Produced with prodigious musicians and a trunk full of memories, Liz Callaway’s poignant new CD, Passage of Time, is a trip down memory lane with a few twists. It also shines an optimistic light on what lies ahead. As always, Callaway has her distinct voice with minimal frills and each phrase brimming with unadorned honesty. There is a purpose to each phrase and it’s not overly clever or dramatic as is too often the case with theater singers. No one can call her a drama queen. And, with lush orchestrations by the likes of David Shire, Stephen Flaherty, Larry Moore, Michael Starobin and Alex Rybeck, the album is alive with restraint, creativity and beautiful sounds. Callaway’s mezzo has always had a penchant for singing in a conversational manner that is riveting. This new album exploits the best of that personalized world.

Opening with the plaintive “Nothing to Lose” by Flaherty and Ahrens, the tone is set for a sublime listening experience. “Make Someone Happy” (Do Re Mi) in medley with ”Something Wonderful” (The King and I) connects with a dreamlike quality that is rapturous. Ed Kleban’s ”Better” is a fun romp. The unusual choice of fusing two profound story songs, ”I’m Not That Girl” from Wicked (Schwartz) with John Bucchino and Lindy Robbins’ ”Just Another Face,” is inspired and one of the album’s finest cuts. A beautifully arranged duet with sister Ann Hampton Callaway on “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be” (Simon-Brackman) weaves another of this disc’s magical spells. Her interpretation of “Children Will Listen” is a stunner, resulting in one of the best readings of this beauty to date. The overlooked “A Child Is Born” (Grusin-Alan & Marilyn Bergman) is a gift and simply perfect—as is this album by a master storyteller who continues to delight with her voice and interpretive gifts.

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
December 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org