When was the last time you were in a crowd cheerfully addressed (without sarcasm) as “groovy people?” Do you smile at “lyrics” like Boom Shaka Laka, Boom Shaka LaKa without searching for meaning? (I looked up the spelling!) Did you own a pair of the ubiquitous white plastic go-go boots now parading on stage? Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly /He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller…Who was your favorite Beatle? If this rings bells, get yourself to Birdland for a double barreled musical celebration of the 60s and 70s performed with energy and brio by Ann Hampton and Liz Callaway.

The sisters couldn’t have been more different growing up. Liz’s bright, bouncy Always Something There to Remind Me (Bachrach/David) seems in character with her description of frilled bedding, pin-ups of sports figures, and the proverbial hairbrush microphone. “While Liz was bopping to Bachrach,” Ann says, “ I was listening to Joni Mitchell, who made this very serious girl feel like she wasn’t alone.” Her deep, jazzy rendition of A Case of You is the grown-up interpretation of vinyl-fueled dreams in a bedroom of plain, walnut furniture with a poster of Angela Davis looking on. Sha da da, Bup Bup

Affectionately mining their differences with upbeat familial patter, the ladies present both solos of their prevailing taste (often singing back-up for one another) and exuberant, harmonizing duets. Their voices are as distinctive as their choices. Ann offers earthy, heady vocals, while Liz presents a forthright Broadway/pop sound.

Ann’s industrial strength You’ve Lost That Lovin’Feelin’ (Weill & Mann/The Righteous Brothers) is winner-take-all. Her gutsy Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan) showcases its negro spiritual roots but curiously segues into a lively arrangement I found at odds with the lyrics. Liz’s I Know a Place/ Downtown (Tony Hatch/Petula Clarke) and Didn’t We/MacArthur Park (Jimmy Webb) offer seemingly effortless, full throated buoyancy filling every corner of the room. Shoo Bop du Bop

A highlight of the show is the deadpan, satiric performance of These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (Lee Hazelwood/ Nancy Sinatra). Cleverly directed by Dan Foster, four white boots keep time while two pair of white framed shades contain any expression of overt emotion. You keep playin’ where you shouldn’t be playin/and you keep thinkin’ that you´ll never get burnt-HA! Remember Shindig? Laugh-In?! The arrangement is coooool.

But for two overlong medleys of partial songs which if tightened would create a better show length, (the Stevie Wonder group, which appears at first to be an encore, goes on AND on), the show is well paced and entertainingly varied. Shoop Shoop, Shoop

We nod, sway, tap, and at one point sing along to Carole King. Boom is a rollicking, uncomplicated good time. Rather like a summer camp vacation. Especially for those of us who are…Boomers. We leave smiling.

A call out to Jared Egan whose bass on Yesterday and Boots was very fine.

If you miss the show this time around, watch for it to inevitably pop up again.  The live recording of BOOM will be released on PS CLASSICS on July 12th. It can be pre-ordered now at www.psclassics.com.

Individual photos of Ann Hampton and Liz Callaway by Bill Westmoreland

BOOM!
Anne Hampton and Liz Callaway
Directed by Dan Foster
Alex Rybeck, Piano/Musical Director; Jared Egan, Bass; Ron Tierno, Drums
Birdland
315 West 44th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
212-581-3080 or www.birdlandjazz.com