Brad Mehldau: "The Art of the Trio"

Vol I

Warners 9 46260-2 (56 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1201

Chick Corea:"Remembering Bud

Powell"

Stretch SCD-9012-2 (74 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1311

Eddie Thompson: "When Lights Are

Low"

HEP CD 2007 (55 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1421

The pianist Brad Mehldau, due to play in TCD and Limerick next month, is breath taking on this album, recorded last September with Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jorge Rossy (drums). The way this trio plays so expressively with time, and Mehldau's ability to strike an instinctive balance between passion and the technique and judgment needed to give it form, make this a memorable offering. The abiding impression is of a unique artistic sensibility at work and a feeling that one is in the presence of someone maturing, into greatness.

He makes Corea seem no more than a brilliant craftsman. Nothing wrong with that, and Corea is in excellent form leading a group which includes Joshua Redman, Roy Haynes, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Wallace Roney in a contemporary, somewhat bop flavoured response to Powell's compositions. This is, in fact, one of Corea's best albums for some time, thanks to his own playing and that of Redman, McBride and Haynes in particular.

There are simpler, but no less tangible virtues to Thompson's album. A marvellously swinging pianist in the Peterson mould, engagingly combative and prodding, he is a constant delight on this reissue of a 1980 trio session he made for HEP's Alastair Robertson.

Bobby Wellins: "The Satin Album"

Jazzizit JITCD 9607 (66 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1531

Humphrey Lyttelton: "Lay em Straight"

Calligraph CLGCD 033 (74 mins) Dial a track code: 1641

Tenor saxophonist Wellins is one of the under rated treasures of British, or any other, jazz, and his instrumental version of Billie Holiday's valedictory Lady In Satin album is superlative by any standards. Backed beautifully by Colin Purbrook, Dave Green and Clark Tracey on two days last July, he turned in performances that must be among the most poignant and satisfying of his career. With his vocalised tone, innate sense of the character of the material - and what Lady Day did with it - along with a gift for spinning improvisations that share the same emotional climate but remain recognisably his own, Wellins has made a nonpareil example of ballad playing.

Humph's trumpet is not as secure as when he was younger, but the vulnerable edge is attractive and this latest album is his best for years. It features a splendid septet, including Kathy Stobart, Pete Strange and Ted Beament, complemented by Joe, Temperley and Alan Barnes on five tracks. Several arrangements date back to earlier decades and his bands; that they stand up so well is a proof off their quality and that of the performances they get.

Edison-Clayton-Allen-Eldridge:

"Swing Trumpet Kings"

Verve 533 263-2 (2 Cds-155 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1751

Buck Clayton: "Basel 1961"

TCB 02072 (61 mins)

Dial-a-track code: 1861

"Swing Trumpet Kings" is aptly named; the four remain among the finest in the idiom. But only Edison and Clayton have a mainstream cone text on this Verve reissue of three rare albums - "Harry Edison Swings Buck Clayton and Vice Versa", "Red Allen Plays King Oliver" and "Swing Goes Dixie" - and their collaboration works best of all. Red Allen and Roy Eldridge feature in a couple of traditional trumpet trombone clarinet front line contexts, but their pungent personalities constantly subvert the two beat dixieland format and the result is an engrossing exposition of iron lipped, thoroughly extrovert mainstream trumpet soloing from 1956-60.

Clayton's own live 1961 album stems from a European tour with Emmet Berry, Buddy Tate and Sir Charles Thompson, among others. The principals are very much "on", with the sad exception of the once great trombonist, Dickie Wells, then very much in decline. Essential only for fans of Clayton and Tate.