Michael Lampert: Jacaranda

The tunes, all originals by the leader, are mostly in the standard head-solos-head format, and each member of the ensemble is given time to shine in the spotlight. Guitarist Tom Bethke is wonderfully bolstering and complementary throughout the disc, a great thing considering the real potential for clashing with the sound of Lampert's neo-mandolin. The rhythm sections are also appropriately sympathetic, and Roberto Vizcaino's percussion is a welcome addition to two of the Latin-flavored tracks.

Lampert's unit is right at home with straight-ahead bop styles, as exemplified by the up-tempo opener 'Ken's Blue Hat'. Lampert clearly admires the single-string styles of guitarists like Kenny Burrell and Charlie Byrd, and the higher pitch of his mandolin accentuates the vibrancy of that style. The title track is named for a lovely purple-flowered tree that's indigenous to California, and it accurately reflects the temperate beauty of tree and surroundings. 'Blues For Iain' is a laid-back blues that recalls 'Trouble In Mind', but with more optimism. 'Pres-Ly' indeed conveys the warm, carefree attitude of Lester Young that influenced a generation of melodic tenor players and is translated well to strings. All in all, Jacaranda is a joyful, consistently entertaining release that will appeal to fans of mainstream guitar jazz.

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