Cindy Blackman

Since she's a superb, confident player, it's good to hear the drums front and center on Music for the New Millennium, a double disc that finds Blackman's playing elegantly matched with saxophonist J.D. Allen and keyboard player Carlton Holmes, who supports the set with a wash of vintage electric piano. Though most of the up tunes evoke her hero, Tony Williams, her most tasteful stuff comes when she stretches out with a refined touch on ballads like "Stars in Eyes."