With a four-octave vocal range and a taste for spicy world music, Seattle based composer and vocalist Beth Quist makes music that travels far and wide. On her newest release, Shall We Dance, the adventure goes even further. The album features nine compositions originally written as commission pieces for choreographers in her hometown of Boulder. But these pieces stand solidly on their own, mining the rich depth of progressive instrumental music - akin to the music on Peter Gabriel's benchmark recording Passion - and then heightening it with a voice that easily transcends language and borders. Just listen to the opening track "Survival" and you will find yourself not only caught up in the strong rhythms, but also entranced by Quist's otherworldly vocal expression. Appropriate for AAA, Public Radio and even College Radio airplay, Shall We Dance has much more substance than most New Age music and starts where most World Music ends. Of course, this kind of musical exploration is nothing new to this artist who started playing music at age 2 and began performing at age 6. In addition to being a songwriter, composer and vocalist, Quist is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, playing a diversity of instruments that include the hammered dulcimer, the dumbek, flute, guitar and piano. Quist released her critically acclaimed debut album, Lucidity , in 1995. Besides creating a regional stir with album art featuring nude photographs of the artist, she also established herself as a musician with a unique and powerful musical vision. Stand-out tracks on Lucidity include opening track "Crazy," the Middle-Eastern flavored "American Giver" and the lighter, airy "Mourning Dove." Quist's considerable musical skills, of course, have not gone unnoticed. Along with becoming one of Colorado's most respected performing and recording artists, Quist was also tapped by famed vocalist Bobby McFerrin to record with him on his recent album release Circlesongs and then tour in the U.S. and Europe as part of his Voicestra performing group. Beth is also currently performing with Seattle bands Children of the Revolution and The Guarneri Underground. Whether singing in a group, creating music for dance troupes and film soundtracks, or recording her own exciting music, Quist is an artist of the first caliber - well worth a trip around the world. Currently Singing and performing in Las Vegas in Cirque Du Soleil's "KA"