Los Angeles' 31-strong women's ensemble Vox Femina blew us away with their 2002 debut album 'Simply,' and we have waited a long time to be able to hold CD #2 in our hot little hands. 'Still I Rise,' directed by Dr. Iris S. Levine and accompanied by Lisa Edwards on piano, celebrates Vox Femina's 10th anniversary season, highlighting the best of Vox's live performances. The 15 very different songs share fine arranging, flawless performances, and the exciting fact that they are live recordings. The rhythmic opening cut 'Odi Odi,' the spiritual 'Deep River,' Hildegard von Bingen and Roger Bourland's 'O viridissima virga/Both Page and Pen;' Debussy's 'Salut Printemps;' Ysaye M. Barnwell's lovely 'Breaths;' Roy Brown's 'Sky Dances;' Stuart Stotts' 'Music in My Mother's House,' Holly Near's 'Imagine my Surprise;' Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban's 'At the Ballet' and the title tune by Rosephanye Powell are some favorites. But Vox is very special group of women, a bridge-building group, and each of these songs needs to be listened to, appreciated and savored. Besides piano, you might hear some flute, drums, bass, guitar, oboe and zils. Exquisite!

Listen to Breaths in RealAudio.