupakhin, Piano & Rhodes

James Robbins, Bass, Arrangements

Cory Cox, Drums

Rosemary Minkler, Vocals (4)

PLAYLIST:

1. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

2. Close To You

3. A House Is Not A Home

4. That's What Friends Are For

5. Say A Little Prayer

6. Don't Make Me Over

7. Walk On By

8. Reach Out For Me

9. Loving Is A Way Of Living

10. What The World Needs Now

                                            

                                                              " I'll Never Fall In Love Again"

                                                                "That's What Friends Are For"

CD Review: Kristina Koller, "Get Out of Town"

Jazz Vocalist Kristina Koller has released her third album, "Get Out of Town".  The theme of her new CD is a fresh new focus on the music of Cole Porter combined with Kristina's unique approach to phrasing and arranging.  If you are expecting the usual treatment of Classic Cole Porter evergreens you will be disappointed.  Kristina Koller likes to take well known and some not so well known standards and give them a new birth.   The results are wonderful!  As you listen to her performance of Cole Porter songs you get the comfortable feeling that you know the music but you also know you are hearing something new.  Koller's thought process in selecting the songs on the album and her stylistic decisions on the arrangements were driven by their universal appeal.   Koller states, "I choose songs that I can relate to, or believe they can be relatable to other audiences who don't typically listen to Jazz.  I've always wanted Jazz to reach a broader audience.  I select songs and try to arrange and perform them in a way that I believe are universally appealing".  Kristina Koller is a Jazz vocalist that can bring past and present music together to become the Jazz music of today.

Kristina is joined by her Jazz trio that has been performing with her for over 3 years.  Fima Chupakhin on Piano, Juan Chiavassa on Drums and James Robbins on Bass.  The Trio is perfectly matched to Koller's unusual vocal approach.

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you listening pleasure.  The first one is an unpublished Cole Porter song "Why Don't  We Try Staying Home".  Koller discovered this tune along with a second one on the CD, "Greek To You" in a Cole Porter Songbook she found at the Strand Bookstore in NYC.  And some wonder why people come from miles away to spend hours looking at books at this classic NYC bookstore.  The Strand never disappoints!   The second selection is the title track and Koller's wonderful performance of "Get Out of Town".   Kristina Koller is a highly skilled modern Jazz Vocalist who is a great addition to today's Jazz scene.

                                                       "Why Don't We Try Staying Home"

                                                                "Get Out of Town"

PLAYLIST:

1. Get Out of Town

2. What is This Thing Called Love

3. Greek to You

4. It's All Right With Me

5. Why Don't We Try Staying Home

6. In the Still of the Night

7. Just One of Those Things

8. Every Time We Say Goodbye

PERFORMERS:

Fima Chupakhin- Piano

James Robbins-Bass

Juan Chavassa-Drums