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Ann Hampton
Callaway - Slow (Shanachie Records)
Released: August, 2004
My impression is that there is
this whole class of singers who become important only in New York. Oh,
sure. You know their names, because they had a hit or two...or three.
But you haven't heard of them lately. Yet, they're still making a pretty
good living, mostly in Big Apple cabarets, and if you can make it there -
well, you know. Think Melissa Manchester. Think Maureen McGovern. Think
Buster Poindexter.
Ann Hampton Callaway.
First time I heard her, it was her tribute to Ella Fitzgerald - misfiled
with the Ella discs at my local record shop. I bought the CD on a lark,
and went "wow."
Last one out of the box is "Slow," and it's a little...well, yeah. Slow.
But unlike so many "slow" collections, this one isn't depressing, and
there's at least one really nice surprise.
First, the ones penned by Ms. Callaway herself. These include the title
tune, which recalls "Windmills Of Your Mind" for me - that kind of sixties
movie music. "You Belong To Me" is a real treat for me, just because I
love the song.
Okay. The treats. There are several. First is a very nice cover (and a
very, very nice Fred Hersch arrangement) of Carole King's "Will You Love
Me Tomorrow?" Unlike most treatments of this tune, this one doesn't focus
on the tonight. She knows what happens tomorrow.
Treat two - "Tonight You're All Mine," a tune written (and performed here)
by Carole King and Ms. Callaway. It's the exact opposite, and focuses
strictly on "tonight."
Treat three is the best, for my money. It's the duet with Ms. Callaway's
sister, Liz, on that old Van Morrison gem that keeps getting polished more
often these days - "Moondance."
Nicely done. Own this one.
 
Three and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(01/17/05) |
