My Shining Hour

The recordings that peerless Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom makes with his trio are almost always shaped by a precise conceit -- a program of Monk tunes, for instance, or a reimagining of 60s pop tunes as jazz vehicles. His excellent new album, My Shining Hour (Origin), is devoted entirely to standards, which is only notable because it's something he hasn't done before. Bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Makaya McCraven provide a crisp, punchy framework for Broom's improvisations, and he's never sounded better?he delivers his patient, melodically generous lines in a gorgeously clear, biting tone.