San Diego Reader

Allison Adams Tucker: Vocals

Genre: Jazz, World

Sound description: World jazz with urbane cool.

RIYL: Nancy Wilson, Stacey Kent, Jane Monheit, Lady Dottie

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Related Links

• Allison Adams Tucker website

• "Brazilian Jazz Festival at the New Dizzy's" · Feb. 11, 2013

• "Allison Adams Tucker Quartet: Jazz Live" · Feb. 15, 2012

• "Allison Adams Tucker: Jazz Live Valentine Concert" · Feb. 10, 2012

Synoposis

Influences: Ella Fitzgerald, Stacey Kent, Etta James, Nancy Wilson, Eliane Elias, Aretha Franklin, Lila Downs, Patty James

Background:

Multi-lingual vocalist Allison Adams Tucker began singing while growing up in San Diego. Raised by parents who were classically trained musicians, she was singing before she learned how to talk. From elementary school on, she studied violin, flute, dance, and voice.

She went to high school in Solana Beach before moving on to college in the Midwest, attending a Christian school in Indiana where she says she was an outcast for being a punk rocker. As well as travelling abroad to Japan and Spain for a few years, she earned her BA in Linguistics and Music, and can sing in six different languages besides English. An astonishing singer, she has impeccable pitch and crystal clear diction, allowing each lyric to be heard clearly, no matter the language.

Having returned to San Diego in 2000, Tucker’s debut CD Come With Me was released in 2008, co-produced by Peter Sprague (with whom she sang on his all-vocal full-length Calling Me Home). Come With Me was nominated Best Jazz Album of 2009 by the San Diego Music Awards. Her band performs as the Allison Adams Tucker Quintet, Alli and the Cats, and the Allegato World Ensemble.

She and bassist Evona Wascinski toured Europe in March 2012, followed by recording sessions the following month in Paris. Tucker also organizes the annual Brasil Jazz Festa, held each year at the Encinitas Library.

Discography