Of the Air in Bloomington, MN

A consistently intriguing vocalist,
Pyeng Threadgill
is as much a folksinger as a
jazz
improviser. Influenced and inspired by
Abbey Lincoln
and to a lesser extent
Sheila Jordan
,
Threadgill
sings lyrics that she believes in, has no difficulty with complex melodies, and even contributes lyrics to
Fats Waller
's
"Jitterbug Waltz,"
scatting well on
"Ambrosia."
While she is accompanied by strong improvisers, the focus throughout is on the singer, whose haunting voice and unusual phrasing makes her memorable while not fitting snugly into any specific musical genre. ~ Scott Yanow