Pat Thomas - Jazz Patterns (1961)

A really wonderful little album from vocalist Pat Thomas -- one of a rare few cut by this obscure singer from Chicago! Pat's got a sense of poise and grace that reminds us a lot of Lorez Alexandria -- a way of putting over a tune that's classy, yet still filled with the right sort of jazz inflections, and a sense of soul that goes deeper than most other singers at the time. And overall, there's a very Lorez-like feel to the whole set -- as backings are often done by a small group, supposedly arranged in the studio -- and featuring nice use of vibes, guitar, and some strong sax solos on a few tracks. Unfortunately, no players are credited in the notes -- but we'll guess there's some top-shelf talents helping Pat out. Titles include "Star Eyes", "Stella By Starlight", "Mean To Me", "Almost Like Being In Love", "Blue Room", and "There'll Never Be Another You".