ALBUM REVIEWS : CYRUS CHESTNUT, “The Dark Before the Dawn” (<i> Atlantic</i> ) ***

Chestnut’s second album reveals a real potential for commercial success, with a number of briskly swinging, soul-jazz-styled pieces. Centered on those tunes alone, this could easily be a breakout album in the Les McCann style.

But Chestnut also has other aspirations--apparent in his stretched-out improvisation on “Steps of Trane,” the lyricism of “My Funny Valentine” and classically inspired “Baroque Impressions.”

What emerges is the impressive, if somewhat partitioned, work of a gifted young artist who may soon have to make a decision between the commercial and artistic aspects of his career.

JACKY TERRASSON, “Jacky Terrasson” ( Blue Note ) *** 1/2

It takes a few hearings for Terrasson’s often eccentric interpretations of standards to make their impact. But when they do, the mix of the pianist’s extraordinarily varied touch and drummer Leon Parker’s constantly changing rhythmic support is remarkable.

The act of performing a set of standards on a debut album is, at the very least, courageous and runs the risk of endless comparisons. Terrasson obviously knew what he was doing, however, and makes even such familiar and often overdone items as “My Funny Valentine,” “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “What a Difference a Day Makes” into personalized expressions of his own.

A powerful maiden voyage for a performer who is going to be one of the important jazz voices of the ‘90s.

THE STEPHEN SCOTT TRIO, “Renaissance” ( Verve ) ** 1/2

Scott’s examination of traditional repertoire doesn’t quite reach the innovative levels of Terrasson’s interpretations, in part because of his mainstream orientation, in part because his trio interaction has a more traditional point of view.

But within the straight-ahead Scott style, there is still plenty of room for invention. His powerful sense of swing, for example, on “Solitude” and “For Heaven’s Sake,” and his soft, lyrical touch on “Tenderly” and “Spring Is Here” are astonishingly mature for a young artist.

As an added touch, the four movements of his “Renaissance Suite” suggest the growth of a potentially impressive composition skill.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good, recommended), four stars (excellent).