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| Vocalist & Arranger KRISTINA KOLLER's "WALK ON BY" Pays Tribute to Burt Bacharach Jazz vocalist, songwriter, and arranger KRISTINA KOLLER is drawn to crafting music that crosses generations while still embracing the history and mood of classic jazz. Now, on WALK ON BY, she reimagines the Burt Bacharach songbook with hip, new, genre-bending arrangements. Although Bacharach, who passed away in 2023, composed some of the most iconic songs of the past 65 years, many young people are not familiar with his name even if they are familiar with some of his songs. WALK ON BY is Koller's fourth album as a leader. She released her first album, Perception, to critical acclaim in 2018 when she was just 23 years old. Subsequent releases include Stronger in 2019 and Get Out of Town in 2022, a celebration of Cole Porter's music. Jazz Music Archives said, "She arranges tunes in unique ways, pushing the boundaries of vocal jazz. Kristina revamps classic material while retaining their essence, putting her own winning personality and fresh ideas into the music and lyrics that she interprets." A native New Yorker, she is a mainstay on the city's jazz scene, performing at such well-known jazz venues as Smalls, Smoke, Minton's, and Mezzrow. Her interest in music began early in life. Although she had classical voice training and performance experience in musical theater, she began singing jazz in her high school band. She won a scholarship to The Hartt School's Jackie MacLean Institute of Jazz, a performing arts conservatory at the University of Hartford, and turned her attention full-time to jazz. She then transferred to City College of New York, where she earned a Batchelor of Music in jazz studies. Koller's mother is an avid Bacharach fan and was a major influence on her musical taste. Koller says, "Of course I grew up listening to his music. Mom got me into a lot of music, especially Bacharach, Motown, and soul." After the success of her Cole Porter-inspired album, Koller's mother strongly encouraged her to record an album of Bacharach's songs. On her earlier projects, Koller composed much of her own music, but was drawn to Bacharach because she appreciates his lyrics and melodies and felt she could make them her own by adding a modern spin. She says, "I love jazz because it gives you room to take different approaches to the music. You can add funk or R&B to a song but still keep it in the jazz idiom. Bacharach has a large catalog, and I just picked tunes that inspired me to take a different approach from the classic originals. His music also makes me feel very nostalgic." Joining Koller on WALK ON BY are longtime bandmates, including Brooklyn-based Ukrainian jazz pianist and Rhodes player FIMA CHUPAKHIN (Andromeda Turre, Ukrainian pop singers/songwriters Jamala Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, Serhyi Babkin), bassist JAMES ROBBINS (Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, George Benson, Sullivan Fortner), and drummer CORY COX (Dave Brubeck Quartet, Reggie Workman, John Ellis, Marcus Strickland). Koller and Robbins co-arranged the album. Koller's voice is very flexible, and she can sing convincingly in just about any style; however, she doesn't add funk or R&B riffs just because she can. Thoughtful about her choices and the story of the song, she integrates different styles if she feels it serves the tune's emotional tone. Koller displays her versatility right from the opening track, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again, " with her steamy, R&B-laced version featuring a drum solo by Cox. "Close to You" is one of Bacharach's most romantic songs. Koller gives the song a contemporary feel by adding a 5/4 groove. Koller's emotive vocals capture the heartbreak of "A House is Not a Home" and the joys of friendship on "That's What Friends Are For, " on which she sings a duet with her old friend ROSEMARY MINKLER, an accomplished pianist, composer, and audio engineer. About "Say a Little Prayer, " for which Robbins wrote the arrangement, Koller says, "This song is really burned in my memory because my mom played it so often." Koller tugs at your heartstrings with her stripped down, intimate version of "Don't Make Me Over." She originally conceived of "Walk On By" as a samba, but once Cox started playing a beat reminiscent of footsteps, she changed the groove. "Reach Out for Me" is not one of Bacharach's most popular tunes, but he was the master of the melodic hook, and Koller's vocals perfectly reflect the song's uplifting feel. "Loving is a Way of Living" was recorded only once before by Steve Lawrence in 1959. Koller found the music while perusing a book of songs off the beaten track. Her intimate, soulful version, with just piano accompaniment, should invigorate interest in this nearly forgotten gem. Considering the state of affairs around the world, Koller felt that closing the album with "What the World Needs Now" is both appropriate and uplifting. Although Kristina Koller is well known in and around New York City, her spot-on vocals and updated arrangements deserve a wider audience. Backed by her superb trio, WALK ON BY will appeal to the many fans of Burt Bacharach and to younger audiences who will find much to discover and enjoy in Koller's hip and contemporary versions of these modern classics. # # # WALK ON BY will be released on May 16, 2025 and will be available on all digital platforms. Vinyl will be available at a date TBD. write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |