The first sweet notes struck by guitarist Warren Battiste set the tone and mood of Just Friends. The tune is Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” which is introduced as a solo guitar ballad. The rhythm section with bassist Bradford Trudy and drummer Chris Davis come in and the trio starts swinging. Battiste, who’s known in both traditional and modern settings and who early on was a regular on the New Orleans R&B scene, selects jazz standards such as “Milestones” and “I Remember April” for his repertoire. Clarity is at the heart of Battiste’s approach as he offers up and improvises on these strong melodies uncluttered by extraneous frills. He’s a once a rhythm and lead guitarist, strumming the theme of a lively “Satin Doll,” then utilizing a combination of single notes and chordings before heading into an imaginative modern jazz solo. He gets good support from his rhythm section with both musicians making strong statements of their own. Battiste’s sophistication shines on the only original number, his self-penned “E Flat Blues.” Flash is not in the guitarist’s musical language; careful consideration and attention to each note and phrase remain his great strengths. As is clearly demonstrated on a soulful “I Can’t Get Started,” Battiste means what he plays.