Karen Gruber's collaboration with Jack Pearson is a blend sweet as a Deep South afternoon after a summer rain. 'Into My Own' mirrors the many moods of a singer with a special touch. The very thought of her work is like a big hug for the senses. Into all this, she splashes 'Use Me' with a 'Cool' only a star falling on an Alabama woman can do for a song. Buy it...she's that nice.

It 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.

I 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.

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.