Richie Buckley: "In Arrears" (IMC) The quality of the second batch of six releases under the Improvised Music Company's aegis is underlined by this fine quartet session led by tenor saxophonist Richie Buckley. There are no surprises here, unless it is that Buckley, so persuasively varied stylistically, limits himself to an essentially mainstream idiom. He's a master at it, however, and -

backed by an in-form Myles Drennan (piano), Niall O'Neill (bass) and John Wadham

(drums) - is consistency personified on this late 1996 date. With such high-

calibre tenor around, Drennan's ability to match and, at times, even surpass it with some of the most savoury soloing on the CD is a huge asset. And there's a bonus; guitarist Hugh Buckley, guesting uncredited on a couple of tracks, plays brilliantly, sparking both the leader and Drennan to some of their best work on the guitarist's own Floren's Dance. Ray Comiskey

Michael Stewart: "Blue Patches" (Hip Bop) New Orleans trumpeter Stewart is a Miles Davis addict to the point of being a virtual clone. And yet - he has a big, full, beautiful sound, and a caressingly sensitive way with a melody which, despite the similarities of tone and note placement to Davis, seems utterly natural; the manner may be Miles, but there's something indefinably Stewart's there, too. The effect is beguiling, with Stewart somehow establishing his own value within the Davis style. On several tracks he's joined by a fine saxophonist, Gerald Albright (and on one by Jacky Terrasson and Steve Wilson), but his pianist on the quartet and quintet tracks, Shelly Bery, is a real find, just about perfect for this insinuatingly enjoyable, lyrical album. Ray Comiskey

Brian Lemon: "Lemon Looks Back: Just For Fun" (Zephyr) Mainstream again, with more than a taste of dixieland mixed with the swing era. But, stifle the yawns; this is purveyed by an outstanding septet - Roy Williams, Alan Barnes,

Ken Peplowski, Lemon, Dave Cliff, Dave Green and Martin Drew - breathing new life into material largely done to death by trad bands over the years. With altoist Barnes doubling clarinet and clarinettist Peplowski doubling tenor, the group has additional options of tone and ensemble weight and balance available to it. They're used intelligently on this session from April last year - sharing out ensemble leads, sequencing solos, even joint soloing - but what's significant is how such marvellous improvisers respond to them and their colleagues, with all the front line and Lemon delivering work full of felicities, supported by a regal rhythm section. It swings irresistably. Ray

Comiskey