Chris Houston Evil Thang (Supermono/Page)

"Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots"? "Colostomy Bag"? "Exotic Dancer Problems"? Chris, you are a clever chap. Too bad your tobacco-spitting rock 'n' roll can't compare to your eyebrow-raising choice of titles. Chris's languid attempts at witticism throw out the punch lines a bit too early, or leave us waiting for them a little too long. Flirtations with the obvious give him away long before he offers the line "Help me, I'm pathetic." 5.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Tracey Lee Many Faces (Universal)

Hailing from the Illadelph by way of DC comes Tracey Lee--an anomaly in today's hip hop. Neither preaching the Five Percent gospel nor worshipping the gangster life, Tray pumps club grooves that speak of the industry struggle. Without weak rhyme flows or recycled Zapp loops, she even keeps up with Biggie on the track "Keep Your Hands High," proving that solid hip hop isn't confined to big NY rhyme clicks or gangster record labels. 7.5/10 (Manchilde)

Doc Cheatham ...& Nicholas Payton (Verve/Polygram)

This album is about New Orleans continuum. The co-leaders are both trumpeters and "Doc" Cheatham, born in 1905 and Payton, 68 years his junior, are a most compatible pair. Here we have an inspired and delightful 14-cut program of Louis Armstrong-inspired music. Cheatham's vocals and the piano of Butch Thompson are an added bonus. 10/10 (Len Dobbin) Cheatham and Payton are at the Montreal International Jazz Festival on July 3.