When asked to describe Tammy McCann’s voice, saxophonist Von Freeman declared, “Everyone who hears her loves her. She’s a natural talent”. A bold proclamation from a renowned NEA Jazz Master. But McCann fulfills, even surpasses, claims of her vocal prowess. This CD aptly entitled “Classic”. is packed with moving renditions of jazz masterpieces, “Classic” effectively reaffirms the admirable sentiment of Von Freeman and others. According to Chicago pianist Ramsey Lewis, listeners are not left aching for traditional versions of the selections on “Classic.” Instead, Mr. Lewis depicts McCann as a “performer who knows how to get the most out of” a chart, by breathing “new life into [the] evergreens” of the vocal jazz tradition. The album commences with a Latin tinged version of the Rogers and Hammerstein favorite “Happy Talk”, allowing Tammy to demonstrate clarity and precision at a challenging tempo. While the tempo may relax on subsequent ballads like Nina Simone’s “Black is the Color” or Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life”, the emotional intensity remains.<\/p>\n\t\t\t