Claire Martin - Witchcraft - Theater Mania

Listening to this smooth and sophisticated compilation of songs by Cy Coleman, it's rough not to think of the legendary collaboration between cabaret greats Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short. Martin's intelligent, playful, and emotional phrasing expertly mines the lyrics of Coleman's many collaborators, including Dorothy Fields, Carolyn Leigh and Michael Stewart, even as her smokey voice caresses the composer's melodies. Two particular highlights are "Everybody Today Is Turnin' On" (from I Love My Wife) and "With Every Breath I Take" (from City of Angels).