Anne Phillips
Ballet Time
Conawaggo Records
By George W. Harris

The disc is subtitled, "Anne Phillips Sings With..." and the list
includes 15 luminaries and friends that Ms. Phillips has made over the
years since being a member of the Ray Charles singers way back when.
You gotta appreciate the idea of performing (mostly) duets with the
likes of Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Roger Kellaway, Bob Dorough,
Dave Frishberg, and well, you get the idea. Even the tunes are well
selected; mostly obscure and overlooked gems. The arrangements are
clever, and Phillips' timing is impeccable. The only thing that is
frustrating about the whole deal is that Phillips tone is, how shall we
say, Desifinado? It is a bit to fragile around the edges, and is a bit
strained or just under the bar most of the time. The jivey "I've Got
Just About Everything" with Dorough works fantastically, but it's not
enough. So sorry.