Album Review / Jazz

*** 1/2, JOHNNY GRIFFIN, “Chicago, New York, Paris” Verv e

Although the years keep passing, Griffin’s patentable gruff- then-furry tone and never-off-balance improvisational style sounds as supple and lively as ever; his musical stories, meanwhile, have grown more compelling.

The tenorman--mixing Ben Webster’s bark with Charlie Parker’s litheness--works with two dynamite rhythm sections: Kenny Barron or Peter Martin (pianos), Christian McBride or Rodney Whitaker (basses), Victor Lewis or Gregory Hutchison (drums). Trumpeter Roy Hargrove is added on three tracks.

Together, the musicians produce nine tracks in the modern mainstream mode that are essentially flawless. There are catchy blues, such as “Leave Me Alone,” bright, medium-up-tempo cookers such as “Do It,” the openhearted emotion of ballads such as “You Must Believe in Spring.” Throughout, Griffin and company play with the elan, feeling and intelligence of the highest art. New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).