Holly Cole - The Holly Cole Collection Vol. 1 (2004) Lossless

Acclaimed Canadian vocalist Holly Cole isn't an artist who falls into any single category. Her smoky voice is sultry, yet she's ironically humorous and candid while reshaping traditional standards and pop classics. Jazz is her bedrock, but not exclusively. It's a sound that helped build her a loyal fan base after she emerged on the Toronto jazz scene in the 1980s. Working with her trio of bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis, she earned accolades, including Juno Awards for 1993's Don't Smoke in Bed and 2003's Shade. Her music remains deeply inventive and atmospheric, even when drawing upon the classic traditional pop sound of the '50s and '60s, as she did on 2007's Holly Cole. Although jazz standards have remained a staple in her discography, she's also branched out into folk, rock, and country, covering songs by Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and more.