In the past, female jazz singers in Japan were often just pretty faces up front. They had to sing, of course, but their main role was often to provide a contrast to the usually all-male band.

They would come out to sing a few ballads to let the serious (male) musicians slow down for a couple of numbers before getting back to the serious (male) music. They were rarely in charge, and even when women became leaders, following their own visions was not always easy. In addition to the usual hassles of finding good accompanists and well-arranged charts and singing in a second language (English), they had to overcome preconceived notions of how women should entertain.

These days, though, twenty- and thirtysomething singers are starting to shed the traditional image of simply being a demure chanteuse. They have their own conceptions of the music, and the will and talent to realize them. Four of the best -- Junko Ochi, akiko, Junko Sumi, and Fried Pride's Shiho -- have all released CDs this past year and regularly perform live in Tokyo's jazz clubs. Through their diverse approaches to jazz improvisation and expression, they've all developed refreshingly original vocal styles.