Who's Your Favorite? It's that time of year again when Britain-based DJ Mag conducts voting for its 2006 Top 100 DJ Poll. Last year they received votes from fans representing 147 different countries and tapped Paul van Dyk as #1 in 2005, besting Tiesto who had been at the top of the poll the previous three years. The best American showing in 2005 was Deep Dish at #8, with Danny Tenaglia and Victor Calderone charting at #34 and #55, respectively. The 2006 voting in going on now (until September 25), with the results to be announced a month later. Venturing Away from the Dance Aisle. I've written about Brazilian-born jazz vocalist Eliane Elias before and am so stoked to talk about her again as she has a new album out called Around The City (Bluebird Victor / RCA) that's simply fantastic. On this new 13-track offering, the 18th album of her career, Elias demonstrates why she is so well thought of the world over, presenting both fresh material as well as covers of classics such as Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va" and Bob Marley's "Jammin'" in an exotic style that's all her own. She even includes a take on Beck's "Tropicalia" (from his 1998 album Mutations). If you need a reason to veer away from the dance or pop music rut you may be in, then Around The City is the album just for you! At the moment I'm really groovin' on: ''Keep The Faith" - Suzanne Palmer (Star 69 Records) The Chicagoan Palmer keeps churning out dance hits and "Keep The Faith" is another fine example: a vocal house track with a bit of gospel feel to it that will please dance floors the world over. I really like the original version quite a lot, but the other treatments, including remixes by Peter Rauhofer and Offer Nissim, add to the songs versatility and appeal. "Ain't No Other Man" (Dance Remixes) - Christina Aguilera (RCA) Now, here's a maxi-single worth owning with 10 different versions, including the Junior Vasquez Club Mix that retains a lot of the attractive funky elements from the original version and the Shapeshifters Nocturnal Groove mix that's dubby and sophisticated. There a circuitized Scotty K Bootleg mix that will find much favor with Saturday night peak hour club crowds and a wholly interesting mix by Jake Ridley that I describe as groggy electro tribo-funk. And for those of you looking for a hard edge after-hours mix, be on the lookout for the DJ Paulo White Label mix from a DJ or web sharing internet site near you. "The Way You Love Me" - Ron Hall & The MuthaFunkaz feat. Marc Evans (Defected Records) This song has been my absolute favorite house track of the summer with a soulful male vocal performance that is strong and captivating. The original version of this uplifting love song has a distinct Philadelphia soul sound to it and you half expect to hear Teddy Pendergrass start belting out the lyrics. And while the original mix is top-notch, it's the Sergio Flores treatments ­ a Tribal Dub and Vocal Dub ­ that give me goose bumps while making this song accessible to higher energy dance floors. So far this is my song of the year.   DJ Plez is the Music Editor of ChicagoPride.com and BOI. He's a resident DJ for Pride Night at Cesar's (on Broadway) as well as at PUMP! in Milwaukee, WI.