ANN HAMPTON CALLWAY – At Last (2009) APE (image+.cue), lossless

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. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    What Is This Thing Called Love?    4:44
 Cole Porter
2    Comes Love    4:57
 Lew Brown / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
3    Carey    4:46
 Joni Mitchell
4    At Last    5:30
 Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
5    Spain    6:35
 Chick Corea / Al Jarreau / Arte Maren / Joaquín Rodrigo
6    Lazy Afternoon    6:19
 John Latouche / Jerome Moross
7    Landslide    4:59
 Stevie Nicks
8    Save A Place For Me    5:23
 Ann Hampton Callaway
9    Over The Rainbow    6:03
 Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
10    Finding Beauty    4:55
 Ann Hampton Callaway
11    On My Way to You    4:36
 Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
Credits :
Ann Hampton Callaway - Arranger, Audio Production, Composer, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
Emedin Rivera - Percussion
Jay Leonhart - Arranger, Bass, Bass (Upright), Vocals
Mads Tolling - Violin
Marvin Stamm - Flugelhorn
Rodney Jones - Guitar
Ted Rosenthal - Arranger, Piano
Teodross Avery - Sax (Tenor), Saxophone
Victor Lewis - Drums
Wycliffe Gordon - Trombone