Karen Blixt Marilyn Scott Holly Near Diane Ward

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Although the headcount is getting slightly better, out lesbian musicians continue to outnumber gay male musicians. In this column alone, there are more than 20 (!) CDs by queer women, most of which were released since the middle of the year.

The title Despite Our Differences (Hollywood) is fitting for the new Indigo Girls record for many reasons, not the least of which is that after nearly 20 years, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are no longer recording for Epic. Also worth noting is production by hotshot, in-demand producer and musician Mitchell Froom. And, in case you missed it, Saliers curses on opening track "Pendulum Swingers." Some things that haven't changed include the queer duo's inclusion of stellar guest musicians, represented here by Pink, Brandi Carlile, Greg Leisz, and Froom's (and Suzanne Vega's) daughter, Ruby. There are also the alternating tunes, Ray's with a razor-sharp rock edge and Saliers' rolling like waves lapping at the shore.

Cutting-edge, all-female queer band Erase Errata 's latest disc, Nightlife (Kill Rock Stars), correctly scrawls dance beats over punk crunch. Think The Slits crossed with Gang of Four, and add a dash of Le Tigre. Bracketed by the "dark cruising" of "Cruising" to the garbled gallop of "Nightlife," the album is permeated by a duskiness, which can also be experienced on "Another Genius Idea From our Government," "Tax Dollar," "Rider," and "Wasteland (In A...)."

One of the best and most critically lauded albums of 2006 is Mythologies by renowned queer jazz diva Patricia Barber [read an interview in "GrooveOut," October OutSmart ] . Barber isn't alone in the jazz field. Out vocalist Karen Blixt is joined by a stellar line-up of musicians including Joey DeFrancesco, Russell Ferrante, Buddy Montgomery, and Alex Acuña on Spin This (HiFi). Beginning with the dizzying Jon Hendricks/Count Basie composition "Swingin' the Blues" and continuing through her takes on standards by Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Mercer, and Van Heusen, Monk, and Miles, as well as her own tunes, Blixt is sure to make your head spin with delight. Known as the only vocalist in Billboard history to have two albums chart on both the traditional and contemporary jazz charts at the same time, Marilyn Scott returns with Innocent of Nothing (Prana Entertainment). Like the Blixt offering, Scott's disc features Russell Ferrante, as well as George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Vinnie Colaiuta, and others. Similarly, Scott's disc includes standards by Monk and Dylan as well as numerous co-compositions.

After a couple of jazz-influenced albums Mila Drumke returns to the experimental folk-pop of her earlier recordings on Radiate (Little Pro). Those who were first smitten with her because of her song "Someone," originally heard in the movie Go Fish, ought to be pleased with this album and songs such as "Days Go By," "My Big Holiday," and "I Think the Spring."

On her fourth studio album, Another Kind of Fire (ediecarey.com), Edie Carey demonstrates why she is an in-demand performer. In the tradition of Dar Williams, her songs strike a universal chord, her voicing is soothing, yet strong, and the arrangements never fail to have an emotional impact. Songs such as "Bonfire," "My Heart," "Without a Fight," and "Hollywood Ending" qualify Carey as the Shawn Colvin of her generation.

As you might have guessed, there are more than a few folk singers among these women. Katie Sawickie's aptly named For the Quiet (Bend) is a gentle collection of acoustic tunes. Recorded live in her project studio over the course of a 13-hour period, Kim Char Meredith's 40 Years (Passionate Women) is a disc she likens to the dream of being at a gathering and realizing that you aren't wearing anything. With a little less hype and fanfare to get in the way, Dryland (Sad Rabbit) by Chris Pureka is an assured and mature effort of musical and literary merit. And don't forget about Anne Stott 's six-song EP, Untitled Mind (astootmusic.com), and Second Narrows (jackiestrano) by musician and lesbian porn filmmaker Jackie Strano.

Holly Near, one of the original voices from the women's music movement, has returned with Show Up (Calico Tracks). As political as ever, Near gets necessary points across on originals such as "Somebody's Jail," "Family Band," and "I Am Willing," as well as via the additional lyrics she wrote for Eric Schwartz's very queer "Hattie and Mattie." Near also chose songs by Cheryl Wheeler ("Gandhi/Buddha"), Jackson Browne ("Lives in the Balance"), and Laura Love ("I Want You Gone Too"), to further get her peace and justice message across.

Out rockers certainly have a place in the queer women's music community. Fast Moving Dream (linqmusic.com) by Linq, Wonderlight (Shinytown) by Diane Ward, Hand on the Stove (Pommier) by Liz Clark, Cry Mercy (lindanunez.com) by Nuñez, The Best of Life (BNL) by Deb Barber, and Moving On (jenporter.com) by Jen Porter, run the gamut of rock styles.

Queer female musicians also know that there are lesbians (and gay men) who love to dance. Kinnie Starr is well aware of that fact, and her politically conscious blend of dance beats and hip-hop style delivery (i.e. "Rock the Boat") is sure to get every party (political or otherwise) in motion with her new album, Anything (Maple Music). Nicky Click, a Scream Club follower, speaks her on You're Already a Member (Crunks Not Dead). On Do You Have a Lover? (sandragrace.tripod.com) Sandra Grace serves up a straightforward set of dance club tunes.

Gregg Shapiro is a past recipient of the annual OutMusic award that recognizes contributions by non-musicians in furthering the work of GLBT performers.
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