Box set takes us back to Woodstock

A jaundiced guy might suspect all the Woodstock anniversary hoopla the past few days has just been a promotion for the fresh-out "Woodstock 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm" (Rhino, A) box set (right). After all, the original festival proved a huge marketing tool for the nascent album-rock revolution and careers of many performers - from Joe Cocker to the Who, Sly & the Family Stone to Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Now dozens of previously unheard festival performances and sound bites can be experienced "warts and all" in this six-disc treatment fine-tuned by Woodstock's resident sound engineer Eddie Kramer. Also for the first time, artists are presented in the order they played, with just three MIA: Keef Hartley, 10 Years After and, most regrettably, the Band, whose set was apparently marred by many shout-outs of "Where's Bob [Dylan]?"

While pricey, this hardcover package oozes collectibility. It also boasts a well-essayed and photo-filled book that lists every song performed that weekend. You won't even get your shoes muddy at this Woodstock reunion. (FYI, also marking the final day of the festival, 40 years ago today, is the concert tour "Heroes of Woodstock" playing tonight at the Mann.)

LOVE THE ONE YOUR WITH: The raging spirit of Mr. Dylan in his surreal, sarcastic, electric-rocking prime lives anew in the music of Choo Choo La Rouge, a scrappy trio trying to get out from under "Black Clouds" (Kiam Records, A-). Partly based in Philly, the group celebrates its album release this evening opening for Amy Ray at Johnny Brenda's.

With "Blood From Stars" (Anti, B+), the well-seasoned Joe Henry sure fills a craving for the sort of melancholy, down-home-in-New Orleans blues pop (and occasional drunken-circus waltz) that Tom Waits used to do so very, very well.

You'll feel a Pink Floyd-like surge and sweep from the grand and spacey psychedelic, electronica, string-swept and gospel-drenched "crippled Valentines" from Soulsavers on "Broken" (Columbia, B). The U.K.-based production duo of Rich Machin and Ian Glover gets by with a lot of help from friends, including raspy singer Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and his haunting vocal antidote Rosa Agostino (Red Ghost), plus Jason Pierce (Spiritualized and Spaceman 3), Richard Hawley and Gibby Hayes.

GIRL POWER: As "Turn Me Loose" (Verve Forecast, B-) clearly attests, Ledisi (Young) is a powerhouse soul pop vocalist and tunesmith. But to paraphrase her own ad-lib in one song, "I wish [she] had more to say" in this collection of love, love and more love songs. Best are the songwriting/production collaborations with Raphael Saadiq and a bonus cover of Buddy Miles' "Them Changes."

An apt and entertaining array of tunes about making do in your middlin' years makes Reba (McEntire)'s "Keep on Loving You" (Vallory Music, B+) collection just about fly by. The country star's up to her spunky stuff on kiss-off songs "Consider Me Gone" and "She's Turning 50 Today."

She's also rocking out with a "Pink Guitar," taking revenge on a date-rapist on "Maggie Creek Road" and spinning off that memorable line from "When Harry Met Sally" on the Texas swing-styled

"I'll Have What She's Having."

ALL THIS JAZZ: The late, Philly-spawned saxophonist/composer Michael Brecker is honored by a brassy, all-star crew of musicians (brother Randy Brecker, Danny Gottlieb, Dave Liebman, Mike Mainieri, Mike Stern and more) and super arrangers performing as Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge on "The Comet's Tail" (Mara, B+). Most surprising and fun, the Celtic-cowboy-flavored "Itsbynne Reel."

Keyboardist Cyrus Chestnut makes two noteworthy appearances this week. On his own, Chestnut's working earthy, rich, gospel-jazz-flavored solo piano reveries off songs like "Lean On Me" and "Old Time Religion" on "Spirit" (JLP, B+). Mr. C's also part of the backing team for the versatile and ever good jazz/cabaret singer Jackie Ryan on her "Doozy" of a double CD set (Open Art Productions, B).

"Looking For A Change" (Heads Up, A-), jazz keyboardist and singer Joe McBride and his small group repeatedly put a big grin on my face with swinging, oh-so-cool rephrasings of pop hits like "Crazy," "1000 Miles," "I Don't Wanna Be" and "Kiss From a Rose." If you dig Stevie Wonder at his jazziest best, you're gonna love this one.