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