I must first disclose that I have zero musical talent/knowledge
Patricia Barber Jazz Singer/Songwriter/Pianist
A thinking mans Diana Krall if you will. Not that I dislike DK (The Girl in the Other Room is a great album) but I consider PB a cut above.
Supposedly she is quite the jazz pianist -- I can't comment on that (other then it sounds good to me), but I consider her lyrics to be her strong suit (see the excerpt from clues below).
I like most of her albums but Mythologies is probably my favorite. I am a bit of a headphone freak and will say that the production values on her albums seem to be pretty high.
I think she plays a weekly gig at the Green Mill in Chicago.
Some links to songs and webpages
http://www.patriciabarber.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Barber
Blackbird
http://www.seeqpod.com/music/?q=sund...ng+coming+down
Some Youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcozquLttY
Presumably showcasing her ivory skillz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2JmkaBBwEc
Excerpt from Clues
the moment slips by in silence
like dying in your sleep
peripheral vision could save you if the movement weren’t so fleet
like the burning smell of flesh before the brain records the heat
the flash of an explosion the second before defeat
if truth could sound a warning instead of stealing in the night
if blunder would blaze like neon or a christmas tree with lights
if words spoken in certain sequence were outlined in black and white
would these clues forecast disaster within the ordinary life