Jonathan Karrant with The Joe Alterman Trio: Live In Concert

There is a unique honesty that only a live recording can reveal, and on Live in Concert, vocalist Jonathan Karrant and pianist Joe Alterman embrace that truth with confidence, grace, and genuine joy. Recorded during a performance at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, the album captures not just a series of songs but the authentic musical connection these two artists have built over the years.

From the very beginning, it is clear that Karrant and Alterman share a mutual understanding. Alterman's piano intros are never just ornamental; they serve as invitations, gently setting the emotional tone before Karrant arrives with his warm, conversational baritone. For his part, Karrant remains one of the most articulate storytellers among contemporary jazz vocalists. He sings with clarity of diction, deep respect for melody, and an intuitive sense of swing that never feels forced.

Across 14 tracks, Karrant, along with Joe Alterman's Trio—including bassist Mike Gurrola and drummer Kevin Kanner—transitions smoothly from classic jazz standards to inventive reinterpretations of popular material, starting with "We've Got A World That Swings." The piece comes across as a declaration of optimism, with Alterman's trio laying down a smooth, danceable pulse that keeps the performance buoyant. On "I Just Found Out About Love," the number crackles with rhythmic vitality as Karrant delivers the vocals with agile phrasing. Alterman's big block-chord lines provide foundational propulsion.

"That Sunday That Summer" is performed by Karrant with reflective tenderness and understated emotional weight. Supported by Alterman's trio's hushed dynamics and carefully-voiced chordal textures, which enhance the song's nostalgic atmosphere. James Taylor's jazzy romantic ballad "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" is a tune on which Karrant finds vulnerable intimacy, which underscores the song's emotional tension, sympathetically validated by Alterman's shaded harmonies.

The Leslie Bricusse-Anthony Newley version of "Who Can I Turn To?" highlights Karrant's talent for storytelling ballads, with Alterman's minimal voicings. The trio provides a delicately-balanced emotional setting. "Everybody's Talkin'" was written in 1966 by Fred Neil but gained popularity in 1969 when Harry Nilsson performed it and it appeared in the film Midnight Cowboy. Karrant and the Alterman trio rework the familiar melody into a lively New Orleans groove.

The Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh number "Tall Hope" concludes the concert with resolve and lyrical grace. The trio's energetic tempo ensures that the song's message is conveyed clearly, supported by Karrant's emotional and stylistic flexibility. Ultimately, the album stands out for its sense of continuity with jazz tradition, offering music that feels both familiar and freshly created.