Jazz Articles about Karen Francis

Karen Francis: Better Days

by C. Michael Bailey
June 25, 2003

Karen Francis is a force of nature. She blows in like a gale-force wind on “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," and barely slows down as she powerfully redefines jazz vocals with standards and originals. Alto saxophonist Antonio Parker blows and blows, setting up a stable yet incandescent foil to Ms. Francis' elastic vocals. She beautifully interprets her idol Carmen Lundy's ballad “Better Days" and duets with Christian McBride on Hoagy Carmichael's “The Nearness of You." Now that is about ...