LEGENDARY TRIO

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band
The Anthology … So Far (Koch Progressive)
Since first forming in 1990, Ringo and his ever-changing ensemble of musicians have been working their way toward an antho-logy of songs. It has now arrived in the form of a three-disc collection, complete with versions of “A Little Help From My Friends,” “It Don’t Come Easy,” and, of course, “Yellow Submarine.”

Kurt Elling
Flirting with Twilight (Blue Note)
With his fourth album (his second and third were nominated for the big “G”), 32-year-old jazz vocalist Elling draws from his contemporaries to bring new life to 12 classic numbers. Elling and his sextet work their way through “Moonlight Serenade,” “Easy Living,” and “Blame It on My Youth” with the ease of Sinatra and Connick. A little candlelight, some fine wine, and this CD equal one fine evening.

Wynton Marsalis
Popular Songs: The Best of Wynton Marsalis (Columbia Legacy Jazz)
A single-disc overview seems hardly enough to scrape the surface of Marsalis’ work, but it’ll have to do for now. Born in 1961, Marsalis’ old-school trumpet playing, honed while playing in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, has been more than a major influence in the jazz world. Included in this 12-track compilation are standards, originals, and everything in between. — J.E.M.