She graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in music and dance.
For her album Woman's Work, she researched music by women composers.
She has collaborated with Mal Waldron, Kenny Werner, and Bill Frisell.
When she married saxophonist Joe Lovano, she changed her last name from Silverman to Silvano.
Since 2011 she has been studying painting at the Wallkill River School of Art in Montgomery, New York, and has exhibited her work in galleries.