NEW RELEASES : In Brief

**** Steve Kuhn, “Oceans in the Sky,” Owl Records. Like a musical Midas, pianist Kuhn makes wondrous melodies of whatever he plays, whether it’s the tender “The Music That Makes Me Dance” or a frisky, muscular take of Kenny Dorham’s “Lotus Blossom.” He can be provocative without being distant, or he can be uncompromisingly romantic, as on the luscious “Theme for Ernie.” Bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Aldo Romano are the buoyant rhythm partners.

Albums are rated on a scale of one asterisk (poor) to five (a classic).