Customer Reviews

Talk of the Town

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Krall and Monheit just don't do it for me any more, and all of the Eva Cassidy-inspired eclectics take me too far away from the best of the American Songbook and the "beat" that only first-rate rhythm sections can provide. I could remain perfectly content in my Ella-Billie time capsule, I suppose, but one hopes for some occasional affirmation of the present moment, not to mention hope for my new granddaughter.

Enter Cheryl Bentyne, an unforced, unproduced, and "natural" musician who's got the best of the repertory in her pocket and, rhythmically, is always right "in the pocket."

At first, Cheryl's voice is likely to strike a casual listener as "plain" and just unsexy. No Krall sultriness or Monheit melodrama--hers is a voice devoid of breathiness and emotive, coloratura effects. In fact, a great deal of its charm is its refusal to change its identity from the ensemble sound so essential to her effectiveness as a member of Manhattan Transfer. I'm getting no sense of "attitude," no heightening of lyric drama, no unwarranted projection of the "big" notes. This is singing that's as transparent and unaffected as it gets--and also as competent.

I'm tempted to add that Bentyne lets the songs themselves do all the talking for her. But listen to the Sinatra phrasing on "Everything Happens to Me." And dig that nanosecond of vibrato, or spinning little shake--and not just on "Farmer's Market"--at the ends of her phrases. (Did Annie Ross possibly teach that?) And it should not go unsaid that this is a singer who, like Sarah, doesn't require scat. Her melodically-altered second choruses (especially on "Get Out of Town") are a marvel of invention in themselves.

The Kenny Barron-led rhythm section is, as usual, flawless, though the inclusion of Take 6 was for this listener gratuitous if not distracting.

It's high time that Cheryl Bentyne stepped up to the plate with her own solo CD...and thanks to Telarc's crystalline sound quality, this one earns much more than the usual 5 stars for the song selection, musicianship, engineering, and production.

Ms. Bentyne wisely sticks to familiar standard territory here with superb readings of "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Girl Talk" (with some help from two of the members of Take 6), "Farmer's Market" (easily one of my favorite tracks, showing her amazing vocalese talents), "Meaning of the Blues" (just voice and piano here - perfect), "Love Me or Leave Me" (which reminds me somewhat of the late, great Nina Simone's version), a Latin-flavored treatment of "It Might as Well Be Spring," and so on.

Cheryl is ably backed by high caliber musician talent (Barron, Nash, Pattitucci, Mangione, and so on) and guided lovingly by Corey Allen's production.

Everyone who has posted so far has said all there really is to say. Fans of Manhattan Transfer (I am proud to be among them) as well as jazz vocal fans in general will embrace this long-overdue offering!!

I debated with myself whether I should give this album four or five stars. I actually love the CD and listen to it quite often. After some thought I decided on five stars because I have only minor criticism and truly believe this album is worth purchasing on sale or at regular price. Now on to my review: Cheryl performs with a cool, light and relaxed manner which creates a romantic mood the minute you put the CD in your player. However, that is not meant to suggest this singer is anything but exceptional. Her phrasing is subtle, yet inventive. The years of singing the lead trumpet lines on vocalese tunes with The Manhattan Transfer have obviously had great influence on her. Rather than linger on a particular note as many singers would, Bentyne's beautiful soprano voice often hits notes with trumpet like bursts, all the while remaining remarkably fluid -- making her a marvelously distinctive and innovative singer. At times her singing may remind you of Miles Davis's playing on such classic albums as, "Someday, My Prince Will Come." My only criticisms are that the majority of the instrumental solos are reserved for Kenny Barron or Corey Allen on piano. While, both are excellent musicians, adding depth and creativity whenever they play, it would have been nice to hear a solo or two by the excellent bassist, John Patitucci and perhaps a little more of Chuck Mangione on flugelhorn, just to break up "the singer -- piano solo -- singer" format that dominates most tracks. (Mention must be made of saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman's superb soloing on "The Very Thought of You" and "Everything Happens To Me.") Also, Bentyne has over the years, demonstrated her incredible vocal range and power on recordings with the Transfer and on her 1992 solo debut, "Something Cool." But on this album she seems to hold back a bit, thus, not giving us what we know she is truly capable of. These, however, are minor drawbacks and one can only hope Ms. Bentyne will be recording more solo albums and with as much frequency as her MT partner, Janis Siegel.

I have to say I didn't know who Cheryl Bentyne was when they played the track "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" on my local jazz station. Based on how much I loved her version of that classic Cole Porter tune I decided to take a chance and buy the whole album. (something I rarely do after hearing just one song.) Well the rest of the album is just as wonderful. Cheryl is one talented vocalist. Every song on this album is a gem, especially "Farmer's Market" and "Little Butterfly." Any vocalist who can sing a Monk tune and and make you forget the original is OKAY in my book. Add this great CD to you collection at once!

This is, without a doubt, the smoothest, sultriest and most professional CD I have ever heard. The tone is absolutely incredible and that includes not only the voice but the near perfection of the orchestration. The arrangements are fresh, original, seemingly the only way they could possibly be heard. Each one highlights Cheryl's unique abilities that range from ballad to scat.

From the first selection, an absolutely perfect rendition of "You'd be so nice to come home to" (what vocals!!!!) to the old ballads ("The very Thought of you" / "Everything happens to me") to the ingenius combo "Talk of the Town / Get out of Town" we are exploring the epitome of musicality. The arrangement of "Love Me or Leave Me" recalls smokey bars and highballs. Ms. Bentyne, upon hearing the music, supplied the words to "Still Good Friends", a short, bittersweet finale which is about as apt a closing tune as exists.

Sensational sound, perfect diction, wonderful artistry!

Finally! Bentyne released her first solo album, the excellent if somewhat unusual, "Something Cool" in 1992. Twelve years later she has released her second, "Talk Of The Town," and it was well worth the wait. Bentyne eschews the histrionic performance in favor of more intimate readings. Her voice is gorgeous and she breathes new life into songs that have been recorded often. Her versions of the ballads, "The Very Thought Of You," and "These Foolish Things" are excellent. "The Meaning Of The Blues" is a duet with pianist Kenny Barron and it's of the best recordings of the song I have ever heard. Her swinging take of "Love Me Or Leave Me" is reminiscent of Nina Simone's version but infused with a sexy attitude. With the opening track, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To " the mood is set for the next twelve cuts and not one of them disappoint. Let's hope Telarc signs her on for more albums so we don't have to wait another twelve years to enjoy this amazing singer.

Everything that Cheryl learned from her days with the Manhattan Transfer is evident on this album. Her phrasing is ultra-precise and still manages to sound warm and emotional. Fans of the Annie Ross tune Farmer's Market are in for a treat. Cheryl turns the tempo up to breakneck speed on this one and never misses a note! I had to listen to it several times as it seemed humanly impossible! Cheryl's vocal ability aside, take a gander at the album cover! HUBBA-HUBBA! Has it really been 25 years since she started with "Transfer"? She looks stunning! Can't wait to see her here in LA (her first concert here in 7 yrs.!)

Cheryl Bentyne's "Talk of the Town" is a great mellow exploration in the great jazz standards of the last century. Two songs are my very favorites. The swinging Basie-style arrangement on "Girl Talk" pulses with an entrancing groove, "We like to chat about the dresses we will wear tonight," as she sings with the great clarity of jazz expression of which Ella Fitzgerald was master. The opening version of Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" places the exquisite melody front and center and floats by like the gentlest of breezes.

Other tracks on the CD are also strong. "The Very Thought of You" is so dreamily romantic that it casts a lovely spell. Hoagy Carmichael's "Everything Happens to Me" is one of those good-to-be-blue tunes we'd like to hear with last call on which Lewis Nash's cymbals and David "Fathead" Newman's elegant sax blend exquisitely. The scat on "Farmer's Market" always brings a smile! Bentyne does a great job center stage on this fine set. Enjoy!

I have always enjoyed jazz music when, as a teenager back in the 60's, I focused in on instrumental groups while my contemporaries listened to the British invasion. In recent times, having grown somewhat tired of the instrumental elevator jazz being presented, I have come to appreciate vocalists in the genre which harkens back to the jazz I loved. Now that the baby boomers have grown up, they should give a listen to Ms. Bentyne's offering here. Her rendions of standards such as "They Can't Take that Away from Me," "The Very Thought of You,"Talk of the Town," and "These Foolish Things" are nothing short of first rate. I have always thought that decent melodies are hard to come by these days, and so when an artist is doing a tune with which I am familiar, it peaks my interest and I give a listen. Boomers unfamilar with these titles should too. Not only only will they hear some good compositions with excellent musical support, they will also hear a premier jazz singer doing them. Whether you like jazz or not, putting Ms. Bentyne in your CD player on a winter night with a glass of wine, whether by yourself or with a significant other, will definitely make your evening memorable.

Cheryl Bentyne epitomizes good music and her voice is simply marvelous. She sings these time-tested standards so beautifully. Having loved the music of The Manhattan Transfer in the eighties, I am not a new fan of Ms. Bentyne. She is indeed an awesome vocalist be it as a solo performer or with the Manhattan Transfer, which is very well-known for their hits and my favorites -- the Grammy Award winning song "Birdland," "The Boy From New York City," "Shaker Song" and "Embraceable You." This unique ensemble has collected at least ten Grammy Awards to add to their credentials.

This recording is a testament that Ms. Bentyne has one of the most exquisite vocals in the jazz scene and her singing style is simply amazing. She is backed up by talented jazz musicians namely: Corey Allen (piano/organ) and he's also the album producer/arranger/director, Kenny Barron (piano), John Patitucci (bass), Lewis Nash (drums), Don Alas (percussion), David Newman (tenor sax), Chuck Mangione (flugelhorn-solo), Mark Kibble and Alvin Chea (background vocals).

My personal favorites include one of the greatest songs ever written and composed by George and Ira Gershwin, "They Can't Take That Away From Me" which features the wonderful flugelhorn playing of one of my favorite jazz artists, Chuck Mangione, who is famous for his hit tune "Feels So Good."

You'll also enjoy listening to Ray Noble's beautiful song "The Very Thought Of You," which according to Ms. Bentyne is her very favorite song from this collection. It's so remarkable and this is the best female vocal version I've heard so far.

Her charming interpretation of "Love Me Or Leave Me" gave this song a whole new style and elegance. "These Foolish Things" is so delightfully sentimental that I had to hit the repeat button and listen to it again and again and again. Ditto with "It Might As Well Be Spring," which has a Latin flavor, kind of mambo-ish rhythm to it that makes it a real sheer beauty. I truly adore this version. The intro and arrangements are somewhat similar to "Shaker Song."

And . . . my absolute number one choice from this collection is "Girl Talk," a song composed and penned by Bobby Troup and Neal Hefti. Her interpretation and the arrangement are so sublime and I just loved the chorus. But let me tell you, I guess they love shopping for clothes, purses and shoes more than engaging in "Girl Talk." At least speaking for myself -- I just have that "Mind Your Own Business!" philosophy.

"We like to chat about the dresses we will wear tonight
We chew the fat about our tresses and the neighbor's fight
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Become essential things that women find so apropos
It's just a dame, we're all the same
It's just a game, we call it "Girl Talk"

We all 'meow' about the ups and downs of all our friends
The who, the how, the why
We dish the dirt, it never ends
The goddess touch, they love so much
All mortal males behold, and though we joke,
We wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold
So Honey stay, don't walk away
Just hear me say that after "Girl Talk,"
Talk to me."

In conclusion, I heartily recommend this jazzy and classy CD for your listening pleasure. It's the kind of music you will love to listen to forever and a day!

P.S. I couldn't wait until I get hold of her "Moonlight Serenade" CD.

* * * * *TEN STARS* * * * *