RETROSPECTIVE

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VARIOUS ARTISTS

“The Cole Porter

Songbook: Night and Day”

Verve/Polygram

*** 1/2

VARIOUS ARTISTS

“Blue Porter”

Blue Note

Cole Porter’s contribution to jazz has been almost immeasurable. Though he was never considered a jazz writer per se, his atypical song forms and stretched-out harmonies have challenged generations of improvisers, and his witty, urban-sophisticate lyrics provide superb texts for vocal inspiration.

These new compilations from the Verve and Blue Note catalogues celebrate last Sunday’s centennial of Porter’s birth, both sparkling testimonies to the instrumental and vocal effectiveness of his material.

The 17 tracks on “Night and Day” feature such singers as Dinah Washington, Blossom Dearie, Fred Astaire and Betty Carter. Among the highlights: Shirley Horn’s insightful reading of “Love for Sale,” Helen Merrill’s “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” and Billie Holiday’s classic “Easy to Love”--with a delightful Charlie Shavers trumpet solo.

The 10 instrumentals on “Blue Porter”--most done in the ‘50s and early ‘60s--cover many of the same songs. The gutsy, typically boppish Blue Note-style performances range from alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley’s articulate examination of “Love for Sale” to tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin’s whirlwind, rush-to-glory romp through “It’s All Right With Me.”

The peak moments on “Blue Porter” are trumpeter Lee Morgan’s passionate investigation of “Just One of Those Things” and tenorist Joe Henderson’s brilliantly crafted solo on “Night and Day.”

Albums are rated on a scale of one asterisk (poor) to five (a classic).