Lyric is paramount for internationally touring vocalist Joanna Pascale who insists that she cannot perform a song unless she can connect personally with its lyrics. Once she’s found that connection, there’s no one who can better convey the emotion of those words more directly and intimately than Pascale. That gift is in ample evidence on Pascale’s latest release, Wildflower, where she’s joined by an all-star ensemble including pianists Orrin Evans and Cyrus Chestnut, harmonica master Gregroire Maret, bassist Christian McBride, and neo-soul singer Bilal.The recording of Wildflower coincided with the end of Pascale’s decade-long engagement at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which allowed her to hone her voice, style and vast repertoire.   A singer of sophisticated taste, profound expressiveness and raw emotion, Pascale is also a gifted educator who is a member of the vocal faculty at the University of Pennsylvania.She’s been featured on recordings by Jeremy Pelt, Tim Warfield, Orrin Evans, Larry McKenna,  the Temple University Jazz Band and Garry Dial and Dick Oatts.Pascale made her recording debut with 2004’s When Lights are Low, followed by the 2008 through my eyes and a 2010 duo recording with pianist Anthony Wonsey released on her stiletto records label.In 2017 she was artist in residence at the Kimmel Center for the performing arts in collaboration with 2015 Guggenheim fellow, Etienne Charles and director Ellie Heyman to create a song-cycle inspired by flowers