Lisa Otey's upbeat jazz, blues and boogie-woogie music could turn a group of zombies back to the living. Instead of shuffling and moaning, they'd be bopping and grooving to her music. Otey has won numerous awards, including Composer of the Year, the Arizona Blues Showdown Championship and numerous TAMMIES. A member of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, the singer, songwriter and pianist also has her own independent label, Owl's Nest Productions. Whether performing with Diane Van Deurzen at a blues brunch, with several performers in a Vegas-inspired musical cabaret show or with the Desert Divas, Otey pleases the most discriminating audiences--even those without a pulse.

Runners up:

2. Namoli Brennet, www.namolibrennet.com

3. Flam Chen, www.flam-chen.com

Vote of note: "Joe Sweeney (ha!)"