Interview: Jim Caruso Chats With Singer Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer

Cheryl Bentyne has her standards. In fact, along with her superstar vocal group The Manhattan Transfer, she has co-created some of the most iconic songs, arrangements and performances in the history of jazz and popular music. Recordings of "Twilight Zone," "Operator," "Java Jive," "Boy From New York City," "Tuxedo Junction," and the iconic "Birdland" have proven that a good singer shouldn't be confined to one specific style.

Bentyne has just released an album of re-imagined songs by the iconic Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim called "reARRANGEMENTS OF SHADOWS," and will be celebrating with a concert at Birdland on Monday, March 5 at 7pm. She will be accompanied by Yaron Gershovsky on piano, Matt Aronoff on bass, Clint de Ganon on drums and Aaron Weinstein on violin. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Cheryl about the project, and what drew her to the magic of Sondheim.

Why Sondheim? Why now?

I have wanted to sing his music for many years. I just waited till it felt right...and I could actually envision the arrangements and song choices. Choosing material was the hardest part...I want to sing about a hundred of them!

How did you choose the arrangers and musicians to help bring a fresh sound to the iconic Sondheim material?

I just listened and chose great arrangers I thought would fit my vision. They truly built the landscape for this project along with the artistry of my great band.

Manhattan Transfer has always been a theatrical vocal group; not content to stand around a microphone singin' and swayin'. And you studied as an actress. Do you approach a Sondheim song (written to move a story in a musical) differently than you would a jazz standard?

Yes and no...I have always approached all my projects as stories...not songs, with a beginning, middle arc and ending. Singing Stephen Sondheim music seemed a natural transition. I do not sing the songs as a Broadway singer would. I interpret them as singular pieces of music. It's not an easy task, but a very beautiful and challenging journey.

If you could spend time with Mr. Sondheim, what would be your first question?

I'd ask two very important questions. #1. Are you OK when your songs take on their own life by a jazz singer? And #2. Can I buy you dinner?