AFTER THE RAIN

There's something about the jazz organ that just pulls me in. And after Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco is one of the coolest. So teaming him with John Mclaughlin and the great Elvin Jones should produce a winner. And it has.

Bear in mind that this is by no means a prog or fusion album. This is pure be-bop. In fact, the majority of the album seems to be something of a tribute to John Coltrane. Three of the nine songs were written by Coltrane, plus they do a fine version of My Favorite Things, a Coltrane favorite.

McLaughlin sounds like he is enjoying himself immensely on the album, playing beautiful melodies and amazingly fast solos effortlessly. And Elvin Jones is just Elvin Jones. 'Nuff said.

As a jazz album, this would rate five stars to me. But here...