Released on: March 12, 2008, 3:38 pm

Press Release Author: Gorgeous PR, Inc.

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: KAREN BLIXT OFFERS A HOPEFUL MESSAGE
ON HER NEW CD MAD HOPE
DUE IN STORES SPRING 2008

Press Release Body: KAREN BLIXT OFFERS A HOPEFUL MESSAGE
ON HER NEW CD MAD HOPE
DUE IN STORES SPRING 2008

BLIXT WILL BE PERFORMING AT YOSHI'S IN OAKLAND ON APRIL 15
AND CATALINA JAZZ CLUB IN LOS ANGELES ON MAY 21

San Francisco-based jazz singer Karen Blixt releases her second album Mad Hope in
Spring 2008. The thirteen-track collection is a robust and ambitious project that
finds Blixt building on the successes of her 2006 critically-acclaimed debut "Spin
This", hailed by Jazz Review as "an exceptional debut album by an accomplished jazz
vocalist whose fidelity to mainstream jazz is simply incredible." Blixt will be
celebrating the new release with live performances at Yoshi's Jazz Club (510
Embarcadero W., Oakland, CA 94607) on April 15 at 8PM and 10PM. The next month,
look for Karen at Catalina Jazz Club (6725 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood California
90028) on May 21 at 8PM.

On Mad Hope, Blixt continues to take the inventive road less traveled, further
exploring odd meters, intricate rhythms and engaging lyrics. Working alongside
arranger/producer Frank Martin (Stevie Wonder, Sting, Patti Austin, Angela Bofill,
Al Jarreau, and Dori Caymmi) once again, the pair set out to craft an album of tunes
that expand the vocabulary of jazz music.

"We really wanted to have a range of style on this album," says Blixt. "On the
first album we received such great feedback about its variety. We didn't have a
particular concept for this album other than to offer more of our own material in a
wide array of feels with a lot of musicality -- be it funk mixed with straight ahead
jazz, mixed with world, mixed with Brazilian, in a few different time signatures.
The goal was to give music fans the most varied listening experience."

For this project Blixt and Martin co-wrote seven original songs, in addition to
Blixt penning lyrics for two existing instrumentals - as well as four jazz standards
she skillfully reinterprets. More comfortable with the songwriting process, Blixt
drew upon her own experiences in distant places like the Latin/world music themed
tunes "Frida" and "Antigua", a homage to the colonial Guatemalan town where her
children were born. Elsewhere on Mad Hope, Blixt releases her inner child, on such
lighthearted offerings as "Jazz Ants" and "Seventh Heaven", and a bass duet "Faith
Baby Faith".

For the project, Blixt and Martin brought together a first-rate team of musicians,
highly respected and highly creative jazz veterans with well over 100 years of
playing combined. The stellar rhythm section of Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Jose
Neto (Guitar), Alex Acuña (Percussion), Will Kennedy (Drums), and Patrice Rushen
(Piano), along with musicians Randy Brecker (trumpet) Sheldon Brown (Bass Clarinet),
Paul Hanson (Bassoon) and Kenny Washington (vocals), represented Blixt's wish list
of talent to work with. Over two days in November 2007 at Skywalker Studios in
Northern California, Karen had the privilege of collaborating with artists she
dreamed about and respected from afar.



"It was a dream for me to be able to work with Patrice (Rushen)," says Blixt.
"She's been in the music world forever and has crossed boundaries between pop and
jazz. I've seen her play a million times and really respected her from a far. She
writes, she produces, she plays - it was so inspiring to watch her work and a real
joy to work with."

To round out the recording, Karen and Frank sought to uncover tunes outside the
realm of the familiar. Classics like Paul Desmond's "Take Five" set to Blixt's
lyrics now titled "Five and Five", John McLaughlin's instrumental "Time For Earth
(Follow Your Heart)" again with Blixt's lyrics, and Joe Zawinul's timeless "Shadow
and Light" take on new and unexpected lives, transmuted by the collective talents of
the musicians performing.

\"Making music is an enormous privilege and recording 'Shadow and Light' with Joe
(Zawinul) on the original 1988 recording was very powerful," says Abraham Laboriel.
"Since it was the only time we worked together, when he saw me in tears as a result
of my being so moved by the music, he simply said, 'that\'s what music is supposed to
do.' I never played this song again until Karen invited us to participate with her
in this new recording. The whole experience with Karen reawakened memories of the
first time and was so inspiring at every level. I\'m sure people will never forget
how good they feel listening to Karen's performances both on record or live.\"

Mad Hope is a lush and vibrant record, one with an abundance of pleasures to excite
jazz purists and craft to entice pop music fans who love great music. At a time
when the world outside may seem harsh and cold, the supple beauty and range of
Blixt's voice provides a warmth and compassion capable of keeping the madness at bay
and giving listeners a semblance of hope even if just for a moment.

Upcoming Shows:

April 15 Yoshi's Jazz Club 8PM, 10PM http://yoshis.inticketing.com/
May 21 Catalina Jazz Club 8PM http://www.ticketweb.com/

www.karenblixt.com

# # #

Publicity Contact: to request CDs, set up interviews, etc.
Gorgeous PR / 323 782 9000 /
Versa Manos, versa@gorgeouspr.com


Web Site: http://www.karenblixt.com

Contact Details: Gorgeous PR, Inc.
(323) 782 9000
info@gorgeouspr.com