Annette Sanders, Bob Florence - You Will Be My Music (2007)

One day, pianist-arranger Bob Florence heard Annette Sanders' voice on the radio and decided that he wanted to work with her. He tracked her down on the internet and this CD is the result. The collaboration between the Los Angeles pianist and the New York studio singer was recorded with only a small amount of preparation which mostly consisted of picking out songs and keys. Nearly all of the performances are first takes. Emphasizing ballads with just an occasional medium-tempo piece (such as "Kissing Bug"), the performances have Sanders singing the melodies and lyrics very straight although with plenty of feeling, inspired by Florence's accompaniment and concise piano solos. The heartfelt interpretations fall between jazz and cabaret and set a thoughtful and often-melancholy mood. While few chances are taken, this intimate recital succeeds on its own terms. ~Scott Yanow