John Hart: Standards: Green and Blue

They transform "Lazy Afternoon from a subtle ballad into a snappy mid-tempo post bop vehicle, with lively soloing by the two players. Bassist Bill Moring's sinewy new bass line and a change to a minor key slightly alter the character of the timeless ballad "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, while the piece retains its bluesy air. Joni Mitchell's well known "Help Me proves to be a suitable jazz vehicle, though the setting isn't significantly different from the original. "Alone Together, a favorite of many guitarists, is revamped with Hart's enticing Afro-Cuban arrangement.

While most musicians tend to play Monk's "Well You Needn't at a brisk tempo (which Hart also chooses), the group (minus Locke) takes it far from its roots in the explosive treatment here. The leader's stunning solo interpretation of "The Night We Called It a Day is a lyrical masterpiece. His two originals, the breezy Latin-ish "The E Tune and lively modal blues "Green Acres, reveal new facets with each spin.

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