JAZZ REVIEWS : BILLY CHILDS, “I’ve Known Rivers” (<i> Stretch Records</i> ) ** 1/2

Childs’ first release for Chick Corea’s label is a compositional showcase that borrows titles from Walt Whitman (“The Starry Night”), e.e. cummings (“Somewhere I Have Never Traveled”), Rainer Maria Rilke (“Lament”) and, most notably, Langston Hughes, whose well-known affirmation is the album’s namesake.

Sadly, the nine pieces here seldom contain the lyricism associated with poetry. Though these strongly detailed, angular numbers are filled with dynamic ebb and flow, clever synthesizer orchestration and moving variations of mood and tempo, they offer little melodic attraction. At times, we lose sight of Childs’ strong keyboard abilities behind a curtain of composed contrivance.

Still, the disc presents its share of beautiful moments, notably the gentle rock of “This Moment” with drummer Michael Baker’s tasteful cymbal embellishment, Bob Sheppard’s soothing flute work on “Lament” and Dianne Reeves’ sensitive, tastefully framed vocal on “Siren Serenade.” Best is Childs’ solo number, a delicate journey through a thoughtfully assembled landscape inspired by the cummings poem.

“Rivers” paints Childs as an ambitious composer who is adept at combining jazz and classical influences as well as acoustic and electric keyboards. Still, he needs to let his music sing.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good, recommended and four stars (excellent).