Let's Misbehave: The Cole Porter Song Book

9-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist/arranger Cheryl Bentyne once again steps away from the legendary 'Manhattan Transfer' foursome for her latest solo project based on composers of the Great American Song Book. Making a triumphant personal return, she serves up 14 slices of the Cole Porter song book on this recording. Using her hip, rangy soprano, she is a paragon of phrasing, intonation, and infectious swing, while giving her cohorts plenty of solo room based on interesting arrangements. She is surrounded by a superb group consisting of guitarists Tom McCauley, Octavio Bailey and Larry Koonse; Corey Allen on keyboards and banjo; Doug Webb on reeds; Chris Tedesco on trumpet; bassist Kevin Axt also on tuba; Dave Tull on drums/percussion; and 2 heroic performances by the late jazz tenor sax giant James Moody in one of his final recorded appearances. The 'best of the best' begins with a fiery "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" that starts with Bach-ian allusions. Then there's a mysterious, personalized "I Love Paris" and "Begin the Beguine". A sizzling latin-tinged "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" also has a hot Tedesco latin trumpet solo. A quick tempo "It's Alright With Me" has some sensational Bentyne and features a great guitar solo. James Moody comes out swinging on a sizzling "What Is This Thing Called Love" with Cheryl jumping in mid-song with gusto, singing on the arc of her voice. A wonderful "All of You" is a nod to Bentyne's 'Manhattan Transfer' roots in a 'vocalese' treatment of one of the most famous Miles Davis solos. And Cheryl turns 'flapper' with a 'Charleston' bounce on a wildly-swinging "Let's Misbehave", with period instrumentation and sound. Cheryl Bentyne shows off her zestful, inventive singing style on "Let's Misbehave" and it gets better with each listen. My Highest Recommendation. Five IMPASSIONED Stars (14 tracks: Time: 55 mins, 44 secs)