New York–based Austrian-born singer and songwriter Elisabeth Lohninger possesses a rich contralto and an exceptional gift for phrasing, imbuing both her own songs and some very sel­ect standards with profound emotional nuance. Her band here includes bassist Chris Tarry, featured on her 2006 album The Only Way Out Is Up. Aug. 11. One of Toronto’s most valuable exports to the New York jazz world, saxophonist Andrew Rathbun often ties his music together thematically, from settings of Margaret Atwood poems to the political subject matter of his most recent CD, Affairs of State (2007). In performance, his work is a happy balance of cerebral formal concerns and the passions of the immediate moment. Aug. 23. The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra is a superb instrument for jazz composition, regularly featuring works by McMurdo, Don Thompson and Mike Malone. Their devotion to the oeuvre of Phil Nimmons has added lustre to both orchestra and composer, resulting in several CDs showcasing Nimmons’ work. Aug. 25. —Stuart Broomer