NEW RELEASES : In Brief

* * * Herb Ellis, “Roll Call,” Justice. Ellis’ guitar, backed by Mel Rhyne on organ and Jake Hanna on drums, evokes memories of groups with this instrumentation that proliferated in jazz lounges of the 1950s and ‘60s. It’s a pleasant blend. The blues predominate--along with two Ellis originals, including his now-standard “Detour Ahead.” Jazz violinist John Frigo, who co-wrote that song, guests. Rhyne, best known for his work on records with Wes Montgomery, makes a compelling partner for the always-cooking Ellis.

New albums are rated on a scale o one star (poor) to four (excellent). A rating of five stars is reserved for classic reissues or retrospectives.