CapRadio’s Jazz Music Director Gary Vercelli highlights notable new releases by today’s top female jazz vocalists, including Calabria Foti, Tierney Sutton, Mary Stallings, and Nicki Parrott.

The Tierney Sutton Band — “On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” — ScreenPlay

As a veteran educator at USC, Tierney Sutton has mentored many of today’s rising stars, including Gretchen Parlato and Sara Gazarek. On her new album, Tierney explores great songs from the cinema, including a Trey Henry arrangement of 1970’s On A Clear Day. This CD may earn Sutton another Grammy nomination (she already has 8)!

Calabria Foti — “I Had To Fall In Love with You” — Prelude To A Kiss

Foti’s angelic voice is complemented by a full orchestra with a beautiful arrangement by the legendary Johnny Mandel and Bob McChesney (Calabria’s husband and trombone master). On this ballad, composed by her father for her mom, Calabria is joined by L.A.’s top studio musicians, including pianist Roger Kellaway. The album is recorded in the same Capital Records studio where Nat “King” Cole and Frank Sinatra documented so many classics.

Mary Stallings — “Lover Man” — Songs Were Made To Sing

As Mary Stalling approaches her 80th birthday, she remains as vibrant, elegant, and relevant as when she recorded with Cal Tjader in 1961! Stallings grew up in San Francisco and toured for three years as the featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra. Here, she is reunited with Bay Area trumpeter Eddie Henderson and pianist David Hazeltine, whose Latin-tinged arrangement of this tune suits Mary like a glove.

Nicki Parrott — “Under Paris Skies” — From New York To Paris

Jazz bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott hails from Sydney, Australia. She first moved to New York in 1994 and has studied with Rufus Reid and Ray Brown. She played bass for the legendary guitarist Les Paul and she’s recorded 27 albums (many for the Japanese Venus label). Nicki’s flair for the romantic is evident on this beautiful song featuring accordionist Gil Goldstein.

Kalya Ramu — “Little One” — Living In A Dream

A rising star in her native Canada, Kalya’s voice echoes traces of Billie Holiday. She is a composer of considerable merit and wrote this delightful, uplifting tune.

Listen to Vercelli's playlist here: