Originally an accomplished Classical oboist, Ann Patterson’s primary
focus for the past two decades has been on Jazz saxophone and flute, along
with her 17-piece all-female orchestra Maiden Voyage. Founded in Los Angeles
in 1980, Maiden Voyage broke new ground for women musicians in the
male-dominated local Jazz scene. Showcasing some of the country’s best
female talent, the orchestra began receiving stellar reviews from some
of the area’s top critics, including Leonard Feather, and soon outgrew the
novelty aspect as it received acclaim from audiences and musicians as
well.
Since its inception, Maiden Voyage has appeared at the Playboy,
Monterey, Concord, Tucson Primavera and Jazz on the Rocks (Sedona) Jazz festivals;
at numerous Los Angeles area Jazz festivals, including at the Hollywood
Bowl; as guests of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; and on NBC’s 'The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno.' The band toured Japan three times, has
performed twice at the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz
Festival, and recently opened for Billy Crystal at the Universal
Amphitheater in Los Angeles.
Outside of her work with Maiden Voyage, Ms. Patterson is a busy member
of the L.A. scene. Her freelance work includes concerts and shows as well
as recordings for film and television. She has appeared with the bands of
Jack Sheldon, Bill Berry, Bill Holman, Buddy Childers, Buddy Collette,
the Frank Capp/Nat Pierce Juggernaut, and the American Jazz Philharmonic.
She played lead alto with the Don Ellis Orchestra, appearing at the Newport,
North Sea and Montreux Jazz festivals and on two of the band’s recorded
albums. Other artists whom she has backed and/or recorded with include
Cleo Laine, Joe Williams, Etta James, Plas Johnson, Neil Sedaka, Sammy
Davis, Jr., Lou Rawls, Barry White, The Temptations, El DeBarge, Nell
Carter, John Mayall, Ray Charles and k.d. lang.
As an educator, Ms. Patterson, who holds three degrees in music from
the University of Illinois and North Texas State University, has taught at
the University of Wisconsin (Stevens Point), Cerritos College and California
State University (Domiguez Hills) and was musical director for the
Southern California Conservatory Theatre.
