Allison Adams Tucker

Artist Information

Biography

ABOUT ALLISON:
Born in San Diego, California, multi-lingual jazz vocalist Allison Adams Tucker began singing before she could speak. Allison was raised by classically trained musical parents, and began performing in front of audiences at age 5. Allison’s vocal palette has been colored by her experience in a variety of musical genres throughout her life, from punk rock to Elizabethan a cappella. These experiences led her on a natural and steadfast transition to the world of jazz in 2005, where she has found her heart’s home.

Allison’s love for languages and world cultures also began at a young age, and she has studied and sings in 6 languages besides her own. She has lived in Japan and Spain and has traveled to over 15 countries. This "wanderlust" is evident in the music she chooses today. Her music reflects her passion for world cultures with rhythms, melodies, lyrics, and stories of Brazil, Italy, France, Latin America, Japan, and the US.

As a session vocalist, her voice can be heard around the world on jingles, video games, and CDs, and as an international artist, she debuted on national television (Music Japan TV) during her Japan Tour 2009. In addition to her performances in the US, Allison has toured Japan, France, Italy, and Poland.

Allison has shared festival billing and musical collaborations with jazz greats such as Kenny Burrell, Poncho Sanchez, Mindy Abair, Pete Escoveda, Sheila E, Ivan Lins, Mundell Lowe, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Tommy Campbell (Carmen McRea, Ella Fitzgerald, Branford Marsalis, Manhattan Transfer, Dizzy Gillespie), Gene Jackson (Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Christian McBride), as well as Japan's Sony Music artist Toku and Universal Jazz artist Ken Ota.

ABOUT THE BAND:
Allison's world jazz ensemble ALLEGATO - Performing a menagerie of jazz-inspired music from around the globe & from the last century of great composers with a contemporary twist.
In the mix: Swing, gypsy jazz, blues, funk, and ballads; Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, Mexican bolero, Cuban salsa, French chansons, Italian classics, Japanese folk, & big band era meets the Great American Songbook.

Instrumentation

Danny Green - Piano.
Evona Wascinski - Contrabass
Julien Cantelm - Drums
Tripp Sprague - Sax, flute, Chromatic Harmonica
Lou Fanucchi - Accordion
Derek Cannon - Trumpet & Flugelhorn

Discography

Come With Me (Allegato Music, July 2008):
Allison’s debut CD, co-produced by jazz guitarist Peter Sprague (Dianne Reeves, David Benoit, Chick Corea, Sergio Mendes), has received international acclaim and was nominated for Best Jazz Album 2009 by the San Diego Music Awards, and continues to receive radio airplay in 18 countries.

Featuring:
Peter Sprague, co-producer/guitar (Chick Corea, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit, Sergio Mendes) - Kamau Kenyatta, arrangement/piano (Hubert Laws, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin) - Derek Cannon, trumpet (Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, The Temptations) - Dylan Savage, drums (Gilbert Castellanos) - Evona Wascinski, bass - Fabio Oliveira, percussion - Louisa West, flute - Reiko Obata, Japanese koto harp - Ray Suen, violin - Patrick Berrogain, French guitar - Danny Green, Brazilian piano

"Supple as silk and smooth as cashmere...like shaking hands with a smile."
John Gilbert, eJazzNews

---------------------------

Calling Me Home (SBE Records, July 2010): All original vocal-based CD composed and produced by Peter Sprague.

Featuring:
Peter Sprague, guitars; Leonard Patton, vocals; Kevyn Lettau, vocals; Lisa Hightower — vocals; Allison Adams Tucker, vocals; Kate Fuller, vocals; Gunnar Biggs, bass; Duncan Moore, drums; Josh Nelson, pianos; Darek Oles, bass; Tommy Aros, percussion; Brad Dutz, percussion; Ron Wagner, percussion

“In his varied, 30 year career, guitarist and composer Peter Sprague has always shown an affinity for vocalists. On Calling Me Home, this affinity is expanded to its logical conclusion. The disc features vocals on every tune and draws from a deep talent pool of five incredible voices. What's particularly amazing about this effort is that Sprague has created a very accessible release by simplifying some of his compositional stratagems without ever resorting to the lowest common denominator. This is a collection that deserves to crossover to as wide an audience as it can. The beauty is that in simplifying some of these song forms to accommodate vocalists, Sprague has also created a masterful instrumental disc. Some of the best guitar solos he's ever recorded are included. It's his continued development as a producer that is particularly impressive on this disc. This is an incredibly detailed effort and every detail is sublime. This album should appeal to anyone who loves singers and the art of song.”
Robert Bush, Jazz Improv Magazine

Links

• Last.fm
• Facebook
• Allison at AllAboutJazz
• MySpace
• Allison on iTunes
• Allison on CD Baby
• Allison on YouTube
• Allison on Pandora

Audio

• April Child Demo
  Listen  
• World On A StringCWM-short
  Listen  
• Un Bacio A Mezzanotte Demo
  Listen  
• La Vie En Rose
  Listen  
• Volver
  Listen  
• You Belong To Me
  Listen  
• Come With Me (Sakura/My Funny Valentine)
  Listen  
• I'll Be Seeing You
  Listen  
• O Barquinho
  Listen  
• You Got Me
  Listen  

Lyrics

• You Got Me

Video

Faire Des Rond Dans L'eau

Pure Imagination-Mr Kellys

Photo Gallery

Press

• With a voice supple, agile, and bright, she executes each song on the tracklist with ease and imagination, creating a serene atmosphere that leaves you smiling. [+ Show ]
  

  Allison Adams Tucker released her debut album "Come With Me" and was nominated for Best Jazz Album 2...Allison Adams Tucker released her debut album "Come With Me" and was nominated for Best Jazz Album 2009 by the San Diego Music Awards. The album, co-produced by jazz guitarist Peter Sprague (Dianne Reeves, David Benoit, Chick Corea, Sergio Mendez), boasts arrangements by Kamau Kenyatta (Hubert Laws, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin), and has already received radio airplay within a radius of 18 countries bringing it to the level of international acclaim. Allison Tucker and her world jazz ensemble present a unique and eclectic mix of music with jazz influence from around the globe, including Brazil, Latin America, gypsy jazz, big band swing, funk, and contemporary jazz. With a voice supple, agile, and bright, she executes each song on the tracklist with ease and imagination, creating a serene atmosphere that leaves you smiling. The San Diego vocalist presents her work in diverse languages: English French, Portuguese, Spanish, and even Japanese. It is a collection of pieces from all over the world and in several languages, but they all have a common denominator: interesting arrangements, a tight and well chosen band, and the smiling execution of an outstanding vocalist.

• "Supple as silk and smooth as cashmere...like shaking hands with a smile." [+ Show ]
  

  Kamau Kenyatta, piano/arrangement (Hubert Laws, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin) - Peter Sprague, guitar (...Kamau Kenyatta, piano/arrangement (Hubert
  Laws, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin) - Peter Sprague, guitar (Chick Corea, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit, Sergio Mendes) - Derek Cannon, trumpet (Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, The Temptations) - Evona Wascinski, bass - Dylan Savage, drums - Fabio Oliveira, percussion - Louisa West, flute - Reiko Obata, Japanese koto harp - Ray Suen, violin - Patrick Berrogain, French guitar - Danny Green, Brazilian piano
  
  Allison Adams Tucker has femininity inherent in her vocal style. She treats the lyrics like an old friend and it is apparent to the discerning ear.
  
  "I've Got The World On a String" Nice arrangement, maybe if it was done in 4/4 it would swing more. Cool scatting saves the day.
  "Blue Skies" is perhaps the ne plus ultra on this album. Derek Cannon shows some hot chops on trumpet and Tucker again scats to the finish line in fine fashion.
  
  "I'll Be Seeing You" The familiar melody of this old chestnut is as hip as it gets when Tucker stretches out and shows some range. The trumpet leaves no meat on the bone and the vocal is superb, and if that ain't true, grits ain't groceries and eggs ain't poultry.
  
  Supple as silk and smooth as cashmere would be apropos in describing Tucker's interpretation of "You Belong To Me" Her ballad style is like shaking hands with a smile. The stars were aligned just right on this classic.
  
  "Over The Rainbow" Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg would be nodding happily at the up tempo version of this gem. Cannon's trumpet struts through confidently and Tucker leaves no meat on the bone with a very jazzy message.
  
  Cannon and Tucker are a pair guaranteed to beat a straight any day and that's bankable.
  5 STARS

• "...one should expect the unexpected..." [+ Show ]
  

  Allison Adams Tucker has an enthusiastic voice that displays her great interest in the many cultures...Allison Adams Tucker has an enthusiastic voice that displays her great interest in the many cultures and languages of the world. She spent four years living in Japan and sings in seven languages including French, Portuguese and Japanese. On Come With Me, she starts off as if this will be a typical standards date with such songs as “I’ve Got The World On A String,” “Blue Skies” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” along with “La Vie En Rose.” However after introducing her original “You Got Me,” she sings “The Sea” in French and interprets “Volver” and “O Barquinho,” showing that one should expect the unexpected when listening to her.
  Her distinctive voice blends in well with the backup musicians who change from track to track but often include guitarist Peter Sprague, pianist Kamau Kenyatta, Reiko Obata on koto, violinist Ray Suen and/or trumpeter Derek Cannon.
  Since she is based in San Diego, it would be rewarding if someone would book Allison Adams Tucker in Los Angeles for she has a great deal to offer. Her CD is available from www.allisonadamstucker.com.
  

• "Come With Me is an exceptional slice of music from all corners of the world performed by one of the better vocalists around..." [+ Show ]
  

  On Come With Me, multi-lingual vocalist Allison Adams Tucker takes you on a musical journey througho...On Come With Me, multi-lingual vocalist Allison Adams Tucker takes you on a musical journey throughout the globe singing in six languages taking part of the repertoire from the Great American Songbook. She starts her trek with the Koehler/Arlen standard “World On A String” voiced in English of course and demonstrating her more than capable reaching vocals in which she is wonderfully accompanied here on guitar by the great Peter Sprague. With one of the most unusual reads of Richard Rodgers' “My Funny Valentine” I've heard, Allison opens the song singing in the Sakura Japanese tradition before she emerges with the standard melody again singing in English. On the fourth track Allison provides sweet vocals in French on the beautiful rendition of “La Vie En Rose.”
  
  The lady turns to singing in Italian on the pop tune “Rosa” before returning to English voicing the warm and gentle “You Got Me,” the only original on the album but an absolutely delicious number and clearly one of the best on the disc where once again sh e receives another fine solo from Sprague's guitar. With a bit more of the world flavor, Allison does the lyrics in Spanish on the sensuous “Volver” and provides a nice samba-shaded rendition of “O Barquinho” singing of course in Portuguese for another highlight of the album.
  
  Come With Me is an exceptional slice of music from all corners of the world performed by one of the better vocalists around in Allison Adams Tucker. As a self described vocalists in many genres, Allison blends a varied selection of pop, world and jazz music on this album, so much so that one would be hard pressed to categorize it as a purely jazz recording. Nevertheless, Come With Me has something for everyone to enjoy and Allison Adams Tucker makes the experience pleasurable.

• ."..mesmerizing, whether in English, Japanese, French..." [+ Show ]
  

  Allison Adams Tucker - Come With Me (Allegato) Release Date: June 15, 2008 San Diego’s Allison Ada...Allison Adams Tucker - Come With Me (Allegato)
  Release Date: June 15, 2008
  San Diego’s Allison Adams Tucker came to my attention one day while trolling through jazz singers at MySpace. I wrote about it then. She found what I wrote, and we’ve exchanged an e-mail or two. In the note that accompanied this disc, she describes her music as an “eclectic global mix…spanning generations, cultures, languages and rhythms…”
  I would think so. Ms. Tucker sings in six languages besides English, and swings nicely in nearly all of them. (I didn’t hear Latin on this offering.) Her voice is a crisp, versatile soprano that never gets lost in the mix. The backing band frames her fine voice well - and includes Peter Sprague on guitar, Kamau Kenyatta on piano, Derek Cannon on trumpet - and Reiko Obata on Japanese koto harp!
  I found the disc, and Ms. Tucker’s voice, to be mesmerizing, whether in English, Japanese, French…well, you get the idea.
  “La Vie En Rose” was one of the MySpace samples I liked best, earlier. It’s here, and is still one of the highlights. The track that leads this disc, “I’ve Got The World On A String,” is a favorite, as well. The lone original on the disc, “You Got Me,” stands up nicely against the classics, and doesn’t seem a bit out of place.
  Do a Google search or two, and you’ll discover that Ms. Tucker is a hard-working musician in the San Diego area. It’s not hard to see why. This is material of the highest order, and while San Diego should be happy to have talent of this quality, she (and the band) deserve bigger audiences.
  Besides - you haven’t heard “Somewhere Beyond The Sea” until you’ve heard it in Japanese.
  At least, I think it’s Japanese. Hey, just go. MySpace, iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby - heck, do enough Googling, and you’ll even find a free track or two to take out for a test drive. But you’ll want the whole album. Because this is very, very good stuff.
  Keep an eye out for this one, and anything else that comes along with her name on it.
  This disc is very highly Recommended.
  Three and one-half stars (out of four) MySpace - Website
  Doug Boynton, www.GirlSingers.org 6/9/08 http://girlsingers.org/?p=18#more-18

• “Come With Me...a wonderful showcase for Tucker’s vocal dexterity...” [+ Show ]
  

  "By her own admission vocalist Allison Adams Tucker is new to the world of jazz yet after checking o..."By her own admission vocalist Allison Adams Tucker is new to the world of jazz yet after checking out her new release ‘Come With Me’ the question has to be ‘what took her so long'? Indeed what initially appears to be no more than an eclectic re-imagining of some timeless classics turns out to be a wonderful showcase for Tucker’s vocal dexterity and an incredible platform from which a choice band of guest musicians ensure a relaxed jazz vibe throughout.
  
  This is particularly so with ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ where a trumpet solo from Derek Cannon really sets the mood. The one original composition, Tucker’s own ‘You Got Me’, could have come right out of a Broadway musical. Its beauty is immense and is sensitively complemented by great work from Peter Sprague on guitar.
  
  Before Tucker’s new infatuation with jazz she indulged her passion for world cultures and the music that binds them by, in addition to her own, studying and singing in six languages. Her rendition of ‘Volver’ in faultless Spanish sets up Fabio Oliveira to make a telling contribution on percussion and she switches to Portuguese for the bubbly ‘O Barquino’. Here Sprague is again influential on guitar, the flute of Louisa West is spellbinding and Kamou Kenyatta grabs the attention on piano. In fact, on each and every one of the eight songs with which Kenyatta is involved, everything he touches is of the highest quality. Ultra tight interpretations of standards such as ‘I’ve Got The World On A String’ and ‘Blue Skies’ are both great cases in point as are ‘You Belong To Me’ and ‘Over The Rainbow’ which serve as magnificent vehicles for Tucker’s crystal clear tones.
  
  Returning to her linguistic magnificence Tucker delivers Piaf’s immortal ‘La Vie En Rose’ in its original French and, despite its oriental intro, does the same for ‘The Sea’ or, more correctly, ‘La Mer’. If that wasn’t enough she prefaces ‘My Funny Valentine’ with the hugely evocative ‘Sakura’ in authentic Japanese before returning to Portugal for the gentle ‘Rosa’.
  
  With ‘Come With Me’ Allison Adams Tucker is demonstrating that great jazz is not always defined by what a song is but more by how it feels. Certainly the way she infuses all twelve tracks with her own jazzy groove really does feel special and deserves to get her noticed."
  
  For more go to www.allisonadamstucker.com
  
  
  

Setlist

Festival performance concerts: 1-2 sets of 45 minutes to one hour

Master Song List (Covers):
A Felicidade
A Foggy Day
Abrindo a Porta
Agua De Beber
Águas de Março (Waters of March)
Ain't Misbehavin'
Ain't Nobody
All the Things You Are
Amor Errado
Antonio No Uta
April Child (Maracatu Nação do Amor)
April In Paris (Avril a Paris)
Aquarela Do Brasil
As Long As I Live
At Last
Avalon
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Bandeira
Besame Mucho
Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered
Black Velvet
Blue Skies
Bluesette
But Not For Me
C’est Si Bon
Canibaile
Can't Buy Me Love
Can't We Be Friends?
Canto
Chanting With Charles
Cheek To Cheek
Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)
Chiclete Com Banana
Cine Baronesa
Come Rain or Come Shine
Come With Me: Sakura/My Funny Valentine
Corcovado
Creepin
Cry Me A River
Dança da Solidao
Dans Mon Ile
De Que Me Sirve
Depois
Desafinado
Desde O Primeiro Dia
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Dream A Little Dream Of Me / Les Yeux Ouverts
Embraceable You
Estate
Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar / Tu Sais Je Vais T'aimer
Everything
Faire Des Ronds Dans L'eau
Feeling Good
Fever
Fields of Gold
Flor de Lis
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
Gelsomina: La Strada
Getting Some Fun Out Of Life
God Bless the Child
Good Morning Heartache
Guarda Che Luna
Hit That Jive, Jack
How Deep Is Your Love
How Sweet It Is
I Get A Kick Out Of You
I Love Paris
I Wish
I'll Be Seeing You
I'm An Errand Girl For Rhythm
I'm Beginning to See the Light
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby
It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
It Had To Be You
It Might As Well Be Spring
It's Only Love
I've Got You Under My Skin
J'ai Ta Main
Jardin D'hiver / Jardim
Just Friendz
Kojo No Tsuki
Koyo: Les Feuilles Mortes/Momiji
La Mer (Beyond the Sea)
La Vie En Rose
La Violetera
Lagrimas Negras
Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
Let's Stay Together
L-O-V-E
Love Me Or Leave Me
Lullaby of the Leaves
Mambo Italiano
Maninha
Meditação (Meditation)
Mediterráneo
Misty
Moondance
Moonlight In Vermont
More (Ti Guardero Nel Cuore)
Musica Das Nuvens e Do Chao
My Favorite Things
My Funny Valentine
Na Beira Do Rio
Natural Woman
Nature Boy
Nem Mais Um Pio
Night & Day
Nosotros
O Barquinho (Little Boat)
O Bebado e o Equilibrista
Obsesión
O Samba e o Tango
On A Slow Boat to China
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Onde Estiver
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Over the Rainbow
Perfidia
Popo
Pure Imagination
Quando, Quando, Quando
Que Reste-t-il de Nos Amours (I Wish You Love)
Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (Perhaps, Perhaps…)
Recado Bossa Nova (The Gift)
Reconvexo
Rosa
Round Midnight
Route 66
Sabor A Mi
Samba de Orfeu
Samba de Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)
Samba Do Avião
Sangria
Se Depender de Mim
Senhorinha
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder)
Skylark
Solamente Una Vez
Someone To Watch Over Me
Something
Sonnet 99
Sous le Ciel de Paris (Under Paris Skies)
Straighten Up & Fly Right
Summertime
Sway (¿Quién Será?)
Sweet Love
Take The A Train
Taking A Chance On Love
Tempestade
That's All
The Best Is Yet To Come
The Man I Love
The More I See You
The Nearness of You
The Sea: La Mer / Umi
The Way You Look Tonight
Them There Eyes
They Can't Take That Away From Me
This Is Always
Toi
Triste
Tu Voz
Tu Vuo' Fa L'Americano
Un Bacio a Mezzanotte
Un Tour De Manège
Vagabond
Vai Levando
Valsa de Uma Cicade
Volare
Volver
Well, You Needn't
What A Wonderful World
What Is This Thing Called Love?
What's Going On?
When I Fall In Love
Willow Weep For Me
World On A String
Yatra Ta
You Belong To Me
You Got Me
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

Basic Requirements

Calendar