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Tony Bennett's tribute to the songs of Duke Ellington is unsurprisingly tasteful and personal. Working mainly with longtime cohort Ralph Sharon's quartet, the occasional string section, guest horns Wynton Marsalis and Al Grey, and violinist Joel Smirnoff, Bennett puts his stamp on 14 mostly well-known tunes from the Ellington book. His "Mood Indigo" is less the cutting burst of desperation that Sinatra committed on In the Wee Small Hours and more of an isn't-that-just-the-way shake of the head. "Caravan" appears in an arrangement that both honors the spirit of the famous original and shakes it up with a subtle shift in tempo. "Azure," the least celebrated song here, is another highlight, thanks to Bennett's artful tangy-and-sweet touch. Only the snippets of "Take the 'A' Train" that link several cuts feel out of place; it would have been nice to hear the ensemble work out on the number as an album closer instead. Still, Hot & Cool does honor to everyone involved. --Rickey Wright