It had to happen sooner or later. After playing on the Cole Porter piano at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City for almost 15 years, DARYL SHERMAN has released an album of songs by the talented gentleman who owned the piano in question.

For the recording of Mississippi Belle: Cole Porter in the Quarter (ACD-342), Sherman opted to travel down to New Orleans, engage Jesse Boyd on bass, and Tom Fischer on clarinet and tenor sax, and explore 13 Porter gems.

In choosing tunes for her program, she used her imagination, selecting familiar songs, "Let's Do It," "Get out of Town," "Rosalie," "Looking at You," "From This Moment On" and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To;" some that are heard occasionally, "Tale of the Oyster," "Use Your Imagination," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and "Where Have You Been;" a few truly obscure, "Ours" and "By the Mississinewah;" and one never previously recorded, "Mississippi Belle."

An added bonus is the appearance of Banu Gibson, a fine jazz vocalist and New Orleans institution, as a duet partner on "By the Mississinewah."

Sherman's intimate vocal style, fabulous phrasing and inventive self accompaniment on piano are combined with the fine musicianship of her cohorts to produce an album that would surely have pleased Mr. Porter, and will have a similar effect on his legions of admirers.

Jersey Jazz - January 2012
by Joe Lang