Peter Bernstein led four albums for the Swiss Criss Cross label during 1992-1997. His fourth effort has him heading a trio with organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart. Some of the selections are very much in the soul/jazz tradition, since the Jimmy Smith influence can be heard now and then in Goldings' playing and Bernstein's main influence is Wes Montgomery. However, some of the originals are more advanced and the music still sounds pretty fresh. Among the highlights are Bernstein's ironically titled "Sublime Indifference," Goldings' tricky "The Acrobat," Hank Mobley's "The Breakthrough," and a relaxed version of "How Deep Is the Ocean." ~ Scott Yanow

Trumpeter John Swana leads his Philly Gumbo session under the name "John Swana and the Philadelphians," a knowing reference to a 1958 album by Benny Golson. Fittingly, the record showcases a number of excellent straight-ahead players who aren't widely known outside of Philadelphia: tenor saxophonist Bootsie Barnes, pianist Sid Simmons, bassist Mike Boone, and drummer Byron Landham. The mostly original music is solidly within the hard bop tradition. Boone contributes a fine piece called "Old Head" and collaborates with Swana on the ballad "John Wayne," which is named for John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. Other highlights include the medium-fast "Up Jumped Bootsie" (loosely based on Freddie Hubbard's "Up Jumped Spring") and the rubato finale, "Tot Ziens," an out-of-character trio feature for the leader on fl�gelhorn. Swana's frontline rapport with Barnes is exceptional, and his horn is consistently spry and insightful. ~ David R. Adler