First up, and easily one of the top albums of 1999 is "Synergy" (Stretch Records), the new release from drummer Dave Weckl. You may remember Weckl from his seven years as the sticks man for Chick Corea (who has a new album out that I'll review in the next couple of weeks).

Although I played drums in a quite brief career during college with a group that played Saturday nights at the local Eagles lodge, I've never been one who liked drummers who made jerks of themselves by playing loudly during the moments when other instrumentalists needed to be heard. Weckl doesn't make that mistake. His timing and musicality are superb. When it's time for a (brief) solo, Weckl deftly steps to the front of the band. But otherwise, he's a quiet but persuasive presence.

Weckl says that "Synergy" is a union of everything he has explored musically in the past. He wanted to make a mix of everything from blues to Latin, African to soul, rock and jazz. That plan has worked out beautifully, and the group plays with precision while managing to inject ample excitement and a glorious aptitude for rhythm, not exactly surprising for a band led by a drummer.

The band includes the outstanding Buzz Feiten on guitar, the wondrous Brandon Fields on sax, Jay Oliver performing in stellar fashion on keyboards, and Tommy Kennedy on bass.

I've been playing this CD almost non-stop for days. There's lots to absorb and I suspect your turntable will keep this one going for a long, long time. It's a great album!

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Ryan Kisor can be counted as a jazz veteran at age 26. He came to world attention in 1990 when at age 17 he won the Louis Armstrong International Trumpet Competition. Since 1994 Kisor has been a member of the prestigious Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and hasn't recorded much.

That has been remedied with the release of a new CD, "The Usual Suspects" (Fable Records), which features an ad hoc gathering that manages to sound like it's been a performing group for years.

Since Kisor's the session leader, you won't be surprised to learn that he takes an up-front seat for much of the album. His playing borders on the surreal, at most times settling for just plain brilliance. He seldom sees the necessity to show off, so there won't be any Maynard Ferguson pyrotechnics. Kisor's playing reeks with confidence and power, backed with a refreshing sense of humility. This young man knows how to play and he's blessed with good taste.

The album contains some terrific material, including originals and lesser-known tunes by composers Jerome Kern and Frank Loesser. The band includes Peter Zak on piano, John Webber on bass, and Willie Jones III on drums.

Excellent music is guaranteed with "The Usual Suspects."

This week's column seems to be about youth, so Aaron Goldberg certainly qualifies to be a part of things. Pianist Goldberg was only 24 when he sat down with fellow players a year ago to record his debut as a leader, "Turning Point" (J Curve Records).

A native of Brookline, Mass., Goldberg took piano lessons as a child but didn't really become interested in the instrument until he reached high school. After high school he moved to New York to pursue his vision of becoming a performing artist. A year later he went back to Boston and attended Harvard and Berklee, the famous music school.

"Turning Point" features a number of young musicians who seem ready to make noise in the business. Mark Turner shows depth and maturity on the tenor sax. Reuben Rogers sounds perfectly at ease on the acoustic bass and Eric Harland keeps good time on drums.

Goldberg's piano style seems perfectly at ease in the role of leader and molder of the group. The choice of tunes for the album give him ample room to demonstrate his strengths, which seem to be plentiful.

Joshua Redman, one of the most admired tenor players of the decade, does well in his work on the workhorse ballad, "The Shadow of Your Smile."

"Turning Point" is another one of those albums that will receive hot action on the home CD equipment.

Put Buddy DeFranco and Dave McKenna into the same studio and what do you get?

Easy answer: great music!

"Do Nothing Til You Hear From Us!" (Concord Records) assembles two men with 100-plus years of experience between them for a delightful album that will certainly be a contender when Grammy nominations come around again.

DeFranco, 75, has played with the best over his long career, including Charlie Barnet, the immortal Tommy Dorsey, Boyd Raeburn, Count Basie, and Jazz at the Philharmonic. He fronted the Glenn Miller Band from 1966 to 1974, then worked in various small units with vibraphonist Terry Gibbs.

McKenna, 68, fell in love with the piano early on, and says that Nat King Cole was his favorite piano player for years. He admits that the musicians who influenced him most were horn players, not pianists.

This new album, which also showcases Joe Cohn on guitar, gives full range to the strengths of both DeFranco and McKenna. In more than 64 minutes of sublime music, these great performers prove that advancing years have played no role in detracting from their magnificent talents.

The dozen songs are mostly familiar and receive loving attention from the players. Among the best tunes are "Lucky to Be Me," "You and the Night and the Music," and "Easy Living." And of course, the title song receives a sizzling performance.

Even if you're not a major fan of the clarinet, give a listen to this wonderful disc. You'll have to agree that DeFranco and McKenna make a distinguished duo, indeed.