The State of Bliss

The Vancouver Sun

by Marke Andrews

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 Vancouver jazz vocalist Karin Plato has a warm, welcoming voice that invites you into a song. This happens time and again on The State Of Bliss, Plato's latest recording. For example, on Here It Is, she sustains low-register notes and reaches up to caress high notes in an intuitive interpretation of the melody line. Campbell Ryga's soprano saxophone solo puts the cherry on the top of this terrific arrangement.

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Ryga also performs a mercurial alto sax solo on the up-tempo opener Up With The Lark, during which Plato sings the verses with just bass and drums accompaniment. Later, for My Favorite Things, she swings hard with bassist Steve Holy, her only sideman on this tune. Plato also delivers some honey-dripping blues on Big Black Crow, aided by Ryga on sax and Bob Murphy on piano. Friend Denzal Sinclaire performs on two duets with Plato, An Old Fashioned Walk and I Hear Music.

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