The Prayer of Jabez

Ray Vega moves from Concord to Palmetto for Pa'lante, an energetic sextet outing. The trumpeter is deeply immersed in bop and post-bop, as he makes clear with imaginative Latin arrangements of Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite," Duke Jordan's "Flight to Jordan," Wayne Shorter's priceless "El Gaucho," and, most audaciously, the first movement of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. (Vega's choice of cornet for the Shorter tune is interesting.) Alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli extends the post-bop theme with an original titled "K.D.," dedicated to Kenny Dorham and based on "Alone Together" changes. Vega contributes four originals - all good, but not as memorable as the covers…