Karrin Allyson & Kenny Washington with Miro Sprague

Five-time Grammy-nominated vocalist Karrin Allyson teams up with Bay Area vocal powerhouse Kenny Washington for a rare double-bill showcasing two masters of jazz singing, backed by pianist Miro Sprague.

Allyson has built a reputation as one of the most versatile voices in jazz, moving fluidly between the Great American Songbook, bebop scat, Brazilian bossa nova, and French chansons. The New York Times describes her as "a singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation." With fifteen albums spanning twenty years, she's earned Grammy nominations for tributes to John Coltrane (Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane), Rodgers and Hammerstein (Many a New Day), and Brazilian music (Imagina: Songs of Brasil). On stage, she's a physical performer — audiences at Birdland have witnessed her "moving and grooving, swaying and sashaying," inviting the crowd into her groove. Her scat singing is skillful and purposeful, never overdone. She also accompanies herself on piano, though reviewers note she's most captivating at the microphone, where her honeyed tone and storytelling intensity shine.

Kenny Washington brings soulful interpretations, a seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting that leaves audiences stunned. As the East Bay Express put it: "Washington slays 'em wherever he performs. Standing not quite five-foot-two, he's an oversize talent who can scat with the harmonic daring and rhythmic command of a bebop saxophonist, croon with the simmering soul of Donny Hathaway, and interpret standards with such intelligence and emotional commitment it's like Rodgers and Hart wrote 'I Didn't Know What Time It Was' with him in mind." His astounding improvisational flights and emotional intensity have made him one of the Bay Area's best-kept secrets — though word is spreading.

Miro Sprague, Allyson's pianist since 2015, is a dynamic accompanist and bandleader known for his inspiring creativity and versatility. His piano work supports both vocalists with rhythmic propulsion, tasteful fills, and strong solos. Expect to hear standards reimagined, Portuguese-language sambas, inventive scat exchanges, and the kind of vocal mastery that earns standing ovations.