Ken Navarro is the John Grisham of smooth jazz. But where Grisham pops out a book every year but seems to going south in terms of quality, Navarro keeps getting better and improving. A Navarro CD is like a trip to the candy store to buy your favorite treat ­ you know what you¹re getting and you know it¹s going to taste great. Whether on electric or acoustic guitar, Navarro is the master of crystal-clear production, sweet harmonies and well-managed solos. You can expect a greatest-hits-type song to open a Navarro CD, and he delivers here with "It's Up to You," a languid breeze of a electric-guitar song that¹s sure to catch the ears of the Weather Channel. He follows that with the knockout punch, "Hey Cool Breeze," another electric number.

Just when you think Navarro should stick to electric, he follows with acoustic cuts that remind you how ­ like Peter White and Earl Klugh ­ he can make the nylon strings sound sweeter than just about anyone around. As I said, you know what you¹re going to get with Navarro ­ hooks a plenty and no vocals ­ but he does add one surprise into the mix: "Play Don¹t Worry," a rocker that displays his guitar-god chops. Navarro has been such a constant we can forgive him for this. Smooth grade: A-