Jackie Allen

This vocalist has released a number of fine albums over the past decade, bringing in elements of soul and rock to a modernist jazz approach. Ironically, Jackie Allen's first album for the legendary Blue Note label scales back the jazz, and goes for a crossover lite-rock sound. That's not a bad thing, since Allen's feel for her material (which includes standards, original compositions, and covers of Van Morrison, Donald Fagen and Randy Newman songs) is so strong.