Piano Ladies

Our introduction to the best of piano-based female singer-songwriters and performers was designed to acquaint you with their most important tracks. From the inward emotion of Sarah McLachlan and Carole King to the unabashed anger of Fiona Apple to the enchanting mysticism of Laura Nyro's quintessential classic "Save The Country" — consider yourself well acquainted.

Soul. Jazz. Pop. From the early jazz-blues styles of Mary Lou Williams and the fiery Nina Simone to the complex compositional beauty of Alice Coltrane, the piano became a creative expression of liberation. Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," as reimagined by Nanaimo's Allison Crowe, is indicative of the instrument's potential to unlock deep rivers of emotion.

Now we're ready to really dive into the work of keyboard divas who hold nothing back as they explore a broad palette of lyric and emotion. Check out the compositional and technical style of Margaret Leng-Tan, contrasted with the slow-rolling beauty of Emm Gryner's cover of "Julie Ocean" (originally by U.K. popsters the Undertones).

A note from the Fact File: Did you know that the piano was the first keyboard instrument enabling the user to express dynamics? It's true. Piano Ladies (used here as a very broad term) have channeled not only the dynamics of profound emotion into their words and music; they've also created bodies of work that have taken over the charts and our iPods. Alicia Keys, Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Sarah Slean, among so many others, demonstrate the piano's true power.