Finnish-born pianist/composer Frank Carlberg emigrated to Boston in 1986 and now lives in Brooklyn. His elegant, spare approach to music is influenced by Paul Bley, Ran Blake, Herbie Nichols, Herbie Hancock and Steve Lacy. Around the time of his first Accurate release, "Blind Drive,"(AC-4400) in 1992, he won the $10,000 First Prize in the Henessey Jazz Search.

"The Crazy Woman" contains Carlberg's vocal settings of poetry by Jack Kerouac, Wallace Stevens, Anna Akhmatova, Gwendolyn Brooks, Anselm Holloand others. Not conventional jazz tunes, the poetry settings here are challenging but not abrasive, a fascinating twist on the use of lyrics in jazz.

Carlberg is joined by the cream of the new generation of downtown NY jazzers. Vocalist (and Carlberg's wife) Christine Correa has performed orrecorded with Ran Blake, Mick Goodrick, Steve Lacy and in the vast Indian film industry. Tenor saxophonist Chris Cheek has recorded or performed with Paul Motian, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Jimmy Weinstein ("nostalgia,"Accurate AC-5009). Bassist Ben Street has appeared with Lee Konitz, TimBerne, Joey Calderazzo, Gene Bertoncini and many other. Drummer Kenny Wolleson's credits include: John Zorn, Bobby Bradford, the New Klezmer Trio and Wolfgang Muthspiel.

Carlberg's groups are always telepathically tight, musically economical, rhythmically sharp and surprising, and "The Crazy Woman" band is no exception. Correa is gifted with a gorgeous, full voice, and the players have beautiful, relaxed approaches to their instruments.