Ann Hampton Callaway – Blues In The Night (2006) [SACD / Telarc – SACD-63641]
Title: Ann Hampton Callaway – Blues In The Night (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC
Ann Hampton Callaway, an award-winning songwriter and jazz vocalist with a distinctive low alto voice and rich, butterscotchy tone, delivers a captivating album blending originals and standards, performed with a small combo featuring Christian McBride and Lewis Nash, and the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra. The big-band tracks, arranged by Tommy Newsom, shine brightly, with Callaway’s original “Swingin’ Away the Blues” opening powerfully and her intimate “Blue Moon” maintaining the momentum. The album mixes tender ballads like “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” and “Willow Weep for Me” with vibrant uptempo numbers like her defiant “Hip to Be Happy,” all infused with a smoldering, torchy quality that revitalizes standards and elevates her originals. Highly recommended for its fresh energy and emotional depth.