WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY’S SPRING JAZZ ROOM FEATURES KARRIN ALLYSON’S VOCAL STYLINGS

Rex Reed said of Karrin Allyson, "She's hip, she's savvy . . . she makes me forget about the six o'clock news!" Allyson is featured in the William Paterson University’s the Jazz Room on Sunday, February 17. Concert time is 4 p.m. on Sundays in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus in Wayne. A 3 p.m. informal discussion with the afternoon’s performers, titled "Sittin’ In," in Shea 101 is a special feature of the series.

Rising young star Karrin Allyson sings straight from the heart with a warm, personal style that draws listeners and holds them close. As evidenced by her seventh compact disc release, "Ballads – Remembering John Coltrane," vocalist and pianist Allyson continues to impress the jazz world with her musical prowess.

Honesty is the goal for Allyson she explains, "I think it’s important to be honest when you’re singing and playing and not to sound like someone else. We all have influences and people we love, but we are our own people." And concerning jazz she says, "The reason that jazz is so great is because you can always go further with it. Jazz really attracts, I think, a wonderful group of people whether it be the musicians especially or the audience members because it takes really cool people to be involved in it."Her mother was a classically trained pianist; her two sisters also took piano lessons. "There were musicians on both sides of my family, actually, but no one else made a profession out of it," Allyson says. "I discovered jazz while studying at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, where I was a classical piano major. I met other students who were playing jazz and heard a recording of ‘Sleeping Bee’ and other tunes by Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderly," she recalls. "I loved the beautiful stories in those songs, but quickly realized the excitement of being able to improvise and swing to vary tunes and suit your own style."

Each Jazz Room concert opens with a half-hour set by a student jazz ensemble. Admission prices are $12 standard and $9 senior citizens. For information, call Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973.720.2371.

# # #

2/6/02
For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966