Karen Gruber
Into My Own
© 2003 Karen Gruber (635759148026)
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Smooth vocals, tasty arrangements, and great songs that evoke a distant time - a jazz singer who has truly come into her own, with a unique sound reminiscent of '60s jazz combos.
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Karen Gruber was born in Florence, Alabama – right across the river from Muscle Shoals, the “hit recording capital” – and she has lived most of her life there except for brief adventures in New Orleans and in Texas. She grew up on the banks of the Tennessee River listening to a wide variety of music. Her earliest influences were Elvis, James Brown, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and anything R & B. Later, she moved on to such artists as Julie London, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, the Allman Brothers Band, Bette Midler, Santana, and later Sarah Vaughn, Ella, and k.d. lang.
Karen performed in community theater in Florence, and at the University of North Alabama. She was the vocalist for the Little Big Band, and she has sung with the Tommy Martin Group, the Sonny Harris Group, the Charlie Rose Trio, and Nice ‘N’ Easy. Karen has performed at the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence in the early 80s and again for the past three years as well.
She has been married since 1982, and has one daughter who was born in 1984. Karen retired from her singing at this time to devote her time and energy to her family, until the year 2000. She couldn’t hold it in any longer – she HAD to sing again!
As Karen says, “I made a mistake by denying myself the release of expressing my emotions through music for so long. Although I reached a point where I had to sing again, I had locked my voice deep inside and protected ‘her’ for so many years that I had to fight with myself to let her out. Now when someone asks, ‘What do you do?’ with some lingering sadness in my eyes, but a huge hopeful smile, I can finally say, ‘I’m a singer.’ The title I chose for this CD, Into My Own, reflects all those things – the heartbreak, the joy, the hope for what the future may bring, and finally being comfortable with the little bit of my true self that I’m leaving behind. I’ve come into my own.”
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Into My Own
author: Rick WimbishIt is a great CD, well worth buying. But if you ever get a chance to see her live, do it. I recently saw her at "Ona's" in Birmingham Alabama and it was some very good music and singing. I was able to get autograph as well.
GREAT JAZZ CD
author: JIM PARKI CAME ACROSS A REVIEW OF KAREN'S CD. IN A BLUE'S MAGAZINE, WHO ALSO REVIEWED HERE. kING BISCUIT TIME. THE REVIEW WAS RIGHT ON TARGET. KAREN HAS A REFRESHING VOICE AND HER BAND IS EXCELLENT. THIS IS A CD YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR CHANGER FOR GOOD. BLUE MOOD? PLAY KARENS CD. I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS CD FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JAZZ, DIANA KRALL LOOK OUT!!! LETS HOPE FOR MORE RELEASES IN THE FUTURE.
- author: Tom Clarke/King Biscuit Time
Soothing cocktail club jazz, mostly cool but heated up just enough and in all the right places to cause a stir. That’s what Into My Own, the debut CD by Karen Gruber, is all about. For nearly twenty years, this Alabama songbird has been virtually silent, opting to concentrate on the raising of her family rather than on a career in music. But ultimately, her need to express herself won out. Ironically, a family situation—dealing with the death of her sister from cancer—provided the impetus, as she turned back to singing again as a sort of pressure release valve. Surely it worked because Karen Gruber’s voice has a very comforting quality to it. The eleven songs that make up the set include several standards, and they’re all enhanced by the flair of guitarist and producer Jack Pearson, a Nashville player whose resume includes session work; his own blues, rocky blues, and jazz projects; and a short stretch in the late ‘90’s with The Allman Brothers Band. Pearson’s smooth, muted style contributes greatly to the album’s appeal. Take a listen, for example, to the sprightly read on Louie Jordan’s “Is You Is My Baby.” Pearson’s always been a streamlined “feel” player, but in this setting especially, behind Gruber’s clearly annunciated, flowing voice and in front of a fiery little combo, he’s absolutely fabulous. Check too, Cole Porter’s “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” which takes on a piquant flavor by way of Pearson’s swinging notes. Of course, the underlying rhythm and a blast of sax give the song intrinsic spice as well. Much of this very personal recording is rooted in change, so ambiance pieces like Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” and Mercer’s “Autumn Leaves” fit right in. Change is also inherent in the music, as no one song’s arrangement is remotely like the next. Autumn Leaves” is light, airy, and somewhat Latin-tinged. The juxtaposing of the very bluesy “Black Coffee” with a downright funky cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” is also a great example of the album’s compelling diversity. The music in both is as riveting as it is different. Gruber’s seductiveness in “Black Coffee” is palpable. In “Use Me” she’s defiant, although the underlying sweetness of her voice keeps the song from becoming too tough in the context of such an uplifting album. Karen Gruber sure knows her way around a song, and she’s surrounded herself on this album with some of the best players in the business. Every once in a while an opportunity arrives to pick up a great album directly from an artist brand-new to the biz. This is one of those times. At present, Into My Own is only available by visiting www.karengruber.com and printing out an order form. Go for it, because this lady is a finely talented singer, on her way up.
The sounds of a bygone day, genuinely joyful and fresh.
author: Bill Ector, Hittin' the NoteInto My Own captures the very essence of what has made jazz singers so popular over the years. Caressing each note with passion, and in a voice that just "knows," Karen Gruber sings some old classics and some not quite so familiar songs and makes them totally her own. The only things missing are the smoke and the ice tinkling in the glasses as she glides through such tunes as “In A Sentimental Mood,” “Is You Is My Baby,” “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To,” “Summertime,” and “The Very Thought Of You,” evoking the sounds and the feelings of a bygone day, but with a genuine and joyful freshness. Turn down the lights and enjoy the rich yet mellow sounds of Karen Gruber, truly a star that fell on Alabama.
Outstanding and very "alive"
author: Steve LovelaceThe CD is a brief collection of tunes that are mood setting, inspiring, and able to lift spirits of the listener. What a blessing to listen to and exciting to share with others. Don't miss it...buy it today. You'll be thrilled to include it in your collection.