Art Blakey: The Witch Doctor (Blue Note)

First time on CD, this archetypal example of one of the best Messenger quintets catches the Lee Morgan/Wayne Shorter front line pushing out the boundaries of hard bop. The crisp ensembles mark it as a working group, and at least half of the album ranks among the best under Blakey's name. If, occasionally, the material seems to constrain the soloists somewhat, notably on the title track, Afrique and Those Who Sit And Wait, trumpeter Morgan remains dynamic, inventive and utterly unfazed throughout. Although Shorter, on tenor, and pianist Bobby Timmons are pushed to cope with some bristling tempi, they deliver on A Little Busy, Joelle and Lost And Found, with Blakey's drums a force of nature.

Ray Comiskey

Warren Vache: Iridescence (Concord)

Another first on CD is this savoury 1981 encounter between Vache and pianist Hank Jones, beautifully supported by the big-toned bass of George Duvivier and the incandescent drumming of Alan Dawson. Vache on cornet and, unusually for him, flugelhorn, plays like a man possessed, the influences - Armstrong filtered through Ruby Braff, mixed with the rhythmic and harmonic grace of Clifford Brown - allowing him to fit seamlessly in with Jones and Dawson. Obviously inspired by them, he responds with the exuberance and passion of youth - he was only 30 when this was made - helping to frame highly melodic, swinging mainstream performances on six standards and two Jones originals.

Ray Comiskey