Artist Alison Margaret Jazz Quartet

Madison jazz singer Alison Margaret and her quartet take jazz and folk standards on lighthearted yet complex little adventures. Margaret's lithe delivery and clear vocal tone belie the band's curious spirit, which relies on Geoff Brady's sneaky flexibility on the vibraphone and bassist John Christensen and drummer Michael Brenneis' liberating swing. The overall mood on the quartet's latest album, Shades Of Morning, doesn't veer off into anything too experimental or abstract, but tries to take the spirit of tunes like "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" and "Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" head-on while leaving room for improvisatory rhythmic interplay and plenty of free-form melodic scatting from Margaret.

Updated 01/07/2010