NOVELTY - A recombinant microorganism comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway, is new. The isobutanol producing metabolic pathway comprises at least one exogenous gene and/or at least one overexpressed endogenous gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes a pathway step in the conversion of pyruvate to isobutanol.    USE - The recombinant microorganism, preferably yeast chosen from Crabtree-negative yeast, Crabtree-positive yeast, post-whole genome duplication (WGD) yeast and pre-WGD yeast is useful for producing isobutanol. The yeast is S.clade or S.sensu stricto. The Crabtree-negative yeast is chosen from Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Hansenula, Issatchenkia and Candida. The Crabtree-positive yeast is chosen from Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Debaryomyces, Pichia, Candida and Schizosaccharomyces (all claimed). Can also be used for producing beneficial metabolites including fuels, chemicals and amino acids e.g. valine, isoleucine and leucine.    ADVANTAGE - The recombinant microorganism has improved performance, productivity, titers and yield.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A recombinant microorganism comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway, is new. The isobutanol producing metabolic pathway comprises at least one exogenous gene and/or at least one overexpressed endogenous gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes a pathway step in the conversion of pyruvate to isobutanol. The recombinant microorganism is (a) engineered to reduce or eliminate the expression or activity of one or more enzymes catalyzing the conversion of acetolactate to 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoic acid (DH2MB) and/or is substantially free of an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of acetolactate to DH2MB, and (b) engineered to reduce or eliminate the expression or activity of one or more enzymes catalyzing the conversion of isobutyraldehyde to isobutyrate and/or is substantially free of an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of isobutyraldehyde to isobutyrate. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for method of producing isobutanol, which involves (a) providing the recombinant microorganism, and (b) culturing the recombinant microorganism in a culture medium containing a feedstock providing a carbon source, until a recoverable quantity of isobutanol is produced.