Musicians have always endeavored to incorporate the popular music of the day into the jazz repertoire, although the effort has too often seemed forced since the advent of rock. Undeterred, Sonny Criss visited New York from his Los Angeles home early in 1968 and recorded this album, which makes room for the hits of Sonny & Cher and Bobbie Gentry and the theme from the film Dr. Zhivago. Each of these titles, as well as the more typical fare that rounds out the program, are given treatments that sound totally natural in the hands of the great alto saxophonist, who is joined here by a magnificent rhythm section. Also notable are “Calidad,” which updates one of Criss’s earliest recorded compositions, and the ballads “Georgia Rose” and “Yesterdays.” Those who seek to improvise on “new standards” today could do worse than taking a cue from this convincing and uncompromising jazz session.

with Cedar Walton, Bob Cranshaw, Alan Dawson