Jacqui Naylor journeyed to all points on her rich musical landscape during a recent show at Yoshi’s in Oakland, Calif. Back in her native Bay Area after extensive touring, Naylor was loose and confident, kicking off the show with the Talking Heads’ "Once in a Lifetime." Her smoky vocals made the song soar as her band smoothly melded the music of Weather Report’s "Birdland" behind her. The song is an example of Naylor's "acoustic smashing," her process of blending a rock song with a jazz tu

Cassandra Wilson stood on stage and confessed that she wanted to sing in one place for a year. The audience answered by making the case for San Francisco to be just the spot to realize that wish. The acclaimed singer had the crowd from her opening tune, "Caravan." Known for her adventurous repertoire, Wilson performed a stellar, although short, set that stretched from jazz standards to an old blues number. The show was part of Wilson’s six-night run at the splashy new Yoshi’s in San Franci

Only in Nellie McKay's world does Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In" become a song about illegal immigration. "Give me land, lots of land under starry skies above," she sang, gently strumming a ukulele. "Don't fence me in." That's McKay in a nutshell. She's an uncommon blend of bite and sentiment. She's both wise and a wiseass. The young pop-jazz singer performed at San Francisco’s The Independent on the heels of the release of her fine third CD, Obligatory Villager

On a damp Chicago night that had the first feel of fall, Patricia Barber showed that she is one of jazz music’s top artists. The singer-pianist performed a solid, sometimes daring, two-set show that featured instrumental and vocal numbers, originals and covers. Barber performed with her stunning quartet, which includes longtime bassist Michael Arnopol, guitarist Neal Alger and drummer Eric Montzka. Each musician is given room to stretch and take off on flights of improvisation before bring

Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay revealed to a San Francisco audience that she has received her share of hate mail. But don’t be alarmed, she said, continuing the story after performing several songs. Most of the messages came from people she knows. That’s McKay fearless and funny. It’s a combination that graces her thoroughly original music. McKay is a piano playing, cursing, rapping, jazz singing, cultural reference dropping, politically outspoken chanteuse who has released one of the y