For years, vocalist Jonathan Karrant and pianist Joe Alterman have shared an unmistakable chemistry—onstage and in the studio. Now, with their new release Live in Concert, the longtime collaborators finally capture that magic in its purest form: an intimate, high-spirited performance that feels like you’re right there in the room with them.
Recorded at The Smith Center, one of America’s top performing arts venues, the album finds Karrant and Alterman joined by two world-class musicians, bassist Mike Gurrola and drummer Kevin Kanner, whose dynamic interplay elevates every tune with effortless flair and finesse.
Across 14 tracks, the quartet moves fluidly from swinging jazz standards to soulful, reimagined pop favorites. The song choices reflect Karrant and Alterman’s shared influences—mentors such as Diane Schuur, Les McCann, Nancy Wilson, and Ramsey Lewis—artists who taught them that jazz can be both timeless and refreshingly new.
Highlights include a buoyant take on “I Just Found Out About Love,” an exuberant version of “The Great City,” and heartfelt, genre-blending arrangements of “Your Song” and “How Glad I Am.” The result is an album that radiates warmth, spontaneity, and a deep connection between the musicians and their audience.
At its core, Live in Concert celebrates the essence of jazz: conversation, connection, and joy. Whether trading playful lines on a swing tune or digging into a tender ballad, these four artists remind us of why live music still matters—it’s about shared emotion, in real time.
The first single, a fresh interpretation of Elton John’s classic “Your Song,” arrived July 11, 2025. Here, the Alterman Trio lays down a contemporary funk groove while Karrant delivers a soulful, heartfelt vocal—a vibrant new take on an American favorite.
Karrant’s previous releases have topped the charts, with On and On reaching #4 on Billboard Jazz and Live peaking at #2 on iTunes Jazz. Named one of DownBeat’s Top 10 Rising Jazz Vocalists, he’s performed duets with luminaries like Diane Schuur and Jane Monheit. Alterman, praised by mentors and legends alike, earned both his BA and Master’s in Jazz Piano from NYU and has shared the stage with Houston Person, Les McCann, and Ramsey Lewis, who once said, “Although much younger than I, Joe Alterman is an inspiration to me! His ability to swing is a joy to behold.”
With Live in Concert, Karrant and Alterman deliver what every jazz fan craves: pure musical joy, captured live and unfiltered.
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