Lost In A Dream
Ivy Door, 2021
8/10
A versatile and acclaimed vocalist from DC, Kristin Callahan takes an artistic and organic approach to her song craft on Lost In A Dream, where Eliot Seppa takes on bass, arranger and co-producer duties, and Matvei Sigalov, Tom Teasley, Mark Prince, Carroll Dashiell III, Lee Pearson, Joe Herrera and Matt Rippetoe contribute their respective talents.
“Lush Life” starts the listen with Callahan’s romantic, sultry vocals alongside light drumming and a very soothing atmosphere, and “Memories Always Start” isn’t far off and full of soulful brass and a very emotive climate, where the strategic drumming complements the dreamy, instrumental setting.
In the middle, the expressive, poetic “Lost In A Dream” emits much culture in its graceful delivery that benefits greatly from Sigalov’s guitar, while “Caravan” highlights Seppa’s skilled bass plucking and Herrera’s soft trumpet amid the adventurous album highlight.
Later on, “The Shadow Of Your Smile” has Callahan hitting some pretty high notes in a cozy jazz landscape, and “Once I Loved” finishes the listen bare, intimate and full of sublime songwriting.
Callahan has been honing her craft since the age of 8, and has built an impressive list of performances and recordings. Lost In A Dream is right at the top of that list, where a thoughtful, emotive and occasionally Latin flavored version of jazz unfolds in ways you can’t help but adore.
Travels well with: Sue Maskaleris- Love Is The Key; Deborah Silver- Glitter & Grits