Album: Robert Glasper, Double Booked (Blue Note)

Texan pianist Glasper,who has worked withMos Def (left) andMaxwell, enjoys parallelcareers in jazz and hiphop,a situation thisentertaining album triesto finesse by adding sixR&B tracks by a sextet tosix by his acoustic trio.

Ironically, the acousticside proves more soulfuland experimental, thanksto the rhythmic densityof Glasper's clusteredrepetitions and the expertdrum and bass team ofChris Dave and VicenteArcher. In contrast, MosDef and Bilal singingthrough vocoders canseem clichéd.