Ask a Woman Who Knows
In the 1970s, Natalie Cole made a spectacular debut. And, after a number of  personal and professional setbacks in the '80s, she bounced back with her  splendid 1991 rendition ofher daddy'shit, "Unforgettable," where she  electronically performed a "duet" with her father. This CD reunites Cole  with producer by Tommy LiPuma, who produced "Unforgettable" and was the  hit maker behindGeorge BensonandDiana Krall. This collection is a classic blend of jazz-inflected pop, with the best and the brightest in the  business. Backed by a plethora of stars, including trumpeterRoy Hargrove,  bassistChristian McBride, pianistJoe Sample, and drummerLewis Nash, Cole's lithe,Ella Fitzgerald-tinged vocals are showcased in a number pleasing settings. Whether it's the Brazilian sound ofSergio Mendes's "So Many Stars," the scat-happy "My Baby Just Cares for Me," or the big band swing of  "It's Crazy" and "Soon," courtesy of the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, Cole  projects her aura on these songs once sung bySarah Vaughan,Barbra Streisand,Nina Simone, andDinah Washington. Natalie Cole is a jazzy soul survivor in the literal sense of the term, and this recording represents her finest hour.--Eugene Holley Jr.