In a career that has taken her from the slopes of the Austrian alps, where she sang folk songs as a young girl, to jazz clubs, concert halls and the stages of international jazz festivals, vocalist Elisabeth Lohninger has proven herself to be a powerful and elusive talent. On her latest CD, Songs of Love and Destruction (Lofish Music), she once again charms listeners with her intimate delivery and insight into a song’s lyrics.

Drawing on her love of pop music, as well as jazz and her own or...