As with her acting, Queen Latifah's singing is most laudable for not trying to do too much; she may evoke James or Nina Simone or Holiday (or Smokey Robinson or the Pointer Sisters), but she never tries to outsing them; rather, her versions are glosses on the greats she and her producers so admire.

"[3] Entertainment Weekly's Chris Willman review was less favorable, stating "between 2004's The Dana Owens Album and her run as a movie-musical diva, the 'Hey, that rapper lady can sing!'

Truth is, as velvet-smooth journeys into the pop-jazz canon go, Trav'lin' Light is an estimable exercise in showmanship, shaped by a well-seasoned pro who, though perhaps lacking the daring of a Cassandra Wilson or Diana Krall, is deserving of respectful attention.

Listen to Latifah’s tender melding of bruised pain and hard-earned self-respect on 'Georgia Rose', hear her wade gently into 'Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars', embrace the breezy joie de vivre of Peggy Lee's 'I Love Being Here with You', bring 'I'm Gonna Live Till I Die' to a life-affirming boil, percolate the sassy acumen of the Pointer Sisters 'How Long', then slide into the simmering sensuality of 'I Want a Little Sugar In My Bowl'.

"[5] Billboard's Chuck Taylor called it "a marvelous sonic achievement, recorded with such satiny care and class that it seems a crime that anyone might belittle the listening experience with an MP3 player or computer.