Ann Hampton Callaway - 2009 - At Last FLAC

Ann Hampton Callaway - 2009 - At Last

Ann Hampton Callaway came to jazz through a background in cabaret. The rich-voiced alto has a touch of vibrato which she uses effectively. With a fine rhythm section consisting of pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Victor Lewis, she mines the treasures of the Great American Songbook with a personal touch, showing off with a bit of effective scatting in "What Is This Thing Called Love," and delivering a playful "Comes Love" that is complemented by Wycliffe Gordon's gritty, muted trombone, along with a suitably dreamy "Lazy Afternoon." Callaway has a few surprises in store as well. She masters Chick Corea's demanding "Spain" with ease while she uncovers "On My Way to You," a forgotten gem by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Marilyn & Alan Bergman. She proves herself to be a talented songwriter with the soft bossa nova "Save a Place for Me" and the heartfelt "Finding Beauty," both of which add guitarist Rodney Jones and Latin percussionist Emedin Rivera. There are some misfires. Joni Mitchell's quirky "Carey" is an ill fit with the rest of the album, while the dull, narrow range of rocker Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" simply doesn't suit Callaway's rich voice. But these tracks are minor glitches in an otherwise outstanding release. (AllMusic)

Track list:
01 - What Is This Thing Called Love
02 - Comes Love
03 - Carey
04 - At Last
05 - Spain
06 - Lazy Afternoon
07 - Landslide
08 - Save A Place For Me
09 - Over The Rainbow
10 - Finding Beauty
11 - On My Way To You

Ann Hampton Callaway: vocals;
Ted Rosenthal: piano;
Jay Leonhart: bass, additional vocals (2);
Victor Lewis: drums;
Rodney Jones: guitar (2-8, 10);
Mads Toling: violin (7);
Teodross Avery: tenor saxophone (4);
Marvin Stamm: flugelhorn (9);
Wycliffe Gordon: trombone (2);
Emedin Rivera: percussion (5, 6, 8, 10).

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