Standards? Originals? Obscurities?Own band or top level hired hands? Here we have four ladies that show the value of each presentation.
Maggie Herron does most of the composing, along with some clear support and arranging by Grammy 
winning pianist Bill Cunliffe on this modern mainstreamer. She cuts and pastes with Cunliffe, Larry Koonse/g, Dean Taba/b, Jake Reed/dr, Brandon Fields/sax, Bob McChesney/tb and Grant Geissman/g for some fresh sounds as on the twinkle in the eye “A 
Ton of Trouble” and an angular “Monkisness.” She plays the piano herself in a trio format on Leonard Cohen’s dreamy “Dance Me to the End of Love” as well as her own soft “Salty Wine.” Her voice is modern and teamed with a bit of street swagger. Like the new tunes!
Dana Marcine also composes the tunes and lyrics, teaming up with Vinnie Martucci/p-key, Don Miller/b, Peter O’Brien/dr, Mark Dziuba/g, Rebbeca Coupe-Franks/tp and David Savitsky/ts-as. Her voice tone and delivery gives the noir jazzy tunes a bit of an indie feel, with vulnerable moods on “Phone at Home” and “Someone Else.” Her lyrics are contemplative and personal, with the bohemian jazz feel on “Sparkling Threads” while her personal romances are revealed on “Sweet Livin’” and “A Dream of You.” A singer/songwriter with a soft swinging pulse in her veins.
Judi Silvano is best known for her work on Joe Lovano’s classic Rush Hour album, while her own material gets quite frisky and free. This latest release with Lovan, Kenny Wessel/g, Bruce Arnold/pro-g, Adam Kolker/bcl-ss-ts, Ratzo B. Harris/b, Bob Meyer/dr and Todd Isler/perc has her holding back the reins a bit and it works quite well. She gives a funk hip on the clearly enunciated “Round and Round” and with bass clarinet support creates loose and exciting urgency during “Dark Things” while bouncing along with the reed on the Latin “After Love.” Lovano puffs and huffs on the sleekly driving “Dust” and contributes some mature post bop as Silvano flexes her muscles on “Riding a Zephyr.” Fresh, free and in sync.
Joani taylor has a world-wise tone and delivery as she joins up with PJ Perry/ts-as, Miles Black/p and Neil Sainson/b through a lithe mood of standards. The team suavely swings with an uptown mood on “This Can’t Be Love” and “Sentimental Journey” as Perry hearkens back to Coltrane’s summit with Ellington on a rich “In a Sentimental Mood.” A dash of Christy has her misty on “More Than You Know” while she shows whimsy on “Undecided.” Sung with the relaxed patience of a lady who’s lived a full life.
Gayle Kolb sings with an attractively fragile touch and vibrato as she sticks to standards with Joey Skoch/p, Dennis Carroll/b, Bobby Broom/g, George Fludas/dr and Tom Garling/tb. Her nasal voice swings easy with Garling on the title track, and is fluid with Broom on “Second Time Around” while he and Carroll produce droplets of background on “If You Went Away.” She can get bluesy with some hip support by Skoch on “Gravy Waltz” and digs deep into a groove during “Sweet and Lovely.” A charmer.