Noa

Israeli pop singer Noa (aka Achinoam Nini) is a beautiful woman who creates beautiful music. She wrote or co-wrote all 11 tracks on this impressive set, including her lyrical interpretation of "Ave Maria" (it's impressive to claim Bach as a co-writer). Of course, it doesn't hurt to have members of the Pat Metheny Group accompanying you. Most of the songs are sung in English, but several are performed in her native tongue. Wonderfully produced by Metheny and Steve Rodby, Noa is a striking, but unfortunately hard to find, album.