Robyn Spangler
Last Call
(o.p. records)
March 27, 2023
Reviewed by Elliot Zwiebach
Robyn Spangler is in a mellow mood. Her new CD is entitled Last Call because the songs reflect the kind of bluesy, slightly jazzy ballads one might hear in a saloon around closing time. Accompanied only by the always reliable Todd Schroeder on piano, Spangler shines on a series of artfully sung songs that demonstrate her committed artistry. The pace throughout is gentle, unhurried, and unfettered. It’s just a lovely voice and a supportive pianist keeping the mood intimate.
Given the quality of the finished product, it’s surprising to learn that the CD was recorded piecemeal over a three-year period during and after the pandemic. Until vaccinations became available Spangler would sing vocals at home from tracks sent to her by Schroeder; later the duo worked in person and completed the project.
Among the standouts on the 10-cut CD is an unadorned, relaxed take on “Skylark” (Johnny Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael); here Spangler offers a gentle, delicately phrased version of this well-worn but always welcome classic. The oldest song on the album, Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky),” receives a slightly new treatment as Spangler sings a harmony line throughout most of the song to give it a more personal touch.
Schroeder serves double duty on Sting’s “Fragile”; here he maintains a smooth rhythm on the piano as he sings along with Spangler in a soft, almost imperceptible way that barely makes the listener aware that there’s a second voice in the mix. The blend is so perfect that it’s almost impossible to tell where her voice ends and his begins.
Spangler shows off her smooth, creamy sound to great effect on Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” expressing a laid-back mood and a gentle joy along with Schroeder’s saloon-style accompaniment. There’s a nice surprise at the end as he adds the vamp from Kander & Ebb’s “Theme from New York, New York” into the closing notes.
The CD opens with Spangler purring her way through a sensuous, somewhat provocative version of “Hot in Here” (Michele Brourman/Amanda McBroom), followed by a teasing, sassy “Kiss” (Prince). It also includes a simple, declarative “I Can’t Tell You Why” (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Timothy B. Schmit), a somewhat jaunty “Until You Come Back to Me” (Stevie Wonder/Morris Broadnax/Clarence O. Paul), and a slightly strident “Hello” (Greg Kurstin/Adele Adkins).
The recording closes strongly with “Second Wind” (written by Spangler and Schroeder), in which the lyrics reflect Spangler’s exultation in singing songs that are among her favorites: “I will sing, I will soar, on new wings I will find me.”
