She stepped away from the piano for the climax of her performance: "Fire," a rap song from her forthcoming 5-track digital EP, Playing With Fire, that splices together her classical training with hip-hop, jazz, dancehall, electronic and film music, all at the hands of her musical collaborator, Roburt Reynolds.

"Fire" meant to have beats as well that night, but instead: "I'm going to rap a cappella for you, because I'm hardcore like that," she said.

Fire-engine red-streaked hair blazing (get the theme?), she prompted the audience to give her a homemade beat, postured across the stage -- rapper, DJ, hype man all in one -- and vented her frustrations that night with a cocky and comical lyrical assault of the song onto the swaying crowd. Eminem would have been proud. (Another single, "Boss's Nova," can be downloaded for free by clicking here.)

Playing With Fire exists because Simmons' record label, eONE Music (formerly Koch Records) pushed back her album until 2013. "I can't afford to not put out music until then," she said, adding that she would "cease to exist" if that happened.

So, what did she do? Improvise. Simmons started her own record label, Superwoman Records, at the end of June, one that she hopes caters to "really powerful and adventurous women."

Personal Bias: No electronic assistance, no problem. Jade Simmons possesses an enviable talent.

The Crowd: Youngsters rocking Bieber-style haircuts, jazz cats in Stacey Adams shoes and classical-music enthusiasts in their after-work button-downs. It was surprising to see an equal number of young people as old in Jet Lounge that night. I was sure the young hipsters would exit door left as soon as the opening acts finished their sets, but they stayed, and they were just as into the performance as the middle-aged folks.

Overheard in the Crowd: "They need to have a dueling piano against a dueling organ!"

Random Notebook Dump: Interested listeners can find out more about the Simmons' Playing With Fire EP by visiting her Web site or by searching the hashtag #FireEP on Twitter.