Ron Jackson - Standards and My Songs (Roni Music)

Guitarist Ron Jackson is one of those stellar players for whom fame proves elusive (even in the jazz universe), but whose work commands respect, especially with time spent on Broadway and names like Randy Weston, Oliver Lake and Dee Dee Bridgewater on his client list. Over the past three decades of a busy career, however, the 7-string guitar specialist has found the space for a handful of albums as a leader, of which Standards and My Songs is the ninth. A sequel to 2019’s Standards and Other Songs, this album contains the same mix of pop songs from schools old (“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “This Nearly Was Mine,” Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne’s immortal “Time After Time,” which gets an expert solo rendition) and newish (Looking Glass’ “Brandy [You’re a Fine Girl],” Quincy Jones” “The Secret Garden”). He also has an obvious blast rollicking through Charlie Parker’s “Moose the Mooche.”

While Jackson’s penchant for straightforward melodic expression works well within those tunes (even questionable choices like “Brandy”), he really shines on his own compositions. “For Pat” is a tender tribute to one of Jackson’s mentors, the late Pat Martino, while “From Dusk to Dawn” lets him fly in Charlie Christian bebop territory. “Roundabout” features a calypso party vibe, while “She is Love” sinks deep into romantic balladry. Jackson really revs up for “Walk Fast,” a speedy bopper he treats as less of an opportunity to show off and more of a statement on how melody can shape a good jazz performance. Indeed, that seems to be Jackson’s philosophy for the entire record, which makes Standards and My Songs a rock-solid good time.