Individually, they are five phenomenal and distinctive vocalists: Peter Eldridge, a eclectic vocalist, composer, and member of the New York Voices; Lauren Kinhan, known for her charismatic voice, genre bending originals, and her dedicated years as a member of the New York Voices; Theo Bleckmann, the effusive German-American Meistersinger known for his brilliant collaborations with Meredith Monk; Kate McGarry, a vocal polymath at home with the folk tradition and the Big Apple bandstand; Luciana Souza, the Brazilian whose repertoire ranges from bossa novas and Elizabeth Bishop to Steely Dan. Together, they are MOSS, A vocal supergroup that intertwines jazz, classical, pop, folk, electronica, world music, and poetry into an arresting and unique sonic species of art. A typical vocal jazz record follows a formula: some up-tempo tunes, plenty of moody ballads and a vocalist reaching for the unique without leaving the familiar. The vocal dream team Moss has thrown out the old formula on their new self-titled CD. Not to be pigeon holed, these master vocalists supply their own unique originals along with a bevy of thoughtful arrangements of not so standard tunes (including pieces by Tom Waits, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and e.e. cummings). Throughout this exceptional recording, the vocal quintet's contrapuntal harmonies, silken phrasing, and soulful improvisations, traverse and morph genres with ease and invention. 'Hopefully, each song reveals the curiosity and uniqueness of each voice," Luciana Souza writes in the CD liner notes, 'and the wonderful and intangible thing that happens when a group of friends blend their voices and sensibilities into one."

Listen to Shadows and Light 1 in RealAudio.