Jeffrey Carter Albrecht was a shining star of the Dallas music scene, named Musician of the Year and Best Songwriter by the Dallas Observer in 2003. He played guitar and keyboards with artists like Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians and Charlie Sexton, and stayed close to the local scenes with his own bands, Sparrows and Sorta. The prolific, much respected artist died in a tragic shooting in 2007 (his story turned drew attention to warnings about a certain prescription drug used for smoking cessation), and this collection of tunes — most of which were finished at the time of his death — stands as a solid, moving farewell. Albrecht’s music is personal, introspective and sometimes humorous, and fans of T-Bone Burnett or James McMurtry will find much to appreciate here. For starters, try the heartache-filled “Godot,” the darkly satirical “Jesus Light,” or the drunk-on-love ballad “Rivers Into Rum” (“My way was filled with turpentine/but now it’s overflowing with wine, honey, wine...”). Jesus Is Alive … is an extraordinary gift to any Carter Albrecht fan.