Spring Jazz
This mood jazz compilation is tied together by the idea of springtime, which here is translated by generally light-spirited, buoyant music. There are tracks by three distinguished guitarists, with Grant Green adding a funky touch to the bossa nova of "Samba de Orpheus," and Kenny Burrell and Pat Martino taking lighter touches to tunes by Duke Ellington and Bill Evans. The folksong "Greensleeves" courses with new life at the hands of pianist Ray Bryant, while Sonny Stitt plumbs the sentiments of "My Buddy." Whether or not there"s any inevitable suggestion of spring in these tracks, it"s a pleasant CD, functioning as background music just as well in any season and with musicians who are well above the background music level. --Adam Rains