Hacienda

Keyboardist Jeff Lorber launched Jeff Lorber Fusion in the late '70s, and it become one of the biggest draws in smooth and contemporary jazz. He shut the band down at the height of its popularity in 1986 to pursue production and studio work, as well as occasional solo efforts. After relaunching JLF in 2010, Lorber is now three albums into the new era, with bassist/coproducer Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) as his partner in crime. Here they're joined by such new-era JLF regulars as drummer Vinnie Culiautta, percussionist Lenny Castro, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and others. Where 2012’s Galaxy was a hard-charging affair, Hacienda has a broader point of reference. Younger fans will even hear the influence of house music on the title track (which refers to the famed Manchester club that helped spawn that style of dance music). But there are still tricky Lorber gems like the upbeat “Corinaldo” and “Solar Wind.” Extra credit for the great cover of Frank Zappa’s “King Kong,” which maintains all of the original's quirkiness with some nice grooves underpinning it.