DJ Ray The Original (Isba/Pindoff)

DJ Ray spins ragga muffin rhythms over a bed of jeep beats in an attempt to satisfy both reggae and hip hop heads. He succeeds not because this is anything that you haven't heard before, but because his music is so damn infectious. Take "Hang On Sloopy," with its twist-and-shout meets sunsplash appeal: you can just hear this track boppin' heads from the office to the dance floor. Similarly, "Reggaelypso" reaches out to different musical island loyalties by blending the genres together. This DJ knows how to throw a party. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Xscape Traces of My Lipstick (Sony)

The four women from Atlanta are back from a three-year hiatus with their best album to date. You know they ain't tryin' to compete with all these other girl groups, they're just clued in to the best distinguishing quality: excellence. With just the right mix of ballads and uptempo jams, Xscape seduces the pallet with sultry songs like "Softest Place on Earth" and "Your Eyes," and inspire the booty with relentless grooves like "Do You Know." Just beautiful. 8.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Kenny Werner A Delicate Balance (RCA/BMG)

This is an excellent outing by an under-appreciated but musically mature young pianist, a veteran of bands led by the likes of Mel Lewis and Joe Lovano. Werner is joined by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette on eight very musical cuts, Nat Adderley's "Work Song" and seven by the leader including his marvellous tribute to Thelonious, "Amonkst"--top notch trio playing! 9/10 (Len Dobbin)