Album: Terri Lyne Carrington, The Mosaic Project (Groove / Concord Jazz)

The Project consists of a heavenly host of global talent who all happen to be women.

They are too numerous to name comprehensively but how about Esperanza Spalding, Geri Allen, Sheila E and Cassandra Wilson for starters? Songs? Lennon/McCartney, Irving Berlin, Al Green and originals by the leader, which merely confirm that as a songwriter, she's an excellent drummer. This is accessible, song-based contemporary jazz at its most earnest, ordered and empowering.