Jay Harvey for the Indianapolis Star (November 2007)

This may be the most auspicious debut of a female band singer since the 19-year-old Peggy Lee etched a few sides with Benny Goodman in 1941.

True, much of the uniquely named Champian Fulton's success is owing to the arrangements and performing panache of David Berger's crack big band.

But so was Lee flattered by Eddie Sauter's and Mel Powell's charts for her big-time debut sessions with Goodman.

Still, the 22-year-old Fulton is a convincing partner (she's been a jazz singer and pianist since her early teens), fully in command of such delectably dated songs as the jump-band hit "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and Irving Berlin's "He Ain't Got Rhythm."

But she's also authoritative in Cole Porter chestnuts like "Get Out of Town" and "Just One of Those Things."

Making an exception for deliberately "bent" notes, I might wish for a more consistent pitch sense. But her diction and phrasing are superb, and the voice is confident and mature -- almost belting, but not quite.

Fulton naturally conveys an unlikely blend of alluringly innocent girl-next-door and tomboy kid sister.