Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz Let it Reign (Columbia)

There's nothing like a straight party jam with lyrical weight to set off the summer. I almost wish this duo's "Deja Vu" had dropped right about now and not months ago, then I might have let the mediocrity of the rest of this album slide. These two have skills, but I was expecting just a pinch more. Things are nicely done on "Massive Heat" and the Fat Joe/Big Pun team-up "Cross Bronx Expressway" but I'll wait for some remixes, thanks. 6/10 (Scott C)

Gloria Estefan Gloria! (Sony)

Latina diva Gloria Estefan jumps into '98 with an energetic mix of house-like jams and salsa-inspired dance tracks. Like a high-intensity aerobics class, the set doesn't let up for a second, making it the perfect workout soundtrack. Some of the more pop-oriented numbers, like "Heaven's What I Feel" and "Lucky Girl" sound forced, but all is forgiven when Estefan goes back to her roots: "Oyé" and "Cuba Libre" will have you on your feet in spite of yourself. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Bobby Watson Year of the Rabbit (Evidence/Fusion III)

This one's about alto sax players. It's Bobby Watson's salute to Johnny Hodges, who Charlie Parker called "the Lily Pons of the alto." This is the first CD appearance of this 1987 homage by a first-class nonet, including Irving Stokes, Bill Easley, Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Washington in a 10-cut program of music associated with Hodges (aka "Jeep" and "the Rabbit")--a near-perfect package with liner notes by Stanley Dance. 9/10 (Len Dobbin)