Jonathan Karrant with The Joe Alterman Trio - Live In Concert
Virtuoso Music, 2025
Live performance remains the best sign of a singer’s artistry, Jonathan Karrant being no exception. Jonathan Karrant and The Joe Alterman Trio recorded Live in Concert at Myron’s at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Karrant's home base. This is Karrant’s second live recording following 2018’s Live (Virtuoso Music), also recorded at Myron’s at The Smith Center. Competent and studied in the studio, Karrant unleashes a stage prowess teeming with confidence and swagger.
At its heart, this live album celebrates connection—between musicians and with an enthusiastic audience that responds with spontaneous pathos. Karrant’s good fortune is clear: he’s backed by a swinging trio led by Joe Alterman, whose exceptional pianism and sensitive accompaniment elevate every moment.
Alterman brings impressive credentials, having recorded solo projects and collaborated with Houston Person. He was also a devoted friend of the late, great Les McCann, whose influence resonates throughout this performance.
Karrant manages his stage with distinctive style and charisma that translates powerfully to this live recording. A Downbeat magazine “Top 10 Rising Jazz Vocalist,” he’s recorded duets with Diane Schuur and Jane Monheit, and earned accolades including the New York City Cabaret Jazz Award and Blavo California’s Best Singer honor.
The vocalist knows how to swing, and the Joe Alterman Trio provides the perfect foundation—each groove precise, each accent perfectly placed. Their rendition of “The Great City” honors the standard while making it their own. The familiar “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” becomes another highlight, transforming the blues tune into a crowd-pleaser that has the audience on their feet.
Above all, this performance is friendly, fun, sexy, serious, and above all very professional. Kudos, Jonathan Karrant!