Cheryl Bentyne – The Book of Love
Cheryl Bentyne
The Book of Love
(Telarc – 2006)
by Carmen Miller
“The Book of Love” is nine-time Grammy winner Cheryl Bentyne’s third solo recording (apart from the Manhattan Transfer.) The theme of the CD follows the track of a love affair from the thrill of infatuation and flirting to longing to lust to eventual disillusion and ultimately to goodbye. Cute concept, but I was focused more on enjoying the CD, which ranges from just Cheryl and a lone guitarist on “Be My Love” to a rich 60-piece string orchestra on tunes like “You Don’t Know Me,” “You Go To My Head” and the classic “Cry Me A River.”
“The Book of Love” title track features guest vocalists Mark Kibble and Alvin Chea (from Take 6) and John Pizzarelli puts in a little vocal work on the duet “Blue Moon”. All in all a pretty good CD, but I think the best songs are those where she had guest vocal partner(s) because that plays to her strengths… just like being in the Transfer.
Personnel: Cheryl Bentyne (vocals); Zoe Allen, John Pizzarelli, Mark Kibble, Alvin Chea (vocals); Grant Geissman, Wayne Johnson (guitar); Charlie Bisharat (violin); Armen Ksajikian (cello); Bob Sheppard (tenor saxophone); Chris Tedesco (trumpet); Corey Allen (piano, keyboards); Bill Cantos (piano); Kevin Axt (bass guitar); Dave Tull (drums); Don Alias, Scott Breadman (percussion); The City Of Prague Symphony.
