Ramsey Lewis: Sky Islands (GRP).
Pianist Ramsey Lewis bolstered the Chicago jazz scene in the ’60s with his trio, scoring with “The In Crowd” and the looney “Hang on Sloopy.” So it’s not surprising that he would at least briefly reprise those early successes on his latest release, which features those in a medley of three tunes (the other is his own composition, “Wade in the Water”). The 58-year-old Lewis is at his best when he doesn’t look back, and his funky “Apres Vous” sidles along with magnificent ivory-tickling when he veers off in improvisation. Michael Logan’s soaring synthesized flutes and strings passage introduces Lewis’ sweeping sound on the McCartney-Lennon song “Julia.” Earth Wind & Fire’s Maurice White (Lewis’ drummer in the ’60s) helped produce one of the tracks, and Lewis was abetted by area talents Art Porter on alto sax, Henry Johnson on guitar, Chuck Webb on electric bass and drummer Steve Cobb. With their capable assistance Lewis mixes an elixir that sparks and bubbles before settling into a soothing tonic.