Modern day female jazz recommendations

Lisa Sokolov

These are must have CD's to have for female jazz. These are mood setters.
Shirley Horn--Here's to Life
Stacey Kent--Dreamsville
Laura Fygi--Bewitched
Jacintha--Autumn Leaves

Carole Sloan and Stacy Kent come to mind of those not mentioned already.

Abbey Lincoln -- she has been around but is still issuing new recordings. Try her if you like a voice burnished by a little age and experience. Start with "You Gotta Pay the Band" with Stan Getz on sax. Then try her latest, "Abbey Sings Abbey," which stretches the limits of jazz instrumentation but in really engaging ways. And yes, for some late night listening sessions when you've had enough of the office and everyone in it, Diana Krall can soothe the soul. A glass of Cabernet goes nicely with her "When I Look in Your Eyes."

Madeleine Peyroux sounds somewhat like Billie Holiday and Robin Mc Kellee sounds quite a bit like Ella.

Tierney Sutton, with her nasal sound, I simply can't bear to listen to.