Ann Hampton Callaway - Blues In The Night (2006/2018) [Hi-Res]

Making her Telarc debut, Ann Hampton Callaway comes out strong with Blues in the Night, featuring the title track she made famous in the musical 'Swing'. There are fiery original tunes such as 'I'm-Too-White to-Sing-the-Blues, ' 'Swingin'Away the Blues,' and 'Hip to Be Happy'. Ann brings in a cache of performers to guide her through the night including the DIVA Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Sherrie Maricle, her longtime accompanist Ted Rosenthal, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash. Ann also performs a medley 'Stormy Weather / When the Sun Comes Out' with her sister Liz Callaway.

"...unique and soulful enough to make you reach for the 'repeat' button..." (Keyboard magazine)

"Overall this is Callaways most successful jazz venture on record to date." (Jazz Police)

"This is a highly recommended jazz vocals CD... Get a copy for yourself and a friend. Well worth your time!" (Jazz Review)

"Ann Hampton Callaway is not your typical jazz songbird. For one thing, she's an accomplished and award-winning songwriter, which is unusual in a field dominated by interpreters. But what's most surprising is her voice -- it's a low alto instrument with a rich, dark, butterscotchy tone, and when she gets way down into her lower range the effect can be downright startling. Her latest album is a pleasing mixture of originals and standards, some performed with a small combo that includes bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash, others with the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra. The big-band pieces pack the most wallop, which is no surprise given both the quality of the band and the fact that the arrangements were written by the great Tommy Newsom; a powerhouse rendition of her own "Swingin' Away the Blues" opens the program with a serious bang, and her small-scale but equally powerful take on the chestnut "Blue Moon" carries the energy forward nicely. The rest of the album is a mix of tender ballads and vibrant uptempo numbers, most with a theme related to the blues, either in a mood of resigned acceptance ("Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "Willow Weep for Me") or defiant opposition (the Callaway original "Hip to Be Happy"). She imbues most of these songs with a smoldering, torchy quality that brings new energy to old material, and her new songs stand up very nicely next to the established standards. Highly recommended." (Rick Anderson, AMG)

Ann Hampton Callaway, vocals
Ted Rosenthal, piano
Christian McBride, bass
Lewis Nash, drums
With special guests:
Liz Callaway, vocals
David Gilmore, guitar
Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra

Produced by Ann Hampton Callaway and Elaine Martone

Digitally remastered