Maiden Voyage

Kellee Patterson's debut LP Maiden Voyage is edgier and more challenging than her subsequent soul-oriented sessions, yet at the same time it's also the most mainstream recording ever issued on the Black Jazz imprint, boasting little of the label's signature deep-groove swagger. Produced and arranged by Black Jazz founder Gene Russell, the album's late-night, neon-lit atmosphere nevertheless does right by Patterson's sultry if slight vocals, although the material -- highlighted by the Herbie Hancock-penned "Maiden Voice" -- seems to require a more aggressive interpretation. ~ Jason Ankeny