Jazz CDs

September

Jack Kerouac, “Reads ‘On the Road,’ ” Rykodisc. The Beat master himself, reading Ur-work of the ‘50s and singing(!) a few jazz standards.

Stefon Harris, “Black Action Figure,” Blue Note. Generally viewed as one of the potential jazz stars of the next century, the young vibraphonist further demonstrates his talents as a composer and improviser.

Eric Dolphy, “The Illinois Concert,” Blue Note. A hitherto unknown 1963 outing by the great post-bop woodwind artist, recorded a year before his death at the age of 36.

Nat King Cole Trio, “Live at the Circle Room,” Blue Note. Recorded in 1946 for a radio broadcast, and an extremely rare example of the trio in live performance.

Brad Mehldau, “The Art of the Trio 4: Back at the Vanguard,” Warner Bros. Seen by many as the successor to Bill Evans, Mehldau continues his thoughtful examination of the standard repertoire.

Dave Valentin,SPELLING CQ? “Sunshower,” Concord Records. The underrated Latin jazz flutist finding the common ground between contemporary jazz and Latin rhythms with guest artists Dave Samuels and Steve Khan.

The Mahavishnu Orchestra, “The Lost Trident Sessions” Columbia Legacy. A previously unreleased collection from guitarist John McLaughlin’s influential ‘70s ensemble.

Larry Willis & Hamiett Bluiett, “If Trees Could Talk,” Mapleshade. Two adventurous avant-gardists, dueting in a program ranging from stride to blues and from Coltrane to free jazz.

October

Keith Jarrett, “The Melody at Night, With You,” ECM. A solo performance of standards, recorded in Jarrett’s home studio late in 1997 and not originally intended for commercial release.

Phineas Newborn, “Solo Piano,” 32 Jazz. The legendary bop pianist in a 1974 solo performance, released for the first time on CD.

Teri Thornton, “I’ll Be Easy to Find,” Verve. Thornton, who thought, at 64, that her career was over, won the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition last year and now has her first comeback album.

Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, “Ultimate Bebop,” Verve, three-CD set. Classic bebop performed brilliantly by its creators.

Pat Metheny, “A Map of the World,” Warner Bros. The popular contemporary guitarist’s music for the film of the same title.

Los Angeles Jazz Quartet, “Conversation Piece,” Naxos Jazz. One of the Southland’s many gifted but underexposed jazz groups releases its second set of subtle but swinging performances.

Ellis Marsalis, “Duke in Blue,” Columbia Jazz. The piano-playing patriarch of the Marsalis clan reveals the quality of his own chops in a program dedicated to Ellington.

Marcus Roberts, “In Honor of Duke,” Columbia Jazz. Pianist-composer Roberts celebrates the Ellington centennial with a program of original compositions inspired by and dedicated to the Duke.

John Abercrombie, “Open Land,” ECM. The adventurous guitarist with a first-rate contemporary ensemble that includes trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and saxophonist Joe Lovano.

Fats Navarro, “Goin’ to Minton’s: The Savoy Master Takes,” Denon/Savoy. State-of-the-art playing from the late bop trumpet master (he died in 1950 at the age of 26), and a powerful influence upon similarly star-crossed Clifford Brown.

November

Ron Carter, “Orfeu,” Blue Note. One of the imaginative bandleader-bassists in jazz takes his quintet south in search of an authentic blending of jazz improvisations and Brazilian rhythms.

Michael Brecker, “Time Is of the Essence,” Verve. The tenor saxophonist’s first recording with drummer Elvin Jones, and first outing with organ rather than piano accompaniment.

Nicholas Payton, “Nick @ Night,” Verve. Another new performance from one of the busiest of the ‘90s Young Lions trumpet players.

Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan, “Live at the Village Vanguard,” 32 Jazz. Two older lions, recorded at their peak in 1980, with Sullivan doubling, amazingly, on saxophone, flute and fluegelhorn.

Oscar Pettiford and Vinnie Burke, “Bass by Pettiford and Burke,” Bethlehem Archive. Two superb bop bassists--Pettiford a legend, Burke less known but powerfully talented--on a recording that combines two 10-inch LPs never before available on CD.

Duke Ellington, “The Reprise Years,” Warner Bros. Not exactly a highlight period in the Ellington saga, but with a few unusual items, among them some tunes from “Mary Poppins.”

Django Reinhardt, “The Complete Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France Swing/HMV Sessions,” Mosaic Records. A six-CD boxed set of classic performances from the French Gypsy jazz guitarist.