Twenty Miles Self-titled (Fat Possum/Epitaph)

The Blues Explosion's Judah Bauer has a knack for deliciously damaged Stones-via-Howlin' Wolf licks, but bandleader pretensions seem to have sidetracked his flair on this Mississippi-born side project. Though he has an able partner named Donovan, T-Model Ford's drummer Spam and a killer fife & drum act ("I'm Not a Man"), Bauer is miles from his best when fronting this full-time gig. 6/10 (Lorrie Edmonds)

Changing Faces All Day, All Night (Warner)

Far and away a stronger release than their self-titled debut, which boasted only the sumptuous "Stroke You Up," this sophomore set finds the female duo serving up a full course of enticing urban jams. Led by the sister-anthem " G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.," this album trades fluid vocals with slow grooves like "I Apologize" and laid back party starters such as "All That." Just delicious. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)

Oscar Peterson A Tribute to... (Telarc/Polygram)

Peterson is scheduled to receive an honorary degree from Concordia this week. Back in 1949 he made his U.S. debut at NYC's Carnegie Hall; last October in the same city tribute was paid to Peterson by a number of his peers and protégés including Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Benny Green and Manhattan Transfer. The highlights are included on this feel-good CD. 8/10 (Len Dobbin)