Memphis guitarist Calvin Newborn has been a Bluff City treasure for several decades, a gifted soloist equally delightful doing 12-bar blues, accompanying a pop singer or stretching out in the middle of a blazing jam session. Unfortunately he's only been featured on a handful of recordings during his career, among them appearances on B.B. King's earliest sessions and some extremely rare jazz dates in the '60s.

New Born spotlights his fine mix of sophistication and soul on several stirring cuts like "Newborn Blues," "Spirit Trane/Omnifarious" and "Restorations," as well as a marvelous rendition of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life." He heads a fine group that also includes two other sorely overlooked topflight improvisers in saxophonist/flutist Herman Green and pianist Donald Brown.

Whether doing sizzling hot or icy cool pieces, smartly embellishing the melody or delivering another superb solo, Newborn repeatedly demonstrates on New Born that he's a premier guitar master.