Sophie Milman

Sophie Milman has been softly combating her fellow Canadian Diana Krall to earn the title of the world's biggest selling jazz vocalist. And Miss Milman is taking the indie route to do it. Her third album finds the singer getting even stronger -- she has a smoky tone, a slinky way around a lyric, a sudden bite and real jazz chops that work with her crack band. Besides the time-tested standards, Milman also puts a jazz spin onto a few rock era tunes by such heavy-hitters as Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Joni Mitchell (whose "Be Cool" describes the vocalist's laidback, tasty approach).