Eva Cassidy is a unique combination of (A) the purity of tone and vocal technique of an R&B diva (think pre-crash Whitney Houston), the (B) song interpretation and phrasing of a Jazz singer (think Patrica Barber), and the (C) emotional sensibility of a chronically depressed singer songwriter (think Tori Amos).
To my knowledge there is no other female vocalist that combines these three qualities. Rachell Ferrell will give you (A) and (B) (try "First Instrument"). Anita Baker will give you (A) and a bit of (B) (try "Rhythm of love"). There are others that will give you two out of three (Joss Stone is a good suggestion, and you may want to give the aforementioned Tori Amos a listen).
A suggestion completely out of left field is Bjork's wildely original one off Jazz outing called "Gling Glo". This album beats Eva Cassidy in the only department she is not a groundbraker - musicalal innovation and orginality.
To my knowledge there is no other female vocalist that combines these three qualities. Rachell Ferrell will give you (A) and (B) (try "First Instrument"). Anita Baker will give you (A) and a bit of (B) (try "Rhythm of love"). There are others that will give you two out of three (Joss Stone is a good suggestion, and you may want to give the aforementioned Tori Amos a listen).
A suggestion completely out of left field is Bjork's wildely original one off Jazz outing called "Gling Glo". This album beats Eva Cassidy in the only department she is not a groundbraker - musicalal innovation and orginality.