Skip Heller is a man who has gotten his feet wet in every musical pool you can think of—exotica, jazz, and rockabilly are at the beginning of a long list. I'd be willing to bet that Skip has played with, seen, or owns a CD or scratchy 78 of almost everyone who has gigged in Los Angeles in the last 40 years. OK, that's a bit of a stretch, but anyone who has worked with artists as diverse as Dave Alvin and Les Baxter has my respect and is pretty hip in my book.

Bear Flag is a tribute to Heller's own musical formative years. Growing up in Philadelphia, an organ-based jazz trio could be found amid the smoke and ambience of most nightclubs and jazz bars, laying down soulful sounds as hot as the summer nights and as cool as the winter winds.

With the help of two talented players—Joe Bagg on organ and Ryan Doyle on drums—Heller has done his best to recreate those smoky nights. The album features nine originals and one Duke Ellington cover. Heller's swinging jazz guitar takes the spotlight, but everyone has room to stretch out here. The vibe is right and the music welcome in any jazz collection...or any smoky, evocative dive.