ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY — Blues in the Night (2006) SACD, Hybrid | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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
Tracklist :
1  Swingin' Away The Blues  3:29
Arranged By – Tommy Newsom
2  Blue Moon  5:37
Arranged By – Andy Farber, Ann Hampton Callaway
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
3  Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most  6:19
Arranged By – Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Mays
Written-By – Frances Landesman, Tomas Wolf
4  Lover Come Back To Me  3:23
Arranged By – Tommy Newsom
Written-By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
5  Stormy Weather / When The Sun Comes Out  5:13
Arranged By – Alex Rybeck, Ann Hampton Callaway
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
6  The I'm-Too-White-To-Sing-The-Blues Blues  3:41
Arranged By – Matt Cattingub
Written-By – Ann Hampton Callaway
7  Willow Weep For Me  6:18
Arranged By – Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Mays
Written-By – Ann Ronell
8  Hip To Be Happy  2:43
Arranged By – Bill Mays
Arranged By, Written-By – Ann Hampton Callaway
9  It's All Right With Me  5:52
Arranged By – Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Mays
Written-By – Cole Porter
10  No One Is Alone  4:32
Arranged By – Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Mays
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
11  Blues In The Night  4:50
Arranged By – Harold Wheeler, Jack Everly
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
12  The Glory Of Love  3:08
Arranged By – Ann Hampton Callaway, Rodney Jones
Written-By – Bill Hill
Credits :
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Lewis Nash
Guitar – David Gilmore
Lead Vocals – Ann Hampton Callaway
Orchestra – Sherrie Maricle And The Diva Jazz Orchestra (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 11)
Piano – Ted Rosenthal
Producer – Ann Hampton Callaway, Elaine Martone
Vocals – Liz Callaway

KEN PEPLOWSKI QUARTET — Memories Of You (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

Ken Peplowski is among the top clarinetists and tenor saxophonists of his generation. After a long, fruitful period recording as a leader for Concord, Peplowski started getting a number of offers to record for overseas labels. He alternates between the two instruments during these 2006 sessions, well accompanied by pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi (long Marian McPartland's bassist of choice), and drummer Jeff Brillinger, all veterans like the leader. Peplowski's lush tenor in the first interpretation of "Memories of You" recalls Ben Webster with his soft, breathy vibrato and lyrical style. He also caresses Roland Kirk's infrequently heard ballad "Bright Moments" and renders an elegant "Dream Dancing" as well. On clarinet, Peplowski's magical treatment of "In a Sentimental Mood" (backed solely by bass at first) suggests a bird's song. The cream of the crop is his warm interpretation of Billy Strayhorn's "Lotus Blossom." This set is perfect for late-night listening. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Memories Of You    5:36
2    I'll Be Seeing You    3:53
3    Bright Moments    5:11
4    In A Sentimental Mood    6:55
5    Dream Dancing    8:24
6    Last Night When We Were Young    4:46
7    It Might As Well Be Spring    7:53
8    Lotus Blossom    5:10
9    But Not For Me    7:36
10    Poor Butterfly    6:31
11    Memories Of You Il    6:5
Credits :
Bass – Gary Mazzaroppi
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Ken Peplowski
Drums – Jeff Brillinger
Piano – Ted Rosenthal

LARRY CORYELL — Fallen Angel (1993) Two Version (1993, Essential Jazz – ESJCD 237) + (1993, CTI Records – MA 70 01 236) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On Fallen Angel, Larry Coryell teams up with arranger Don Sebesky to produce a wide-ranging album full of sampled sounds and programmed tracks in an attempt to mix the old CTI sound of the '70s with the production techniques and rhythms of the '90s. "Inner City Blues" kicks things off with great promise, as Coryell jams over a pre-programmed rhythm track with background vocalists. On "(Angel on Sunset) Bumpin' on Sunset," he improvises along with a sampled Wes Montgomery, then turns Erroll Garner's classic "Misty" into a mid-tempo reggae jaunt through which he and pianist Mulgrew Miller travel lightly. The CTI connection is brought to the forefront with a remake of Deodato's "2001" hit called "Thus Spoke Z," on which the famous theme is implied but never stated. Other highlights include a funky, angular tribute called "Monk's Corner," Sebesky's attractive "I Remember Bill" and the solo "Westerly Wind." There are also two pleasant smooth jazz vocal pieces at the front of the album, the beautiful ballad, "Fallen," a duet between vocalists Klyde Jones and Jeanie Bryson, and the funky made-for-radio "Never Never," featuring saxophonist Richard Elliot and a vocal from Ms. Jones.
Fallen Angel was obviously an attempt to find Larry Coryell a place on the smooth jazz playlist, a task it didn't really accomplish. While it is not likely to appease those who bemoan the guitarist's failure to live up to his initial promise, it can be enjoyed if taken on its own terms. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1. Inner City Blues (3:31)
Vocals – Klyde Jones
Written-By – James Nyx, Marvin Gaye
2. Fallen (3:45)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Richard Elliot
Vocals – Jeanie Bryson, Klyde Jones

Written-By – Lauren Wood
3. Never Never (3:34)
Lyrics By – Klyde Jones
Music By – Don Sebesky
Saxophone [Tenor] – Richard Elliot
Vocals – Klyde Jones
4. Angel On Sunset (5:40)
Electric Guitar – Wes Montgomery
Written-By – Don Sebesky, Wes Montgomery

5. Stardust (5:55)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
6. Misty (4:32)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Erroll Garner
7. I Remember Bill (3:07)
Written-By – Don Sebesky
8. Pieta (5:53)
Adapted By – Don Sebesky
Piano – Ted Rosenthal
Written-By – Rachmaninoff
9. Thus Spoke Z (4:49)
Adapted By – Don Sebesky, Larry Coryell
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Saxophone [Alto] – Chris Hunter
Written-By – Richard Strauss
10. Stella By Starlight (4:31)
Written-By – Ned Washington, Victor Young
11. Monk's Corner (6:26)
Piano – Ted Rosenthal
Written-By – Don Sebesky, Larry Coryell
12. Westerly Wind (2:04)
Written-By – Larry Coryell
13. The Moors (2:53)
Written-By – Larry Coryell
Credits :
Arranged By – Don Sebesky
Electric Guitar – Larry Coryell