Guitarist Phillip Catherine has been at the forefront of European jazz since the 1960s, and the marvelously varied, eminently listenable Blue Prince shows why. Catherine displays a remarkable range of styles and sounds. Aided by the rounded trumpet of Bert Joris and a sensitive rhythm section, he not only shows an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz guitar, but also an impeccable ability to choose the right style to complement each composition. "Coffee Groove" kicks things off with a jostling, edgy sound, à la John Scofield, whereas "Global Warming" showcases a lyrical rock sound, reminiscent of Jeff Beck. Other cuts, such as Richard Rodgers"s "With a Song in My Heart" and Eubie Blake"s "Memories of You" display Catherine"s command of the more traditional jazz idioms, while "Kwa Heri" soars into sonically adventurous territory. This wide-ranging approach, however, never sounds derivative; rather, it puts Catherine"s technical fluency at the service of a distinct and explorative musical persuasion. --Wally Shoup