Chicago-born singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY was recently in London performing her show The Judy Garland Songbook at The Pheasantry and Cinematic Serenade at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho.
In high school, Ann performed in musicals and after graduation studied acting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne before moving to New York City to pursue her dreams. In New York she appeared in clubs as a cabaret singer, forging her signature blend of jazz and pop by performing classic material from the Great American Songbook.
While contributing to an album of Cole Porter songs she was invited by the Porter estate to compose music for the songwriting legend’s unfinished piece, ‘I Gaze in Your Eyes’, which was included on her debut album in 1992.
This was the start of a dazzling, multi-faceted career that has catapulted her to the first rank of interpreters of popular song in America. Aside from recording 16 albums, including critically-acclaimed tributes to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, she has written songs with Carole King, Rolf Lovland and Barbara Carroll.
Ann has written songs recorded or performed by Barbra Streisand (including ‘At the Same Time’ on Streisand’s platinum-selling Higher Ground), Barbara Carroll, Blossom Dearie, Carole King, Patti LuPone, and more. She has performed with top orchestras and big bands in major concert halls in more than 30 countries, collaborating with the likes of Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and more, and has sung for President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. and at Mikhail Gorbachev’s Youth Peace Summit.
A peerless live performer [regularly appearing alongside her sister, the incredibly talented singer and Broadway actress Liz], Callaway’s performances are marked by warmth, spontaneous wit, and passionate delivery of standards, jazz classics lisand originals. As one of America’s most gifted improvisers, she frequently takes words and phrases from her audiences and creates songs live on the spot.
Her dream of working in film, TV, and radio has been realised in several recent projects. She made her feature film debut opposite Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon in the Robert De Niro film The Good Shepherd, performing the standard ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’.
She recorded ‘Isn’t It Romantic?’ and ‘The Nearness of You’ in Wane Wong’s Last Holiday, starring Queen Latifah. She recently wrote songs for the upcoming film State of Affairs. She also produced and directed the TV special Singers Spotlight with Ann Hampton Callaway as part of her mission to conserve the tradition of Great American Song.
Here, Ann Hampton Callaway is in conversation with Musical Theatre Review’s French correspondent Patrick Honoré.
How has it felt to be back in London after such a long time?
It is an absolute joy to be back in a city I adore where I have had countless magical nights and made many lasting friendships in my 30 years of performing here. I seem to have a special chemistry with British audiences and the warmth they have shared with me in my sold-out shows has been very moving.
The West End and the cabaret scene are alive again in London, what about in New York?
New York is coming alive again on all fronts but is being more cautious in some instances and asking for masking and proof of vaccination. It’s a tricky time for performers and audiences – how do we handle the uncertainty, have a great time and take care of each other? Everyone seems to be finding their own comfort zone because we don’t want to have yet another lockdown but we do want to return to the joy of live music and theatre.
How did you live through the lockdown as an artist?
I turned to creativity. I reinvented what I do and created a monthly livestream series of themed shows called ‘The Callaway Hideaway’. I did private Zoom shows, vocal coaching and wrote commissioned songs for numerous people to keep the celebration alive. I also wrote a poem a day to capture the time we are living in and wrote many songs for my upcoming CD of AHC originals, Look for the Love. It was a time of anxiety, sorrow, financial stress and uncertainty but fortunately I was sharing this time with my beloved wife Kari and the fellowship of family, old friends and some new friends who turned out to be extraordinary arts angels for many of us who were facing big challenges.
I loved your lockdown lyrics to ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’! Any others?
Aside from that parody, I wrote ‘Lockdown’ to the tune of ‘Downtown’ and ‘Voters Suppression’ to the tune of ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’.
What do you think of the impact of Covid restrictions upon artists?
Well, I think it is important to be safe and careful in this time of an ever-changing viral environment. But because this pandemic was so poorly managed at the beginning, artists have really suffered tremendously as we cannot fully do what we do until things are better under control. In other crises, like world wars, entertainers were brought to the forefront of culture to keep spirits high. But this is the exact opposite. It’s heartbreaking how challenging it has been for so many in my field. It is imperative to be innovative and creative in order to think of ways to be artistically useful in any way possible.
Do you think zoom and streaming are valid alternatives to live performing?
Oh, most certainly so. There’s nothing like “the real thing” but the people who figured out how to keep music/theatre lovers gathered together and entertained, provided a great service to people who were sad, lonely and longing for engagement and cheer. In my shows, people love seeing each other, clapping in between songs, chatting and hearing their requests performed. The tech aspect of the presentations was not always impeccable but everyone was forgiving and let themselves enjoy the experience. I think live-streaming will continue – it is a way of having an international audience and, as this pandemic may be around longer than we wish, it offers a good alternative for people who want to keep safe.
Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway. Picture: Darren Bell
Why have you recently chosen to pay tribute to Judy Garland?
I’ve been curating a legacy series since the 1990s of musical portraits of artists I am inspired by: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Linda Ronstadt and more. Judy Garland was a little intimidating to me as I revere her so but in this time I have been saying to myself: “follow your fear.” So it seemed time to finally celebrate Judy and share some of the extraordinary songs and stories from her life. I am so happy I moved forward as the response has been marvellous.
What are the other countries you visit to perform and would you like to sing in Paris soon?
I am so longing to sing in Paris as it is one of my top three favourite cities. I’ve sat in at concerts in Paris and received standing ovations and headlined at the Marciac Jazz Festival but for some inexplicable reason, a Paris engagement has not yet happened – may it finally be! I will be singing in Italy next year, I believe, and hopefully have rescheduled concerts in Australia, Canada and a few other special places.
Are we going to get the chance to see you with your sister Liz in London or why not Paris?
It would make so much sense for us to do a London/Paris run, don’t you think? The mix of jazz, pop and Broadway would be a great fit for both cities. Hope we can make this happen soon!
Can you tell us a bit more about your artistic and personal connection to Judy Garland, which was so moving and beautiful in your concert at The Pheasantry?
I think my poem says it best:
Hugging Judy Garland
I never got to hug Judy Garland
But I’m hugging her now.
She’s 99 today and I love her.
She’s the singer who puts back the ache in my heart
In case I’ve been trying to forget.
You can hear all the people she’s ever sung for in her voice.
They’re still there – they touched her being
As much as she touched theirs.
That ferocious fragility gets me every time.
To me, her beauty is more beautiful than any glamour could be.
And her intelligence is so warm it makes me feel smarter.
In 1969 when I heard on the radio that she had died,
I felt I had lost a close friend.
She told secrets to me before anyone else had
Just by playing Dorothy.
She mirrored my little girl self with strength, hope, and courage
Disguised in blue gingham.
And she gave me two wonderful daughters to love
For which I am very grateful.
Judy, wherever you are, thank you.
You were the first. The one who showed me
What I would do with my life.
I hope you can feel my long, long hug
From here to that rainbow.
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