*** Olu Dara

IN THE WORLD: FROM NATCHEZ TO NEW YORK

(Atlantic)

Olu Dara is suddenly sorta famous these days as the father of multi-platinum New York rapper Nas, but the cornettist has long been one of the most respected players on the jazz scene. Dara has also had a second musical career less visible to jazz fans -- that of a composer and songwriter for theater pieces and other occasional projects. The songwriting spans more than 20 years on this solo "debut," and he covers the geography of the title convincingly.

There's an offhand charm in everything he does here -- whether he's delivering sexy come-ons with a Caribbean lilt or testifying country-blues style with an acoustic slide guitar. It's a Taj Mahal-style smorgasbord of roots music, but Dara's approach is ego-less. (Nas gets an acoustic urban rap.) His guitar and warm vocals hold all the styles together, and so does his tart cornet. Especially when he's playing a plunger-mute tribute to the great Ellingtonian Bubber Miley, against brushes, guitar, some spare bass notes, and Mayanna Lee's hushed vocals.

-- Jon Garelick