I don’t know if Peggy Lee has ever performed at Del Ray Beach, but last night Ann Hampton Callaway masterfully introduced the music and life of the sultry-voiced ‘Fever’ jazz singer to a packed audience in the Arts Garage. Guests were in for an extra treat as Ann, who is also a gifted pianist, accompanied herself for this engagement. It’s a bit like Barbra Streisand applying her own makeup. The Divas know what works best, and Ann’s piano playing ability has created distinctive harmonic and melodic colors for her legendary voice. The Piano and Voice of Ann Hampton Callaway, Peggy Lee’s Songbook. Nobody in the audience last night asked “Is that all there is?”

Ann Hampton Callaway, Tony Award® nominee, one of the leading pop/jazz singers of our time, has created an exciting evening of songs and stories to celebrate her inspiration and one of America’s most beloved artists , Peggy Lee. Hot on the heels of the symphonic triumph of Ann’s Streisand Songbook, this show celebrates the 100th anniversary of the pioneering woman who gave the world “Fever” across six decades of iconic songs, from sultry to sizzling. Fall in love with Peggy’s Benny Goodman-era love songs through decades of film and recording success that earned this iconic singer-songwriter her powerful nickname, “The Frank Sinatra Wife. “.

About Ann Hampton Callaway: Ann Hampton Callaway is one of America’s most gifted pop and jazz artists. A leading champion of the great American Songbook, she has made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, television host and producer. Voted “Performer of the Year” by Broadwayworld.com and “Best Jazz Singer” two years in a row, Ann is a born artist. She is best known for her Tony-nominated performance in the hit musical “Swing!” and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series “The Nanny.” She made her film debut alongside Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon in Robert De Niro’s film “THE GOOD SHEPHERD”, performing the standard “Come Rain or Come Shine” and recorded “Isn’t It Romantic?” and “The Nearness of You” for Wayne Wong’s “LAST HOLIDAY”, featuring Queen Latifah. Ann has also written songs for the upcoming musical ‘THE MAN WHO SAVED PARIS’ with Stanley Tucci and can be heard singing her original song ‘Why’ on the ‘BLIND’ soundtrack with Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore. Callaway is a Platinum Award-winning songwriter whose songs appear on seven of Barbra Streisand’s recent CDs. The only songwriter to have collaborated with Cole Porter, she has also written songs with Carole King, Rolf Lovland, Amanda McBroom and Shelby Lynn to name a few. Ann has recorded over 50 CDs as a soloist and guest and her latest CD Jazz Goes to the Movies debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Jazz Chart and received high rotation on Siriusly Sinatra. Callaway’s performances and recordings have earned him the Theater World Award, 15 MAC Awards, multiple Bistro Awards, the Mabel Mercer Award, the Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriting, and the Blanton Peale Award for Positive Thinking.

Photo credit: Stephen Sorokoff