Sharel Cassity - Relentless (2009)

While most girls were interested in playing with dolls at the tender age of eight, Sharel Cassity (pronounced sha-REL) was begging for a saxophone. Thankfully, she received an old Conn alto for Christmas the following year, and as the saying goes, 'the rest is history,' because clearly she is developing into one of the most vibrant jazz saxophonists to come along in quite sometime. Cassity's sophomore release, Relentless (Jazz Legacy Productions), is a testament to her abilities as a performer, writer, and leader, featuring rising jazz luminaries--Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Michael Dease (trombone), Orrin Evans (piano), Dwayne Burno (bass), and E. J. Strickland (drums). It is a shining example of her poise, song-bird lyricism, and purpose.