Mark Knopfler, Tracker (Verve): The master guitarist and gifted singer/songwriter established his bona fides as player and tunesmith nearly four decades back with Dire Straits, but he hits a new creative plateau on this lovely set. Celtic folk, jazz and blues coexist amicably on this soulful suite of songs, which are heavy on deft, emotionally potent storytelling. The delicate textures in standouts like swinging opener “Laughs and Jokes and Drinks and Smokes,” the mesmerizing “River Towns,” the Kinks-ish “Skydiver,” Straits-esque single “Beryl,” the lovely “Wherever I Go” (featuring the exquisite pipes of guest Ruth Moody) and the timeless “Heart of Oak” let their richness into the listener’s mind gradually. Knopfler’s fretwork, meanwhile, is beyond tasty—even for him. The guy is just peerless, and Tracker presents a perfect opportunity to salute both his stellar body of work and his ongoing growth.