From the Road

Road Words

Notes from five-time GRAMMY nominee Karrin Allyson.

May 10, 2026

Road Words

Greetings Friends ! It’s been awhile since I’ve contributed to this blog— perhaps I’ll call it “the occasional yarn” instead — but here are some thoughts …as of today !

December 1, 2021

Road Words

Hello Friends— We’re back in the saddle again!! Well, mostly … and it feels great— your presence has made all the difference.

April 1, 2020

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Greetings, It’s been ‘surreal’ here in NYC … empty streets, but much of the time parks full of people, food shopping is challenging to say the least – although cooking more has been ‘fun’ …

November 19, 2019

Road Words

Dear Friends, Seems I haven’t written since the beginning of 2019…. It’s been quite a year for everyone on the Planet.

December 7, 2018

Dear Friends, Last I wrote was in April… this was the beginning of the release of “Some Of That Sunshine” project, so it’s been busy. I know some people sometimes wonder “what does a musician do during the DAY?” Ha! A lo…

January 30, 2018

Road Words

Hello – Last I wrote was in May – we had a great weekend of music (our ‘annual; there) at the Green Mill with Miro, Larry Kohut and Eric Montzka— thanks to Dave Jemilo, sound guru Chris, and the great crowds who showed u…

January 30, 2018

Road Words

Hello! Last I wrote was end of the year… December; we recorded at Sear Sound in NYC ... my band for the new project is: Chris Caswell (Hammond B3 and coproducer) Miro Sprague; piano, Rod Fleeman; guitar, Jeff Johnson; ba…

October 15, 2017

Road Words

Dear Friends — Greetings and thank you for checking in. I haven’t written since the beginning of this year… where has the time gone?

December 1, 2016

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Greetings! We returned from Turkey about a week ago, and as I start to write this, I’m already halfway across the world (Hawaii) en route to New Zealand, indeed a peripatetic life.

April 1, 2016

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Greetings Friends! Seems I haven’t written since last year— how can that be? December and January were filled with many parties and celebrations with great friends and family— I truly have the most wonderful people in my…

December 1, 2015

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Greetings! Last I wrote, it was August — hard to believe we’re approaching the end of 2015. I have so many things to be thankful for— one of them is a great group of fans and friends— THANK YOU!! You help make it all wor…

August 25, 2015

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Greetings! I last wrote at the end of last year, hard to believe we're already in August now.

February 9, 2015

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Dear Friends, greetings! I hope the New Year is great for you so far.

September 14, 2014

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Greetings!

June 9, 2014

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Hello!

March 26, 2014

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Greetings!

February 13, 2014

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February 13, 2014

November 1, 2013

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November 1, 2013

July 3, 2013

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Hello and thanks for checking in.

May 15, 2013

Road Words

I left off in February. It's been a very full year thus far. Our February/NYC masterclass was a big success. With about 15 students, we got through a lot of music. I was very proud of all of them. It's so gratifying for…

February 15, 2013

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My good friends Karen and Spencer Ralston were very kind to help host us in magical Santa Fe, New Mexico where we played for the Georgia O'Keeffe celebration. I learned quite a bit about O'Keefe. What a fiercely independ…

November 15, 2012

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What a fall it's been! But first, I'll start where I left off back in August.

August 15, 2012

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Looks like I haven't written anything since the Spring! Time does fly . . .In April, we had a great gig at the fabled Green Mill in Chicago great crowds and the band was swingin' (Rod Fleeeman, Larry Kohut and Eric Montz…

April 15, 2012

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We left off last November just after the European tour. I had a great holiday in Pioneer Valley and while there, a very nice gig at the Green Street Cafe in Northampton, MA. It was packed to the rafters with great spirit…

December 15, 2011

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2011 has been quite a year. First, thank you all for coming out and supporting our music! And I'm so honored to have been Grammy® nominated for the 4th time! "Round Midnight" is nominated for "Best Jazz Vocal Album" The…

August 15, 2011

Road Words

Hello all! Thank you for checking in. We've had quite the last few months filled with lots of travel and great gigs! Thanks for coming out to see and hear us!

December 15, 2010

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Our Denver Festival gig was the gig that 'almost wasn't' ... as there was big weather tornadoes and lots of rain. Our bassist and drummer, Larry Kohut and Eric Montzka had to divert into Colorado Springs and rent a car t…

June 15, 2010

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First of all, it's been quite the few months with many small triumphs and several challenges. More below on all of that, but I want to THANK YOU for helping make what we do worthwhile. I have received so much good feedba…

April 15, 2010

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Hello and Happy Spring!

December 15, 2009

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The end of the summer seemed like it would be less busy, but it wasn't – mostly with good things.

August 15, 2009

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After our European tour it was good to get some time off in NYC and Massachusetts while back. It didn't last long! I was a part of Marian McPartland's 30th anniversary of Piano Jazz at Dizzy's. Lots of wonderful jazz lum…

April 15, 2009

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Hello and thank you for checking in. At the start of the year I was summoned for jury duty here in NYC, something I could no longer put off. It lasted for two weeks! It was really very interesting and I enjoyed my fellow…

December 15, 2008

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Last I wrote it was just before our trip to Brazil in September. We started out at the new Mistura Fina in Rio. One of our hosts and friends (Christian) met us and took us to a wonderful Chorascaria restaurant where we a…

September 15, 2008

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The Dakota Bar and Grill in Minneapolis is always like going home to me. My Mom and sister live there, as well as many friends and I spent several good, formative years in the Twin Cities. Steve Nelson, Rod and Larry Koh…

April 15, 2008

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Last time I wrote we were on our way to Tokyo. The Japanese are wonderful hosts. It was a pleasure to play the Blue Note there. I met with many press people and journalists who were very passionate and knowledgeable abou…

March 15, 2008

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I left off in November of last year. After the Thanksgiving holiday which I spent happily with family in Minneapolis– we headed to Fresno– a wonderful start of their new series with a masterclass for the students at the…

October 15, 2007

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Last I wrote was way back in May! Hard to believe the summer is over and we are into fall and winter with the holiday season just around the corner.

June 15, 2007

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Last time I wrote Rod Fleeman and I were headed for Europe. Our first performances were at the Blue Note in Milan, Italy. I had been there before and enjoyed this trip even more. I find Italian audiences to be extremely…

February 15, 2007

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In November we played Washington D.C.'s historic club, Blues Alley. It's got that old true jazz club feel and was great fun with Rod, Todd and bassist Ed Howard who is from DC. He was Shirley Horn's last bassist and is a…

November 15, 2006

Road Words

I had some time off in June and July so I took that opportunity to hear and sit in with some folks. Bruce Barth had the weekend gig at the cool uptown NYC club called "Smoke." Sang a tune or two with them which was a tre…

July 15, 2006

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Way back in February Rod Fleeman and I performed with the Jazz Surge Big Band in Florida, a very nice group of players and great crowds. Singing with a big band is fun for me and I enjoy the change. It's also great when…

February 15, 2006

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It's been awhile! Looking back at the end of 2005 just before we recorded this next project… NYC's Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in Lincoln Center has got to be one of the prettiest clubs anywhere. With a great view of Central…

October 15, 2005

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We had a lovely time at the Woodcliff Lounge in Fairport, just outside of Rochester, NY. It's a very well run and cool venue/resort. We were there for two nights, and had wonderful crowds both nights. They also treated u…

April 15, 2005

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Last time I wrote it was back in November 2004. We were just back from two weeks in Japan. Next stop was Omaha at the Joslyn Art Museum for a Habitat for Humanity fund raiser. I have many memories of this theater, inside…

November 15, 2004

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I think the last time I wrote we had just gotten back from Europe, and were about to start "Le Jazz Au Bar" in New York. What a great place 'Au Bar' is. It's now one of my favorite places to hear and play music in NYC –…

August 16, 2004

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It's taken awhile to catch my breath since returning from all of these travels. Our European tour started in Vienna. I had never been there before. Played a cool club (actually, it was very HOT there!). We were just ther…

June 29, 2004

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I think last I wrote we were on our way to Florida (April) for more "Concord Jazz Festival" gigs with Oleta Adams, Diane Schuur and Sara Gazarek. We've had a lot of fun with these performances – a very good mix of vocal…

April 6, 2004

Road Words

Hello there – It's been awhile since I wrote. A lot has happened since December. We recorded our new cd 'Wild For You' here in NYC at Sear Sound (same studio as "In Blue") – lovely studio. Gil Goldstein did a beautiful j…

September 16, 2003

Road Words

Last time I wrote, we were getting ready to play a week at the Blue Note in NYC. We double billed with Anita O'Day the first two nights. I got to meet her and hear her just a little. She still swings like crazy. I read h…

July 21, 2003

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May 1st we were in KC at a cool old refurbished theatre – The Madrid for the Ozanam Guild, a benefit for at risk children. Always great to be in KC. Then on to The Green Mill in Chicago, also one of our favorites – a ver…

May 3, 2003

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Last time I wrote we were just on our way to work with Matt Catingub (conductor, arranger, musician extraordinaire) and the Florida Orchestra. Just took Danny with me on this one as Matt had his very good rhythm section.…

March 15, 2003

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Here we are well into a new year. Our political climate is just as scarey as ever, if not more. I'm fervently hoping that PEACE will prevail over war, heartache and destruction.

January 15, 2003

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I guess I'll start where my very trustworthy webmaster (Dean 🙂) says I left off, around late November. We had several 'mini tours' in 2002 and this was one of them – Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester areas. In Cleveland, we…

November 15, 2002

Road Words

What a busy time this has been. I think the last time I wrote was in September – after the QE2 Floating Jazz Festival. Since then alot has been going on. We played the Blue Note for a week, double billed with Joey DeFran…

October 1, 2002

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The QE2 was a great experience. What a ship! This time it went from NYC (after having people on board from SouthHampton England) to Bermuda to Newport, Rhode Island and back to NYC. I actually prefer to be out on the ope…

August 12, 2002

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No better place to write road notes than the airport … especially waiting for a delayed flight. This is just one of the very glamorous parts of the job. Wouldn't it be great to find a way to fine airlines somehow when th…

June 18, 2002

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We had a wonderful tour in Japan ('Jazz Elite'). It was especially good to get to meet (and hear) McCoy Tyner and his trio and the Cyrus Chestnut trio – great guys and wonderful players.

May 1, 2002

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I think the last time I wrote (I hope YOU check this site more often than I DO!) it covered February and part of March. Since then, my dear friend and webmaster of this site – Dean Hampton scared us anb went into the hos…

March 1, 2002

Road Words

Thank you for checking in. And I'd like to very sincerely thank those of you who have written in to wish me luck and good wishes on the Grammys. It was truly an exciting experience, and as I said last time – one that I g…

January 31, 2002

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January was full of surprises. I'm very proud and honored that BALLADS has been nominated for two Grammy's. It's interesting that – (at least it seems) folks tend to think of this one project (BALLADS: Remembering John C…

December 27, 2001

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It's the holiday season for sure. I played the part of the Virgin Mary in 'Bending Toward the Light – A Jazz Nativity' (Typecasting? 🙂 Got to hear and meet some new folks – NY Voices, Jackie and Roy, Slide Hampton, amon…

November 13, 2001

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We've had quite the two weeks! Started out in St Paul, MN with O'Shaughnessy's Theater 'Women of Substance' Series (beautiful auditorium). Always good to be in the Twin Cities as I get to see my mom and sister. Ingrid Je…

October 15, 2001

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The last time I wrote was in early September. A lot has transpired since then. Let's hope Peace will soon be with us all.

September 4, 2001

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Things are settling down a little now. It's been a busy summer. We had a great gig @ Birdland in NY. Great crowds both nights. Several musicians came by (like Annie Ross & Mark Murphy). I've always been big fans of their…

August 15, 2001

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Just been to Seattle's Jazz Alley with a great band. James Williams, Steve Wilson and Danny Embrey came along. They sounded great. Bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop joined us. Great turn out there – sold out s…

July 16, 2001

Road Words

I'm now in the middle of a long month of travel in some of my favorite places; almost all "home" to me (Twin Cities' Dakota Bar & Grill, Chicago's Green Mill, KC's Blues & Jazz Festival, and the Concord Jazz Festival – w…

June 15, 2001

Road Words

We're touring now for our latest CD: Ballads – Remembering John Coltrane.