Harvey Pekar, All About Jazz Magazine
"Gaffney’s ability to take a song and fill it with heartfelt emotion and rhythmic sensibility will be the cornerstone of her success. The captivating beauty and purity of her voice appears at ever turn."

John Roos, L.A. Times
“Kari Gaffney, startling power and bite, projecting confidence and poise while hitting each song’s emotional core.”

John Gilbert -  Staff Writer: Sony/Columbia Records, EuroClub DeJazz, All About Jazz
JazzReview.com Magazine
"West Coast Blues is as hip as it get's with Gaffney's many talents merging to present this tune sung on pitch (and) with clarity of expression, two important elements found in every good vocalist."

Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine
"Kari has an attractive alto voice and puts her material through with conviction, especially a very torchy take on "Walking after Midnight".

Lisa Jordon, Sass Magazine
"Whether it's the rich, resonant tone of album opener, "Speak Low" or the sounds of "Four", Gaffney never misses the mark with her vocal delivery".

Jim Beal, San Antonio Express News
"Jazz vocalist are expected to hit the right notes, or pursue another line of work.  Gaffney not only hits the right notes, she does so with the skill of a weathered instrumentalist, making changes that one would more often expect from a pianist or guitarist."

Bill Frost, Salt Lake City Weekly
"Georgia isn't exactly known as a hotbead for jazz, nor are songs like Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" considered candidates for jazzy makeovers, Augusta chanteuse Kari Gaffney has upended both theories.  On her latest disc, Satin Doll the singer's smoky voice runs over the works of Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Wes Montgomery and more like honey."

Nathan Skidmore, The Oregonian
"She is deserving of praise, with a timbre that is smooth as glass.  Because of her vocal skills, she has the potential to grab cross-market sales like any contemporary singer out there."

Heather Wecsler, The News Star
"With a voice as low and mysterious as the mist on a gloomy midnight, Gaffney makes the song's her own." .........Her voice and rhythmic sensibility can take it from there".

Rachel Daigle, Boise Weekly
"One of jazz's most seductive and sultry voices."

 Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
"Kari Gaffney has a deep sultry and sometimes heavy voice.  She swings in her own fashion."

Bliss, Pasadena Weekly
"Her throaty alto's embrace of restraint proves convincing on this tatsefully performed platter of jazz standards."

Debbie Keith, Herald Tribune
"Kari has a powerful voice hitting each note with clarity and distinction."

Gordon Reid, Jazz Review
"Her heart filled emotion and intimate contralto can cause heart palpitations. Gaffney is a true singer."

Brad Scotia, All About Jazz Magazine
"Sultry, Powerful, Seductive, Sensuous, Confident and all encompassing. Gaffney’s ethereal vocals soar.

Steven Uhles, The Augusta Chronicle
"The Augusta Vocalist is blessed with a strong, soulful jazz timbre that recalls the smooth styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday."

Rhonda Jones, The Metropolitan Spirit
"It's a long bath-and-candles CD; a quiet evening at home with your honey CD; a rainy-day, chillin' over a slow glass of wine CD."

WE Murphy, Noteworthy Magazine, Coastal Jazz Society
"Kari swings, has excellent phrasing and projects an appealing persona."

Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
I've been waiting (quite) a while for this fantastic 2002 CD in from Kari... don't know when I realized that in addition to promoting tons of jazz artists, she was also a performer; also not sure if she has any further vocal jazz (or any other kinds of jazz) in the works, but I can tell you that her voice on this one will grab you, hold you & wrap you into her spell quite nicely. She's joined by Erik Hargrove (drums), Hal Melia (sax, flute & clarinet) and Jeff Williams (guitars and
bass) in some stunning performances of classic jazz tunes... but her voice makes the excursion far more inspiring than just another rendition of "the same old tunes"! I can't quite describe in words what the attraction is...
words like "husky", "soulful" & "spirit-filled" come to mind, but have probably been hacked to death already by other reviewers! As I listened to the opening track, "Speak Low", I felt like I never wanted to walk away to do anything else... the recording is so crystal-clear that you'll believe she's right there in your living room singing for you personally... that's especially true when Hal's flute weaves in behind her lines; simple, yet sweet & totally attractive. The suave jazz feeling evoked by "West Coast Blues" made that one my favorite track - probably something to do with her ability to sing those blues like they were made for her to wear. The best place to check out the tracks is at the album's CD BABY page; you'll also find a lot of notes there about how the album came to be. This CD was well worth the wait - it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these old ears, and the "PICK" of this issue for "best female jazz vocal CD". A superb jazz adventure.

Jenna McQuay, Park City Utah Record
"Sultry Vocals."

Rick Mortenson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
"Powerful Voice that belies a 100 pound frame"

Stephanie White, Connect Savannah
"On her new album, Kari Gaffney sings with clean, deep, throaty vocals.  It's her deep vocals and deeper passion that's been drawing listener's."

 Dan Cook, Columbia Free Times
"Gaffney delivers sultry, soulful renditions of jazz standards."

Donnie Fetter, The Metropolitan Spirit
"With the delicate looks of a high school prom queen and the resounding voice of an angel Kari Gaffney has established herself among the jazz-friendly as an up-and-coming juggernaut in the nightlife scene."

Julie Statezny, Santa Monica Beach News
"Kari Gaffney fronts the band with gutsy vocals and a strong stage presence."

Melissa Axel, Berklee Groove (Berklee College of Music Publication)
"On The Road To Sucess."

Dustin Turner, The Aiken Standard
"Her self titled Kari Gaffney Band C.D. may only have six songs
on it, but those six songs say more than may two-CD sets."

Melissa Loose, The North Augusta Star
“Kari’s style is an eclectic experience continuously  drawing from the rhythmic sounds life styled with Ella-like command.”

Bliss, The Pasadena Weekly
“Kari Gaffney delivers passionate Blues.  The bands eponymously titled CD is a sleek calling card.”

Billy Blackman, Havana Herald
"Dynamic vocalist Kari Gaffney is establishing herself as one of the premier talents."

Joseph Sitarz, The Index Journal
“Kari and Craig have found a mix of originals and covers that seem to be satisfying listener’s appetites.”

Skid/Break Correspondent, Break Magazine
“Beauty Kari Gaffney with her powerful vocals have already won her national acclaim."

Doug Deutsch, What's Up Magazine
"Kari demonstrates both the scope and depth of her vocal skills."

Andrew Gilbert, The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Pleasingly husky voice, with a strong feel for the blues.”

Kati Schardl, The Tallahassee Democrat Limelight Magazine
“Don't let Kari Gaffney's ethereal appearance fool you. Gaffney
can belt out with the best of them."

Donnie Fetter, The Metropolitan Spirit
"Gaffney's six-song self titled CD proves her to be a powerful vocalist."

Bill Ryan, Douglas County Sentinel
"Gaffney's melodic voice is capable of singing tender ballads as
well as hard hitters.  The C.D. has a slick California sound."

Randy Matin, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
"Radio marketable, well produced, Kari has certainly mastered the
art of vocal style."

Daryl Searle, Mean Street Magazine
"Kari Gaffney belts out the Americana sound that's putting
the blues back into the rhythm."

Jason Scherer, The Hephzibah Banner
"While listening to her music, one can hear her emotion.  Her
music and style is new and refreshing."

Joseph Sitarz, The Index Journal
"If she stays with her course, Gaffney might just sail into stardom.”

Ted Geltner, The Star Banner
“Gaffney has a good feel for today’s expanding music industy.”

Larry Flick, Billboard Magazine
"Melodramic melody sweeps are strictly for listener's with a smart and mature ear."

Mike Raab, Music Machine Magazine
"They exhibit killer charm."

Don Imus, Imus in The Morning Show
"If you like the blues, these guys smoke."

Nick Dedina, Real Music.com
Her gliding vocal style matches the blues and jazz. The same can be said for the band; they lay out on some by-the-book Jazz, but really come alive backing Gaffney on a simmering blues ballad. A busy live act, Gaffney and company have opened shows for James Brown and Lou Rawls.

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Verbatim Records
2003
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