Robyn Spangler
(WIIFM Music)
June 28, 2026
Reviewed by Elliot Zwiebach
Robyn Spangler shows off her exquisitely smooth, silky voice in her latest album—a live jazz studio recording. Each of the album’s 11 tracks was recorded with no prior rehearsal and no more than a couple of takes for each song, according to notes accompanying the CD. The result is a total triumph for Spangler, who sings of love— and love lost—in her signature easy, effortless, intimate style.
The album opens with an exuberant performance of Sting’s “Every Little Thing (She Does Is Magic)” featuring excellent saxophone support from Bob Sheppard. Spangler is in a playful mood in two other cuts. The first is a gently swinging “Call Me” (Debbie Harry/Giorgio Moroder) that has strong percussion provided by Christian Euman and terrific sax backing by Sheppard. The second is a heartfelt “Hello It’s Me” (Todd Rundgren) with nimble piano accompaniment from John Beasley and background harmonies from Kevin Fisher.
Spangler offers a soft, intimate vocal on Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You” and a palpable wistfulness on “Something in the Air Between Us” (Steven MacKinnon/Marc Jordan). She also delivers a smooth take on James Taylor’s “I Was a Fool to Care” that highlights Sheppard on sax and a smoky English-language version of the haunting “O Que Se Sabe de Cor” (Fernando Leporace) that has an outstanding flute accompaniment by Sheppard and percussion by Dan Novak.
Spangler reflects rueful regret in Melody Gardot’s “Baby I’m a Fool” (highlighted by George Doering on electric guitar) and Paul Simon’s “I Do It for Your Love” (which features Beasley’s effective piano accompaniment). She also demonstrates quiet despair in “Are We Really Through?” (Ray LaMontagne), with a strong assist from John Michael Bradford’s trumpet.
There’s also a bonus track: a somber, jazz-infused version of “Tennessee Waltz” (Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart) that is notable for Spangler’s plaintive vocal and Beasley’s piano artistry.
This is Spangler’s sixth album, available on both CD and vinyl. Other musicians featured in various combinations on different tracks are Larry Koonse on acoustic guitar, Edwin Livingston on acoustic bass, and Dan Lutz on electric bass.
