New music and reissues by Cross Canadian Ragweed, Rhonda Vincent, Hot Lips Page and Miles Davis

Cross Canadian Ragweed, Highway 377, Underground Sound Records

There’s a new musical wind blowing out of Oklahoma that is gaining notoriety among alt-country fans as the “red dirt sound,” and Cross Canadian Ragweed has developed this country/rock approach to its fullest potential on this, their third disc. The music is largely mid and uptempo, and the band successfully fuses Stones/REM/Dylan-like rock with country sensibilities. The songs are outstanding and the band shows real promise. There’s a glut of awful alternative country/rock bands out there, but Cross Canadian Ragweed stands out on the strength of its music alone. Order a copy by calling 405/577-2047.

Rhonda Vincent, The Storm Still Rages, Rounder Records

When singer/songwriter/mandolinist Rhonda Vincent turned her back on Nashville’s star-maker machinery a few years ago, she dedicated herself to traditional acoustic country and bluegrass. We are all the better for that choice, because The Storm Still Rages is a brilliant collection of classic ‘grass, with contemporary and sometimes very subtle touches of Appalachian folk and blues. Vincent sings with power and grace, and her band, appropriately called The Rage, back her splendidly, without the athletic tendencies of some bluegrass outfits. This is real country music that appeals to the heart and soul, just as it should; powerful music that will move you. Rounder Records are available at better record stores.

Hot Lips Page, Jump For Joy!, Columbia/Legacy Records

Jazz trumpeter Oran “Hot Lips” Page possessed all the talent, stage presence and panache to make him a superstar, but it never happened in his lifetime. Now a semi-legendary figure, Page, who died at age 46 in 1954, recorded prolifically for Columbia Records, and as a member of Cab Calloway’s swing band. Now, the best of his Columbia sides have been reissued, proving once and for all that Page deserves better status than a forgotten footnote in the history of jazz. His vocal duets with Pearl Bailey and Billie Holiday are exemplary, and his trumpet playing, strongly influenced by Louis Armstrong, is excellent. Columbia/Legacy recordings are available at all better record stores.

Miles Davis, The Essential Miles Davis, Columbia/Legacy Records

This just might be the most complete two-disc retrospective of the enigmatic yet brilliant Miles Davis’s career, from 1945-86. It covers his earliest work, his middle period years when he achieved his greatest success, and his later experiments with jazz/rock fusion and synthesizers. If you are the least bit curious about Miles Davis and have none of his music in your collection, this is the place to start.

Various Artists, Blues For The Midnight Hour, Shanachie Records

This is an entertaining set of previously released sexy blues, featuring Shanachie artists for the most part, among the exceptions being Etta James, whose seductive, classic Chess recording of “At Last” is also included. The idea was to present a collection of tunes tailor made for “the moment when romance turns to something deeper,” as proclaimed in the liner notes. For the most part, the songs achieve this goal, but I have to wonder what the heck John Hammond’s “Malted Milk” has to do with sex.