This is
Ann Hampton Callaway's seventh recording,
Easy Living, is one of her very best. It's a program of well-known
standards and fairly stock arrangements, but in the middle is her pristine, well-defined, flexible voice. She retains a lower-end range in her style that suggests only one singer:
Sarah Vaughan. She's joined by several different rhythm sections and soloists, including pianists
Benny Green (six cuts),
Bill Charlap (five), and
Kenny Barron (two); bassists
Peter Washington or
Neal Miner; drummers
Clarence "Tootsie" Bean and
Lewis Nash; percussionist
Jim Saporito; saxophonists
Andy Farber,
Nelson Rangell, and
Gerry Niewood; and on three selections, trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis. A collection of love songs sung convincingly and with no frills,
Callaway shows great depth in ballad singing. Hard evidence is presented in her takes of
"Skylark" and
"The Very Thought of You," with
Charlap's glistening piano tones ringing bells for the singer and
Farber's tenor sax replies.
"'Round Midnight" is the penultimate interp with
Barron's wistful piano and
Marsalis' spare trumpet offering advice on ol' midnight.
Callaway can swing well when she chooses;
"Easy to Love" brings home her lower dulcet tones, while
Farber's tenor cops a
Stan Getz-
Joe Henderson type plea bargain.
Green's intro to
"Nice Work If You Can Get It" has a
"Giant Steps" quote before the singer digs into this lyric. She scats a little during the middle of the program, on the melody line, and the coda, of
"Bluesette," and more in the improvised bridge during
"It Had to Be You." Bossa nova is always a sidebar for singers, and
Callaway uses this Brazilian rhythm on an interesting arrangement of
"You Don't Know What Love Is" spiked with high drama,
Saporito's Latin percussion,
Barron's deft piano, and
Niewood's flavorful tenor. The lone composition of the vocalist
"Come Take My Hand" is also
bossa, with
Rangell's flute chirping on this definitive love anthem.
Marsalis is also bolder on the stark ballad title track and a nice version of
"In a Sentimental Mood," while it's the singer getting brash and daring in a lower tone than normal for perhaps the highlight
"All of You," Green's piano matching the depths of
Callaway's yearnings. It's not hyperbole to understand this is the perfect singer with a perfect voice that sounds so effortless, mature, and flowing. Though the others six recordings are just fine, this one really hits the spot, especially instrumentally.
Callaway proves up to the challenge with every measure, phrase, and inflection. ~ Michael G. Nastos
![Pennies From Heaven [feat. Jordan Officer]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0068944018123_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Pennies From Heaven [feat. Jordan Officer]")
![Far East Suite [Bonus Tracks]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0828765561426_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Far East Suite [Bonus Tracks]")
