The latest CD releases reviewed

BOBBY JASPAR
Clarinescapade Fresh Sound ****

Almost immediately upon his arrival in mid-1950s New York, Belgian multi-reedman Bobby Jaspar became part of the city's jazz elite. Within months, with such as pianists Tommy Flanagan and Eddie Costa, drummers Elvin Jones and Osie Johnson, and guitarist Barry Galbraith, Jaspar made these long-unavailable quartet and quintet sessions. Though they're fully within the bop/mainstream conventions of the time, they retain a freshness from the communion of players comfortable within those norms and stimulated by each other's company. And it carries through the three dates that produced the album. Jaspar plays clarinet only on the title track; there is flute on a couple more, but mostly it's his mobile tenor (Zoot Sims-ish with a different time sense) that holds centre stage. Costa, Flanagan and Galbraith also help to place the sessions among his best recorded work. www.freshsoundrecords.com

DMITRI KOLESNIK
Five Corners Challenge ***

In New York terms, this is just another hard bop album with a contemporary edge, but some idea of what that means can be gauged from the talent involved. With a front line of Jim Rotondi (trumpet/ flugelhorn), who is replaced by Alex Sipiagin on two tracks, and Eric Alexander (tenor), all driven by a propulsive rhythm section in Andrei Kondakov (piano), Kolesnik (bass) and Lenny White (drums), this is a group that would float any bop fan's boat. The standard  of musicianship is awesome, the results fiery and professional. But it lacks the kind of inspirational edge that separates the good from the special. Perhaps in part it's the material, all originals with good changes but no great individuality. Still, Sipiagin does exert a galvanising effect on the two performances on which he plays. One for the fans. www.musicconnection.org.uk

NEW YORK TRIO
Thou Swell Venus ***

The NYT - Bill Charlap (piano), Jay Leonhart (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums) - have made several albums for this Japanese label. They're clearly intended for a market that, notwithstanding the undying popularity of Jarrett, has a huge appetite for straight-ahead jazz. This one features the music of Richard Rodgers and the reassurance of familiar, superior standards. Charlap is adept at serving the melody, the nature of each song is respected, and the trio have a great time with them, grooving euphorically on With a Song in My Heart, Where or When, There's a Small Hotel and Have You Met Miss Jones? The pianist's exuberance is abundantly clear, with the trio generating irresistible momentum on the medium and uptempo performances. Enjoyable, but the nagging knowledge remains that this is only one aspect of what they can do. www.eastwindimport.com