Kerry Butler

Vocalist Kerry Butler is a veteran of Broadway musicals, including several that were family-oriented, so it isn't surprising that she would be interested in covering an array of songs from similar films, both animated and live action. She has an appealing little girl voice, though it is a bit thin, with a bit of a nasal sound. Most of the highlights are older songs, including the neglected ballad "Baby Mine" (from Dumbo), with Michael Kosarin's lush solo piano as her sole accompaniment, along with the campy, playful "Minnie's Yoo Hoo" written for a 1929 Mickey Mouse cartoon. Guitarist Kevin Kuhn arranged the subtle country-flavored treatment of "Bare Necessities" (sung by Phil Harris in the '60s film-length cartoon The Jungle Book). But several of the string arrangements are rather sparse and don't provide a sufficient backdrop for the singer. This collection will have the greatest appeal to parents with young children who have enjoyed many of the films or cartoons in which these compositions were debuted. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi