Scharf and Formichella are partners onstage and off. Before undertaking their passion for music, the Colorado-based pair had careers in natural science.

The Young Professionals, also known as T.Y.P., is winning me over with the debut effort 9:00 to 17:00 and 17:00 to Whenever. Here, the sonic similarities are with Canadian act Chromeo rather than with electronic pioneering twosomes like Pet Shop Boys or Erasure. Acclaimed Israeli producer Yonathan Goldshtein plays the synthesizers while the out Ivri Lider has vocal duties.

The set comes to life with its upbeat numbers like "Angry Alone" and "20 Seconds." "With Me" boldly does not have wall-shaking beats. The flawless "D.I.S.C.O." relies heavily on Ottawan's song of the same name. The accompanying video climaxes with a flaming hula-hoop on Tel Aviv's nightlife fixture Uriel Yekuteil. The material on 9:00 to 17:00 and 17:00 to Whenever is catchy and definitely worth a spin.

Electro-soul singer Billie Ray Martin has taken listeners on many adventures. More than 20 years ago, she fronted the futuristic Electribe 101. She then resurfaced as a solo artist with dance-pop hits like "Your Loving Arms" and "Space Oasis." The 2001 song "I Never Been to Memphis" finds inspiration in Elvis Presley, and her more recent one-off singles, "Undisco Me" and "Sweet Suburban Disco," lift the dance music scene to a higher plane.

Martin returns with Robert Solheim to form the band The Opiates. On the debut, Hollywood Under the Knife, there are some pulsating beats as heard on "Candy Coated Crime." However, overall the vibe favors a more chilled-out sound, recalling the underappreciated Scandinavian electronic outfit Frost as heard on "Oprah's Book of the Month Club (part two)." Comparisons to a modern version of Yaz (Yazoo) can be found on "Reality TV" and "Jalousies and Jealousies." Lyrically, Martin eclipses her counterparts with her fiercely observant work. The lead single "Rainy Days and Saturdays" is inspired by trans-artist and muse Candy Darling.

It was not until I previewed Jackie DeShannon's When You Walk in the Room that I realized how many popular songs she had written. Here, she favors an angelic, yet stripped-down production as she recounts her catalog. The divine title track is an ideal wedding song. Kim Carnes and Tracey Ullman hit the charts with "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Breakaway," respectively. DeShannon has a "new image" here by focusing on the lyric without the new wave production of these classics.

This year, DeShannon was inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame. Younger generations may not know her name, but surely they know her body of work. When You Walk in the Room is out now on Rockbeat Records.

Chicago vocalist Tom Michael returns with Let Me Be Your Home. Here, he interprets beautiful, lush love songs like "If I Never Met You" and "The Shadow of Your Smile," which leave me thinking "isn't it romantic?" Michael's longtime collaborator, Beckie Menzie, cameos for duets, but really shines on the medley of "Chicago/ Celebrate Me Home/ Where You Lead." Chuck Larkin, who was the musical director for the Chicago production of Jersey Boys, penned the title cut, which is the album's heartwarming highlight.

Michael and Menzie bring A Night at the Oscars to Francis W. Parker Auditorium, 2233 N. Clark St., on Monday, Nov. 7 as a part of The Chicago Humanities Festival. For a complete live schedule, please visit www.tommichael.net . Let Me Be Your Home is out now.

Five-time Tony Award winner Cy Coleman composed material for Broadway musicals like Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies and The Life. A pedigree of talent steps forth for The Best Is Yet to Come: The Songs of Cy Coleman.

Here, folk singer Patty Griffin has the honor of singing the beloved title track. Jill Sobule and Ambrosia Parsley turn into breathless flapper girls on their individual contributions, "I've Got Your Number" and "Then Was Then and Now Is Now," respectively. Nikka Costa's take on "The Rules of the Road" has a subtle blues guitar that perfectly complements the song's piano. Although one would not immediately associate these sirens with musicals or cabaret, this superb tribute still works.

Once again, Namoli Brennet will be at Homolatte Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Big Chicks/Tweet, 5024 N. Sheridan Rd., to promote her latest, We Were Born to Rise. Brennet is partial to the darker side of things in her coffeehouse folk music, as heard on the gorgeous "Flightless Birds" and the mantra "I Belong." We Were Born to Rise is streaming now at http: //www.namolibrennet.com . While there, be sure to check out Brennet's video blogs, too.

Scott Free, the godfather of Chicago's LGBT music scene, still organizes Homolatte. Also on the bill for the show with Brennet is Adonis Coakley.