BEST CUTS
"Red Cadillac Boogaloo," "Neckbones à la Carte," "Blues for Stitt," "McGriff's House Party"

STATURE
At 63, Jimmy McGriff, who has released over 50 albums since 1963, is one of the best-known Hammond B-3 organists in jazz.

OVERVIEW
Recreating the house-party and chitlin'-club atmospheres in which Mr. McGriff's organ combos first thrived, McGriff's House Party (Milestone) mixes standards with groove-oriented originals that provide the all-star sidemen with ample room for improvisation and solos.

BEST CUTS
"Grazin' in the Grass," "More Than You Know," "Chain Reaction"

STATURE
Between them, Boney James (saxophone) and Rick Braun (trumpet) have released 11 well-received solo albums since 1992.

OVERVIEW
Despite superficial resemblances to the music of Kenny G, Shake It Up (Warner Bros.) owes more to the music of Boney James's biggest influence, the late crossover-jazz specialist Grover Washington Jr., perhaps the most commercially popular saxophonist of all time.

BEST CUTS
"You Go to My Head," "Moment to Moment," "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Always and Forever"

STATURE
Discovered by Wynton Marsalis in 1987, Roy Hargrove has, over the course of 12 albums, distinguished himself as an up-and-comer on the "hard bop" scene ...

OVERVIEW
... a scene at odds with this album's exquisite calm. From beginning to end, Mr. Hargrove's trumpet and flugelhorn interact with the taut elegance of the Monterey Jazz Festival Chamber Orchestra to create a powerfully understated tension.

BEST CUTS
"The Rise and Fall (of Loving You)"

STATURE
A lifelong fan of commercial jazz and jazz-influenced pop, Brian Culbertson began playing (piano, trombone) in grade school, composing during junior high, and recording during high school, eventually winning multiple Downbeat student awards.

OVERVIEW
The temptation to hear Mr. Culbertson's music as "easy listening" is by no means alleviated by his occasional hiring of pro forma vocalists to sing warmed-over lyrics.

BEST CUTS
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "I Remember You," "You're Sensational"

STATURE
The younger brother and occasional vocal twin of the late Nat "King" Cole, Freddy Cole made his recording debut in 1952 but developed little professional momentum until the 1990s, during which he recorded 11 of his 13 albums and became recognized as one of the best jazz singers in the world.

OVERVIEW
Accompanied primarily by the pianist Cedar Walton, Mr. Cole turns in 11 masterly performances.