Allison's shock factor

“Wanderlust was created to be a musical travel postcard of sounds and images from around the world in six languages,” says Allison Adams Tucker of her third full-length, which debuts September 16 at North Park’s Sunset Temple Theater. “In addition to the music, there will be dancers and projected images, a multimedia performance that I hope will take everyone on a journey of the senses. Songs covered will be very eclectic, ranging from Tom Jobim to Astor Piazzolla, Christina Perri, Björk, and even a traditional Japanese folk song.”

“I’m bringing down three musicians from Los Angeles: album pianist and arranger Josh Nelson and bassist Edwin Livingston, both from Natalie Cole’s touring band, and drummer Dan Schnelle, as well as Peter Sprague on guitar and David Burnett on bass clarinet and sax. The funky historic vibe at Sunset Temple is the perfect backdrop, with an old-time stage and wooden dance floor...this won’t be your usual jazz show.”

Recorded in New York City with producer Matt Pierson (Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit), Wanderlust features songs by Pat Metheny, Cy Coleman, Ennio Morricone, and others, including a smoky version of “Pure Imagination,” by Leslie Bricusse, best known from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory as sung by the late Gene Wilder, who passed away on August 29.

“Gene Wilder symbolized the fantastic possibilities of the creative life, and I’ll definitely be paying homage to him when I perform this. It’s the one song on the album arranged by my longtime San Diego collaborator Danny Green.”

Wanderlust’s cover features a stark self-portrait with theatrically applied makeup. “I’ve been a collector and sculptor of masks in all my travels since my early 20s, and that’s part of the theme here. I also incorporated elements of my own case of wanderlust in my makeup, with Japanese geisha lips and pink around the eyes, and a hint of inspiration from both Daryl Hannah’s character in Blade Runner and Björk’s makeup on the cover of her original ‘Wanderlust’ single.

“During my punk years in the 1980s, I used to wear my makeup like this a lot for shows, and for shock factor while kicking around towns in the Midwest. Likewise, this tame-looking blonde jazz singer needed a little shock factor this time.”