Vocalist Lola Danza has always been an original thinker, but that doesn't get you very far in a field crowded with people fitting that description. What makes Danza stand out is her strength of vision and steadfast commitment to following her muse, no matter how non-commercial it may be. With Janya (Evolver, 2011), Danza and her fellow female band mates explored Korean-influenced avant-garde avenues of expression, creating far-reaching fantasies that could alternately fascinate or frighten. On The Island, Danza takes a more jazz-oriented approach, tackling some standards and mixing with more conventional Western instruments, but her unique lineup of backing musicians and free roaming tendencies still mark this as a far-left-of-center affair.

Few vocalists would feel comfortable working without the harmonic safety net provided by a piano or guitar, but Danza doesn't give it a second thought. She even goes one better and uses a two-bass team as the foundation for some of her work.