(Jan Shapiro)

A veteran of the hotel circuit before becoming a Berklee College professor, vocalist Jan Shapiro presents a warm and inviting recording on that exemplifies the depth of her earlier vocal experience. Piano Bar Afterhours features Shapiro working mostly with several different pianists in an intimate duo environment that is entrancing. The singer aptly cover a host of venerable standards by Frank Loesser, Ira and George Gershwin, Horace Silver and Jon Hendricks, along with more recent compostions written by Al Jarreau and Rickie Lee Jones. Partnering with Shapiro on the selection of material are pianists Daniela Schachter, Bob Winter, Tim Ray, Adriana Balic, Russell Hoffman and John Harrison III. Regardless of the pairing, Shapiro is in total sync with her fellow musicians and in wonderful voice throughout the production.