Organist Melvin Rhyne (left) and tenor saxman Rob Dixon have collaborated on "Reinvention," the recording debut of their Dixon-Rhyne Project. (Photos provided by Owl Studios)

Steve Allee has the right perspective to reconnect Indianapolis with the worldwide jazz community. That suits the Hoosier musician well to the mission of his new label, also based here.

"Dragonfly" (3 and a half stars), to be released Tuesday by Owl Studios, brings some of Allee's maturest ideas to the fore in a trio setting. The veteran pianist-composer mixes original works with admired works of other composers.

As tunesmith and player, Allee has a straightforward style. Genuine feeling wells up when he plays, and it's seconded by the contributions of Tim Horner (drums) and Bill Moring (bass).

The disc's sturdiest three-legged stool is Coldplay's "X and Y," imaginatively arranged and crisply recorded.

The trio's presentation benefits from the occasional addition of two guest tenor saxophonists, each supple and strong in his own way: Rob Dixon on one track; Rich Perry on two.

"Dedication Suite" poignantly yokes two evocative originals with "If I Were a Bell" in paying homage to three deceased jazz greats: Bill Evans, Thad Jones and Oscar Peterson.

The perky optimism of a tune like "Morning Glory," with its cogent Moring solo, speaks volumes about the leader's personality. His interpretation of Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" confirms the tender, romantic side of Allee's art. But he's also capable of creating and settling into a hard-hitting groove, as in "Hip Factor" and "Yummy," a tasty blues with a teasingly extended last line.

Meanwhile, Dixon, with his fruitful alliance with veteran organist Melvin Rhyne, has hit upon a way to connect his alert contemporary sensibility to his hard-bop roots.

"Reinvention," the recording debut of the Dixon-Rhyne Project (3 and a half stars), is a splendid exposition of the two named players' rapport, supported by guitarist Fareed Haque and drummer Kenny Phelps.

Dixon wrote all but one of the 10 pieces. While some of the themes make you eager for the soloing to start ("Carousel" is particularly monotonous), there is such buoyancy in the ensemble and such careful attention to texture that the music finds more than one way to appeal.

- By Jay Harvey