Allegra Levy OUT OF THE QUESTION

June 9, 2024

ALLEGRA LEVY

OUT OF THE QUESTION

SteepleChase Records

Allegra levy, vocals/lyricist/composer; Carmen Staaf, piano/Fender Rhodes; Mimi Jones, bass; Allison Miller, drums/shaker; Roxy Coss, tenor & soprano saxophones; Andrew Baird, guitar/ukulele; Aubrey Johnson, background vocals.

“Are You Real?” is a tune by Benny Golson with lyrics by Allegra Levy. This song opens Levy’s album with power and impact. Vocalist, Allegra Levy comes out swinging. She is a bebop princess, who also scats and improvises like a horn. Surrounded by a band of mostly female talent, the listener can tell that Allegra is serious about her music. I appreciate her lyrical talents. In the same breath, I encourage her to continue vocal study with emphasis on breath control. Her career is on the rise. She was already named one of the Top Ten Rising Stars among jazz vocalists in Downbeat’s 2021 Critics’ Poll. Allegra was also dubbed a ‘double-barreled talent” in JazzTimes magazine. Her creative vocal ideas and improvisations are tenacious.

This is Levy’s fifth release on the SteepleChase Record label (including a children’s album). On this project, she has chosen songs that demand answers, like “Are You Real?” That Benny Golson song is one of my favorites on her project.

This new production is the brainchild of Levy’s Longtime collaborator, pianist Carmen Staaf, a winner of the Mary Lou Williams jazz piano competition, who is Musical Director for Dee Dee Bridgewater. Staaf brought to Allegra’s attention that there are several beautiful songs titled by questions.

“I became fascinated with the concept. As I get older, I find that it really is more about the questions,” Levy explained the inspiration for her album titled, “Out of the Question.”

Levy also composed a few tunes for this project. One song is called “What’s in a Name” and another original is “What Are You Waiting For?” that encourages people to make their dreams come true and shape their own destinies. The rest of the music on this project is comprised of music you will recognize like “What is This Thing Called Love?” (a Cole Porter tune) and Michel LeGrand’s popular “What Are you Doing the Rest of Your life?” She also covers the Irving Berlin song, “What’ll I do?” and she’s written impressive lyrics to Horace Silver’s “Que Pasa?”

Allegra Levy proudly sits on the leadership board of the Women in Jazz Organization and has dedicated this album to her young daughter, Stella Plum.” She is currently pregnant with her future son, due for arrival this summer.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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