SOUND CHECK.

BRIAN SETZER: ``Rockabilly Riot! Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records'' (Surfdog) - Three stars

Setzer plays his pompadour off in the first of a proposed series of discs spotlighting rock heroes. Here, the curtain goes up on Sun, the Memphis indie label that brought forth Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and other greats, who all waxed for Sam Phillips' '50s imprint with the cheerful sunrise logo.

Like most tributes, original versions far outshine remakes, but that's not to say ``Rockabilly Riot!'' (in stores Tuesday) doesn't provide kicks. Teamed with a high-octane band, the well-coiffed Setzer leader takes a good-rockin' romp through classics like ``Red Hot,'' ``Real Wild Child,'' ``Blue Suede Shoes'' and ``Get Rhythm.''

As usual, Setzer's big-bodied Gretsch is on target while his voice is probably most convincing on Carl Perkins' ``Blue Suede Shoes,'' among other tunes. The album offers a touch of authenticity with a cameo from the legendary Jordanaires, Elvis' favorite harmonizers.

- Ryan Ritchie

NINO ROTA: ``Rota'' Benedetto Lupo, Orquesta Cuidad de Granada, conducted by Josep Pons (Harmonia Mundi) - Three and one half stars

This album offers immersion in the musical universe of Rota, whose heart-tugging melodies and groundbreaking arrangements graced Fellini, Visconti and Coppola classics. But as the disc makes clear, Rota's imagination traveled beyond cinema into opera, ballet, symphonies, and an extended piece for piano and orchestra titled ``Concerto Soiree.'' That's the highlight here, an enchanting 20 minutes echoing themes

from ``La Strada'' and ``8 1/2,'' played by Rota disciple Lupo. The album also contains spirited performances of the composer's ballroom music for Visconti's ``The Leopard,'' and a suite based on the gorgeous ``La Strada'' score. Nicely done hardcover book-style packaging includes photos, interviews and bios.

- Fred Shuster

KEVYN LETTAU: ``Bye Bye Blackbird'' (MCG Jazz) - Four stars

Soprano voices in jazz are rarely this expressive, controlled and in tune. In a set of standards taking in spare duets featuring voice and bass or guitar (the great nylon-string player Dori Caymmi), trio numbers and the use of a midsize string section, Lettau's latest effectively strays from familiar interpretations of Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen and Sammy Cahn. What a voice this woman has! (Lettau appears Aug. 20 at La Vee Lee in Studio City)

- Steven Rosenberg

CAITLIN CARY & THAD COCKRELL: ``Begonias'' (Yep Roc) - Three and one half stars

A fantastic collection of torchy, rocking and even Memphis-style soulful country duets, the first record by longtime songwriting partners Cary and Cockrell evokes genre gold standards as diverse as Conway and Loretta and Gram and Emmylou. Both singers are relatively subtle, with hesitant, breath-catching voices that give their emotion-packed harmonies a gorgeous, soaring sweetness. The tight-knit backup band gets expert assistance from Cary's heart-rending fiddle and Cockrell's dynamic acoustic guitar.

- Bob Strauss

BABYFACE: ``Grown & Sexy'' (Arista) - Three stars

With his velvety-smooth falsetto, Kenneth ``Babyface'' Edmonds gives soul to the dozen songs about candlelight and bitter breakups that make up this set (due Tuesday). And that's not all the sentimental crooner, who ruled the '90s as both artist and producer, has to offer. He sexes it up with ``Can't Stop Now'' and the opener ``Tonight It's Goin' Down.'' Anger flies in the face of a messy breakup in ``Goin' Outta Business.'' A standout is the acoustic-guitar ballad ``She,'' a love story about his wife that was written for his son. But the centerpiece of the album is ``God Must Luv U.'' It's sexy, soulful and funky. And let's be honest, Babyface sounds so good.

- Sandra Barrera

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Brian Setzer)

(2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers)