Cream of the Crescent
(Criss Cross Jazz CRISS 1272 CD)
£13.99
Now rising 50, Herlin Riley represents the third generation in a family of New Orleans drummers, and if there are any weak spots in his magisterial playing they haven't shown up yet. Having provided the rhythmic spark behind Wynton Marsalis's bands for 17 years, he struck out on his own this year. The separation seems to have been more theoretical than real, however, because everyone involved here is a Marsalis alumnus - including Wynton himself. With people like trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and saxophonist Victor Goines also on board, the music is bound to retain some of the old flavour, but this is no rehash. All except one of the nine pieces are Riley originals, each built on a different rhythmic basis - swing, funk, Latin, gospel, reggae - and the beat is always compelling. There are some spine-tingling performances, especially by Gordon, Marsalis and Riley himself. DG
Cheikh Lo
Lamp Fall
(World Circuit)
£13.99
Cheikh Lo's third album only makes life difficult for the fourth. This one-time session musician's impeccable melding of West African, Cuban, reggae and soul on Ne La Thiass (1996) and Bambay Gueej (1999) felt effortless. To the lithe, lived-in voice, flamenco guitar, virtuosic drumwork (uncredited here) and ever-shifting layers of melody and rhythm now add Pee Wee Ellis on saxophone and a 40-strong carnival percussion troupe from Bahia, Brazil. Their rough and tumble with Samba N'Dokh on tama (talking drum) is one big thrill; elsewhere, Lamine Faye on guitar gives a masterclass. At the core of this heartfelt work, a polite plea for peace and love - plus a song to his wife, whom he compares to a chilli pepper. CMcD
Best of the rest
Ike Quebec
Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions
(Blue Note)
£13.99
Double album of soulful, big-toned tenor saxophone from the days when Blue Note singles were on every hip jukebox in the USA.
Various
The New Brazilian Music: Pernambuco
(Trama)
£10.99
Bahia rocks, but the real innovations in Brazil are coming out of Recife, if this breathless compilation is anything to go by.
Souad Massi
Honeysuckle (Mesk Elil)
(Wrasse)
£13.99
More lovely songs about being homesick from the Paris-based Algerian; world music's dream crossover girl.
