Ella Fitzgerald:

Best of the BBC Vaults (Verve CD/DVD)

This set consists of a 17-track CD, and a 34-track DVD, with performances from 1965, 1974, and 1977. Throughout, Fitzgerald is accompanied by pianist Tommy Flanagan, and various editions of his trio, plus the Johnnie Spence Orchestra on the second '65 segment, and the consummate guitarist Joe Pass on the 1974 show at the famed London club, Ronnie Scott's. The 1965 segments are in black and white, and, perhaps due to limitations of half-hour broadcasts, tend to feature the vocalist alternately swinging hard and singing softly, but rarely scatting. At Ronnie Scott's, she carries on a delightful Q&A conversation with bassist Keter Betts and rocks out on the closing "Swingin' the Blues." If anything, that title is an understatement. At Montreux, with the crispest video images of the DVD, she scats the coda of "Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" with Betts' arco accompaniment and really stretches out with superb scatting on "One Note Samba." In my opinion, the packaging could have been better, as there is no set-by-set designation of personnel, and there is no correlation of what songs on the CD come from what performances captured on DVD. That's a small price to pay, though, for a generous 2+ hours of the exquisite artistry of Ella Fitzgerald captured on film, with accompanying CD.

Corey Christiansen:

Lone Prairie (Origin, www.origin-records.com)

Guitarist Corey Christiansen, an Aebersold Camp faculty member, shines on his new album, which includes new renditions of the title track, "El Paso," and others from the folk/country canon, as well as three originals and Ennio Morricone's "Il Grande Massacro." Joined by pianist Steve Allee and others, Christiansen seems to meld influences from Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell into his own voice. He pretty much plays "Streets of Laredo" as straight as a jazz guitarist can, while turning the traditional "In the Pines" into an eerie, almost psychedelic tune. He rocks out on the blues of "Sittin' on Top of the World," but wisely avoids doing it Grateful Dead style. In short, Lone Prairie offers fresh variations on what a jazz album can be.

EIGHTH NOTES, BLUES DIVISION

I've recently received some new blues albums from two independent labels that I would like to share with you. They are:

The Duke Robillard Band:

Independently Blue

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters:

Just for Today (both on Stony Plain, www.stonyplainrecords.com).

Robillard's last release, as the Duke Robillard Jazz Trio, was Wobble Walkin', emphasizing his laidback swing. The new disc is more in the vein of rockin' blues, with guest guitarist Monster Mike Welsh, but the pace slows for some deep blues on "Moongate," and Robillard digs deep into jazz history with his cover of Red Allen's "Patrol Wagon Blues." Earl's new album was recorded live at three Massachusetts venues, and ranges from the soulful opener, "The Big Train," to a tribute to the recently departed Hubert Sumlin, and a funky version of John Coltrane's "Equinox." Dave Limona's organ and piano alternately lay deep beds for Earl's sinuous guitar and set off on their own journeys. Another fine new releases comes from the VizzTone label (www.vizztone.com), which includes former Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin among its founders. Candye Kane and Laura Chavez! Coming Out Swingin' features the former model Ms. Kayne belting out blues with a classic swing sound, while musical partner Chavez shows she can wrangle a guitar with the best of them.

Steve Gadd Band:

Gadditude (BFM Jazz, www.bfmjazz.com)

Drummer Steve Gadd has been on countless albums . . . well, maybe not countless, but check his discography on his website, www.drstevegadd.com/discography and see how long it takes to count the many recordings listed there, in genres from folk (James Taylor, Judy Collins) to rock (Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt) to jazz (Charles Mingus, Herbie Mann) and more. There are only 11, though, with his name as leader or co-leader, so it's good to hear this new release, featuring Larry Goldings on keyboards, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Walt Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Michael Landau on guitars. While the high level of musicianship might be expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of material, ranging from the Miles Davis voodoo vibe of Landau's "Africa" and Goldings' "Ask Me" to the South Africa meets Memphis take on Abdullah Ibrahim's "The Mountain." "Cavaliero" is soulful, with some Santana-like guitar work. Gadd and company play with restraint on Keith Jarrett's ballad "Country," and then rock out on Jarrett's "The Windup," before closing with a jazz take on Radiohead's "Scatterbrain." Despite the varied moods and styles, Gadd's vision unifies the seemingly disparate styles, making this an exciting and fun album.

LOCAL JAZZ CONTACTS

With two fourteen-year-olds, it's hard to get out as much as I would like to hear music. As a result, picking and choosing which performances to catch sometimes require that I postpone seeing some of the local musicians and singers in order to not miss the one-night-stands from out-of-town artists. Invariably, I feel guilty, so in an effort to assuage my guilt and, more positively, to provide more exposure to our community of great local jazz performers, I am initiating this feature containing website and e-mail contact information. I am only including those artists who have given their permission to me; some have indicated a preference for website listing only; others have only e-mail addresses. If you wish to be included, drop a line to me with your permission and preferences, at mzkjr@yahoo.com. I reserve the right to edit and to exclude those whose connection to jazz is, in my opinion, tenuous; and this feature may end up online if it begins to take up too much space in print.

MIKE TRACY: www.michaeltracy.com, michael.tracy@insightbb.com, saxophonist and teacher Mike Tracy

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE JAZZ PROGRAM: www.jazz.louisville.edu

BOBBY FALK: www.myspace.com/bobbyfalk, drummer and composer Bobby Falk;

WALKER & KAYS: www.walkerandkays.com, singer Jeanette Kays and guitarist Greg Walker;

JENNIFER LAULETTA: www.jenniferlauletta.com, singer Jennifer Lauletta;

JEFF SHERMAN: jeff.sherman@insightbb.com, guitarist Jeff Sherman;

RON JONES: www.ronjonesquartet.com, rjmusic@ronjonesquartet.com, saxophonist Ron Jones;

STEVE CREWS: www.jazzcrews.com, jazzcat@iglou.com, pianist Steve Crews.

CODA

I am always interested in your comments. Contact me at mzkjr@yahoo.com.