(Concord Jazz)

Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington’s The Mosaic Project, her fifth recording as a leader, has her convening a ‘dream team’ lineup of musical talents, all of whom are women. The wow-inducing roster includes the likes of vocalists Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Nona Hendryx, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gretchen Parlato and Carmen Lundy. The instrumentalists include pianists Gerri Allen and Helen Sung, guitarist Linda Taylor, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Tineke Postma, percussionist Sheila E. and bassist Esperanza Spalding, who also sings on a couple tunes. The recording features fresh takes on a couple classic compositions, along with contributions from Carrington, Allen, Spalding and Lundy, among others. What’s more important than the concept of an “all-female recording” is that it works so incredible well musically on every level.