ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY — After Hours (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ann Hampton Callaway is one of the top cabaret singers of the past decade. She has always been influenced a bit by jazz, and this 1997 release was her first full jazz recording. Callaway has a haunting voice and, as with most cabaret singers, a great respect for the lyrics she interprets; her singing on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a bit eerie. Pianist Kenny Barron, Bob Mintzer on tenor and soprano, and trumpeter Randy Brecker all get a generous amount of solo space, while bassist Jay Leonhart and percussionist George Jinda are fine in support; considering the high quality of her sidemen, it is a major compliment to the singer to say that her vocals do not cause the set to sag or the listener to lose his interest. On "All Blues" and "Old Devil Moon" in particular, she shows the potential of becoming a significant jazz singer in the future if she sticks to this path. Strangely enough, an intriguing original blues (clocking in around four-and-a-half minutes) is included at the end of the program, but not mentioned on the back cover or in the liners. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Time After Time 5:13
Written-By – Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman
2.    Teach Me Tonight 3:24
Written-By – Gene DePaul, Sammy Cahn
3.    My Funny Valentine 6:40
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
4.    Old Devil Moon 4:07
Written-By – Burton Lane, E.Y. Harburg
5.    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4:44
Written-By – Ewan MacColl
6.    All Blues 4:57
Written-By – Miles Davis
7.    They Can't Take That Away From Me 4:30
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
8.    The Music You Leave Inside My Mind 6:03
Written-By – Ann Hampton Callaway
9.    You Are My Sunshine 4:53
Written-By – Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis
10.    It Never Entered My Mind 6:57
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
11.    Falling In Love Again 3:33
Written-By – Fredrick Hollander, Sammuel Lerner
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Jay Leonhart
Cymbal, Shaker, Udu, Rattle [Bushman Rattles] – George Jinda
Piano – Kenny Barron
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Vocals – Ann Hampton Callaway