William Rutledge

Actresses who moonlight as singers often have difficulty being taken seriously and quite often, the skepticism is well-founded. But Cybill Shepherd, though far from breathtaking, is in fact, a decent and likable jazz-pop singer. From the balladry of "More than You Know" and "My Ship" to vibrant and surprisingly swingin' interpretations of "'S Wonderful" and Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin," Vanilla presents Shepherd as a very warm and enjoyable interpreter of standards whose phrasing at times suggests a more jazz-oriented Peggy Lee. Reissued on CD in 1990, the album also features solos by pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr., a masterful bebopper and Bud Powell disciple, also well worth hearing.