Sheila Cooper: vocals, alto saxophone Gary Versace: piano, Hammond B-3 organ, accordion Ed Howard: acoustic bass Billy Drummond: drums John Hart: guitar (6, 9) Luis Ribeiro: percussion (3, 4) On “Phoenix Rising”, her fourth CD as a leader, Sheila Cooper brings her songwriting skills to the fore, with six inspired new compositions that match her emotional breadth as a performer, from humorous (“Man Overboard”, “Just Be Livin’ In It”), to romantic (“Kiss and Tell”) to searching (“Phoenix Rising”, “The Home Inside My Heart”). Sheila is backed by master New York musicians Gary Versace on piano, organ, and accordian, Ed Howard on acoustic bass, and Billy Drummond on drums, with guest appearances by guitarist John Hart and Vienna-based Brazilian percussionist Luis Ribeiro, Sheila and her band create grooving, soulful and impassioned moods on these originals and the her signature witty reworkings of standards that complete the set. "Canadian-born, NYC-based singer and saxophonist Cooper has developed her own self-assured sound as both a vocalist and altoist - her refreshingly simple, unfussy delivery befits her Konitz-esque sax tone while her unpretentious singing draws on her narrative abilities over excessive reliance on technique. RECOMMENDED. " TIMEOUT LONDON, UK "From the first note, Sheila Cooper was in the driver’s seat, moving from vocals to horn with dazzling dexterity. This startling duality told listeners they’d better pay attention: this would be a multi-faceted evening." VIENNA REVIEW, AUSTRIA "Of all the vocalists to emerge in the past ten years, the Canadian singer and saxophonist Sheila Cooper is the the most interesting. Gifted with a cool timbre, sophisticated approach, and a precise and delicate measure of expression, Cooper is in league with the most revered white singers of the fifties from June Christy to Helen Merrill. Exceptional among her colleagues is the fact that she is also a very talented saxophone player. " ALL ABOUT JAZZ - ITALY "Sheila Cooper is a jazz import from Canada and utterly a multi-talent. She not only plays alto saxophone, but also has an equally wonderful command of her voice. Purely sung melodies are followed by effortless saxophone improvisations. It is obvious that she lives in the moment with each instrument ... very emotional, so pure, so unabashedly direct! Like an arrow, it hits exactly the place that is concealed deep within the soul." JAZZ DIMENSIONS, GERMANY