Released in conjunction with the opening of her Broadway show Swing! in the fall of 1999, Ann Hampton Callaway's Easy Living is an excellent showcase for her dark yet wide-ranging voice. Performing in combos of three, four... more », or five, the all-star line-up includes pianists Kenny Barron, Benny Green, and Bill Charlap, and features guest stars Wynton Marsalis, Nelson Rangell, Andy Farber, and Gerry Niewood. Callaway also includes one of her own songs, the slow rumba "Come Take My Hand," among the familiar ballads and swing numbers. Fans of jazz singing will love this one. --David Horiuchi« less
Released in conjunction with the opening of her Broadway show Swing! in the fall of 1999, Ann Hampton Callaway's Easy Living is an excellent showcase for her dark yet wide-ranging voice. Performing in combos of three, four, or five, the all-star line-up includes pianists Kenny Barron, Benny Green, and Bill Charlap, and features guest stars Wynton Marsalis, Nelson Rangell, Andy Farber, and Gerry Niewood. Callaway also includes one of her own songs, the slow rumba "Come Take My Hand," among the familiar ballads and swing numbers. Fans of jazz singing will love this one. --David Horiuchi
"Ann Hampton Callaway has managed to issue another great recording blending an old time cabaret sound, classic songs, jazz background, modern recording quality and her stellar talent and voice. She seems to bounce her way through the lyrics and impart the jubilation, pensiveness or whatever other emotion is called for by the text.
I like some of her other recordings better but there is nothing about this one which is unlikable. It is, in a word, GREAT!
"Skylark" in particular deserves to be singled out for praise. She was singing MY song.
"
The Best of the Best
Kathy Phillips | North Andover,, MA USA | 09/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have all Ann Callaway's recordings, including those where she's only recorded one or two cuts on a collection, and this is her best. Consistently involving and intelligent, exceptionally well engineered. If you like this, try Sibling Revelry with her sister, Liz Callaway."
She's Got "It"
Robert Cox | New Zealand | 12/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are no dud tracks on this CD. For me, my favourite tracks are "Bluesette" and "It Had To Be You". It is refreshing to listen to a female jazz singer who is so strong in the upper register. Can she scat? Oh yes! She's also prepared to take risks. Ann and the band performed together during this recording session (not in separate booths). It was in effect a live performance, which gives it that spontaneous feel so important to jazz, for it to be genuine."
Wonderful, deep and versitile entertainment, She does it all
Gary J. Chenett | michigan | 01/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think that Ann Callaway that no other artists in her class have , that's clarity, and her music comes from within not just from her voice.
Every type of music I have from here never disappoints me.
She has few boundaries that I have heard..
She is a Classic Lady who is into her music and you can feel it as she reaches out to bring something new in her talent bag to you!!!!