So Cleanly Felt and Expressed
by Jenzebub
Anna Callahan is someone to be watched. With both "My Ideal" and her second release "It's Just the Rain," she is blossoming into a true, world-class songstress/composer/musician/arranger/historian. Would that be called a "septuple threat"? I think so.
First, she is an accomplished arranger and music historian. It shows in both her choice of material and her treatment of it. It's not studied, stilted, or forced; the true composition is simply put forth at its best. Second, she and her collaborators are great musicians. It's stylized without drowning the composition itself. There is no other way to treat so many standards. Third, she's channeling some past force in her composition. "I Knew," "When Snow Falls," "O Woe Is Me," "So Long Ago," and "Adieu" represent a strong showing as a song writer. And to think she most likely had many other self-composed pieces from which to choose and those listed above are so promising...
Fourth, however, is the best part... her skill as a vocalist. Anna's voice has matured and found the meaning in this style of music. Many have tried, but few succeed as Anna has in bringing out the chill amidst the precision of jazz vocals. I can only say that her voice is accessible and unaffected to listen to... but try to sing along and you'll quickly be left behind. Think Steven Tyler is the ultimate in scat? Please. Anna's channeling Ella and this is no idle compliment.
Study jazz and find appreciation. Anna has studied jazz, found appreciation, and renewed the genre with this and her follow-up disc.
