The latest releases reviewed.

KENNY WERNER Lawn Chair Society Blue Note ****

This is pianist Kenny Werner's mordant comment on American society and its place in the world, a personal State of the Union address delivered with the notable help of Dave Douglas (trumpet), Chris Potter (tenor/bass clarinet), Scott Colley (bass) and Brian Blade (drums), with additional electronics help from producer Lenny Picket. It is, first and foremost, a composer's album. Werner has shaped each performance, mixing the human elements as a painter handles colour so deftly that their personalities are woven into the shape and texture of each piece.

The music hankers after rustic joys in Lo's Garden, casts a cold eye on urban realities in New Amsterdam, mocks in Inaugural Balls, adds anger to that in the title track, recalls pain in Loss, and laments the rare beauty of simplicity in Uncovered Heart and Kothbiro. Most of all, it works. RAY COMISKEY

STEFANO BOLLANI Gleda Stunt ****

Bollani toured with Denmark's Jesper Bodilsen (bass) and Morten Lund (drums) a couple of years ago, and the three hit it off so well that they renewed acquaintance in late 2004 for this fine venture into what was fresh repertoire for the Italian pianist. Gleda is an album devoted not to the standards that formed their initial acquaintance, but to Scandinavian themes from the last 100 years. While the material will be unfamiliar to anyone not from the area, what's immediately clear is the rapport shared by Bollani, Bodilsen and Lund and the eloquent way they dialogue. There's a blithe elegance to their treatment of beautiful pieces, such as Den Allersidste Dans, Morgenlys over København and Danser og Valsen, a tune Bill Evans might have written, and above all, Gleda, where the whole performance is so beautifully organised that it seems pre-ordained. www.sundance.dk RAY COMISKEY