Johnaye Kendrick’s name—and sound—should ring familiar to New Orleans jazz fans. The vocalist, originally from San Diego and now based in Seattle, was a very audible part of this city’s jazz scene when she was among the first, hand-selected students to attend and graduate from the prestigious Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz when in 2007 it moved to Loyola’s campus from its longtime digs at the University of California.

Then and now, as heard on Here, Kendrick’s most striking quality remains the pureness of every note she sings and her genuine musicality. On this album, her debut as leader, she also demonstrates her melodic and lyrical compositional skills having penned all of the material.

Softness and romance and often a certain haunting ambiance envelop the performance. The first cut, “Your Flowers” opens dramatically with Kendrick’s lone and somewhat lonely sounding voice. Later, her lilting and very impressive scatting and the persuasive drums bring lift to the song. The vocalist and pianist Dawn Clement give a rapid-fire delivery to the Latin-tinged swinger, “I Will Wait Forever” that offers greater diversity to the program. Kendricks accompanies herself on the harmonium on the title cut, another moody ode to love on which her vocal range simply startles.

An unexpected rhythmic lightness enters the albums finale, “Standing Still” that almost boasts a pop or country flavor. It’s doubtful that this represents another side of Kendricks though she’s a talented artist that deserves watching.