Blue-Eyed Painted Lady

Pianist/vocalist Nelda Swiggett leads a chamber jazz team of Chris Symer/bass, Byron Vannoy/drums, Rachel Swerdlow/viola and Walter Gray/cello through some exciting, quirky and swinging originals. Tensile and dramatic pieces such as "Thanks To Solomon" or the boppish "Hewett's Blues" have the leader using either lyrics or wordless vocals with the strings pick, pluck and bow to boppish grooves. Gentle brushes sashay on the samba'd title track while the strings deliver pizzicato rhythms, and gloriously gentle waves of strings coalesce with jazz chops by the trio on "Ruby Knows." Swiggett's voice is quite flexible, going in and out on "Rainy Days." Imaginative sound and visions.