SOUND CHECK.

BILL FRISELL: ``The Intercontinentals'' (Nonesuch) - Three and one half stars

Frisell is the Randy Newman of modern jazz. With an instrumental voice entirely his own and an appreciation for a world of arcane music gently incorporated into his often wistful compositions, Frisell's reflective guitar is as instantly identifiable as Newman's vocals. In this relaxed if slightly overlong 14-track set, Frisell gathers musicians from Greece, Mali, Brazil and the United States for an often intriguing exploration of the points where global folk forms and subtle electronics and American roots might meet. As Greg Leisz's big-sky pedal steel brings heartfelt counterpoint, the concept takes flight on the sultry opener, ``Boubacar'' (for Malian guitar great Boubacar Traore) and the appealing Brazilian pop of Gilberto Gil's ``Procissao.''

- Fred Shuster

VARIOUS: ``Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings'' (Dualtone/BMG) - Three stars

This tribute to the late, baronial baritone of outlaw country is superior to most such compilations, mainly because the majority of interpreters find a smart way to respectfully bend Waylon's spirit to their own sensibilities. Also helping is the shrewd diversity of the participants. There are kindred Texans (Guy Clark, Junior Brown, Robert Earl Keen), born- again cowpunks (Dave Alvin does a touching, ghostly ``Amanda''; Henry Rollins thrashes violently through the title song) and some good gals, too (Norah Jones, beguiling on ``Wurlitzer Prize''; Pam Tillis in a strong ``Let's All Help the Cowboys Sing the Blues'' duet with Jack Clement). Only a few of the ladies - Nanci Griffith, Carlene Carter, Allison Moorer - are too fastidious for the earthy labor at hand.

- Bob Strauss

YERBA BUENA: ``President Alien'' (Razor & Tie) - Four stars

Cultures converge in a fusion of Spanglish lyrics, Caribbean rhythms, hip-hop beats, jazzy flute licks and scorching brass from New York's answer to Ozomatli. The 420-friendly Afro-Cuban ensemble (the name translates to ``good weed'') draws from the Latin and American heritage of its nine members, all of whom were brought together by Andres Levin, the songwriter and producer best-known for his work with such notables as D'Angelo, Macy Gray and Meshell Ndegeocello, who lends her star power to the song ``Follow Me,'' which she co-wrote. But the biggest star of ``President Alien'' is Yerba Buena, fronted by Xiomara Laugart, a Cuban thrush drawing comparisons to a young Celia Cruz. The group especially shines as a whole on the cumbia tune ``Solito Me Quede,'' as well as ``Electric Boogaloo,'' a modern take on the Nuyorican mambo-fusion craze of the 1960s. Other standouts include ``Bote Bote Va,'' a traditional children's song from Cuba.

- Sandra Barrera

LONGWAVE: ``The Strangest Things'' (RCA) - Three stars

Longwave, a shaggy-haired New York quartet sporting conventional rock instrumentation, is often lumped with the so-called garage-rock revival, thanks to the band's presence on the current Advanced Warning tour with the Mooney Suzuki. But Longwave actually has little in common with its tourmates. ``The Strangest Things'' is classic shoe-gazer material, much of it sounding like an amped-up Echo & the Bunnymen disc that never was - and that's a very good thing. Standouts like ``Wake Me When It's Over'' and ``Pool Song'' make you wonder what the foursome will do with the 1980s indie sound they're channeling so well.

- Theo Douglas

SOUNDTRACK: ``Crossing Jordan''(Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax) - Three stars

You don't have to be a fan of TV's crime-fighting coroner to dig this set of inspired covers of classic rock songs. Highlights include Richard Thompson's scorching reading of Donovan's ``Season of the Witch'' (memo to younger listeners: That loud bit in the middle is called a guitar solo - they used to do that in popular music), Lucinda Williams' wrenchingly sad take on Tom Waits' ``Hang Down Your Head'' and Vic Chesnutt's woozy ``Buckets of Rain.'' Series star Jill Hennessy adds pop vocalist to her resume with a soulful reading of Waits' ``You're Innocent When You Dream'' and a less-accomplished pass on ``It's All Over Now, Baby Blue.''

- David Kronke

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5 photos

Photo:

(1) BILL FRISELL

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