ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2017
As the new year kicks off, we look back at the best of last years offerings. Find out what some of our reviewers have selected as the top New Releases and Reissues of 2017.
CHRIS BABER
NEW RELEASES
Anouar Braham – Blue Maqams (ECM)
Misha Mollov-Abbado – Cross-Platform Interchange (Edition)
Bhattacharya, Gronseth, Wessell (Pling)
Trish Clowes – My Iris (Basho)
Denys Baptiste – The Late Train (Edition)
Ingrid Laubrock – Serpentines (Intakt)
Luca Aquino – Aquistico vol 2 (Losen)
Sylvie Courvoisier, Mark Feldman, Ikue Mori, Evan Parker – The Miller’s Tale (Intakt)
Bill Evans and the Scottish Jazz Orchestra – Beauty and the Beast (Spartacus)
Mathilde Grooss Viddal Frienemsemblet – Out of Silence (Giraffo)
FROM THE VAULT / RE-ISSUES
Billy Jenkins and the Voice of God Collective – Scratches of Spain (VOTP)
Don Cherry, John Tchicai, Irene Schweizer, Leon Francoli, Pierre Favre – Musical Monsters (Intakt)
Jazz has always been a magnificent melting pot of music from across the globe. It is especially effective when the players retain their own musical traditions but mix these to produce sounds the bridge continents and histories. My favourite record of the year had superlative playing from master oud player, Anouar Braham, with Dave Holland, Jack de Johnette and Django Bates. Every move that they made, every note that they played had such a richness and sophistication that repeat listenings have still not exhausted my enthusiasm for it. Similarly, Debashish Bhattacharya plays chaturgangui, accompanied by his brother Subhasis on tabla, and Anders Lonne Gronseth and Kenny Wessell, to make a captivating mix of Indian classical music and jazz.
2017 saw the anniversary of, among other major figures, John Coltrane and there were lots of tribute albums. Of these, my favourite was Denys Baptiste’s take on later Coltrane tunes (together with pieces that Baptiste composed in a style eerily similar to the master). This was a fitting tribute that took the Coltrane legacy and, rather than moth-balling it as some of the tributes might have done, brought it into a contemporary world.
A new artist (for me at least) was Misha Mollov-Abbado who plays double bass with a maturity that is way beyond his years, and whose original compositions already have the stamp of jazz classics.
I enjoyed a lot of jazz at the freer end of the spectrum and three CDs that managed to blend the anarchy of spontaneous composition with an intelligent appreciation of rhythmic and melodic parameters were from Trish Clowes, Ingrid Laubrock and Sylvie Courvoisier.
At the other extreme, musically speaking, Luca Aquino’s duets with Carmine Ioanna were beautifully fragile but memorable tunes that have become a staple part of my CD collection.
Finally, two large ensemble pieces have been very exciting to listen to this year. Bill Evans playing with the Scottish Jazz Orchestra on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ suite, composed and conducted by Tommy Smith, is a marvelous example of contemporary big band playing. Mathilde Grooss Viddal has worked with the Friensemblat to produce a stunning take on contemporary world politics (mainly focusing on Syria but addressing the rights of women and girls in Pakistan and refugees from any of the current major conflicts around the globe). In particular, the flute playing on Naissam Jalal lives in the heart long after each piece ends.
My favourite reissues this year are the anarcho-jazz of Billy Jenkins and the welcome reissue of his ‘Scratches of Spain’, and the live concert under the heading ‘Musical Monsters’. Any opportunity to hear the wonderful piano playing of Irene Schweizer is welcome and this (together with her duet with drummer, Joey Baron) has been a welcome addition to 2017.
Anouar Braham – Blue Maqams (ECM)
Misha Mollov-Abbado – Cross-Platform Interchange (Edition)
Bhattacharya, Gronseth, Wessell (Pling)
Trish Clowes – My Iris (Basho)
Denys Baptiste – The Late Train (Edition)
Ingrid Laubrock – Serpentines (Intakt)
Luca Aquino – Aquistico vol 2 (Losen)
Sylvie Courvoisier, Mark Feldman, Ikue Mori, Evan Parker – The Miller’s Tale (Intakt)
Bill Evans and the Scottish Jazz Orchestra – Beauty and the Beast (Spartacus)
Mathilde Grooss Viddal Frienemsemblet – Out of Silence (Giraffo)
FROM THE VAULT / RE-ISSUES
Billy Jenkins and the Voice of God Collective – Scratches of Spain (VOTP)
Don Cherry, John Tchicai, Irene Schweizer, Leon Francoli, Pierre Favre – Musical Monsters (Intakt)
Jazz has always been a magnificent melting pot of music from across the globe. It is especially effective when the players retain their own musical traditions but mix these to produce sounds the bridge continents and histories. My favourite record of the year had superlative playing from master oud player, Anouar Braham, with Dave Holland, Jack de Johnette and Django Bates. Every move that they made, every note that they played had such a richness and sophistication that repeat listenings have still not exhausted my enthusiasm for it. Similarly, Debashish Bhattacharya plays chaturgangui, accompanied by his brother Subhasis on tabla, and Anders Lonne Gronseth and Kenny Wessell, to make a captivating mix of Indian classical music and jazz.
2017 saw the anniversary of, among other major figures, John Coltrane and there were lots of tribute albums. Of these, my favourite was Denys Baptiste’s take on later Coltrane tunes (together with pieces that Baptiste composed in a style eerily similar to the master). This was a fitting tribute that took the Coltrane legacy and, rather than moth-balling it as some of the tributes might have done, brought it into a contemporary world.
A new artist (for me at least) was Misha Mollov-Abbado who plays double bass with a maturity that is way beyond his years, and whose original compositions already have the stamp of jazz classics.
I enjoyed a lot of jazz at the freer end of the spectrum and three CDs that managed to blend the anarchy of spontaneous composition with an intelligent appreciation of rhythmic and melodic parameters were from Trish Clowes, Ingrid Laubrock and Sylvie Courvoisier.
At the other extreme, musically speaking, Luca Aquino’s duets with Carmine Ioanna were beautifully fragile but memorable tunes that have become a staple part of my CD collection.
Finally, two large ensemble pieces have been very exciting to listen to this year. Bill Evans playing with the Scottish Jazz Orchestra on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ suite, composed and conducted by Tommy Smith, is a marvelous example of contemporary big band playing. Mathilde Grooss Viddal has worked with the Friensemblat to produce a stunning take on contemporary world politics (mainly focusing on Syria but addressing the rights of women and girls in Pakistan and refugees from any of the current major conflicts around the globe). In particular, the flute playing on Naissam Jalal lives in the heart long after each piece ends.
My favourite reissues this year are the anarcho-jazz of Billy Jenkins and the welcome reissue of his ‘Scratches of Spain’, and the live concert under the heading ‘Musical Monsters’. Any opportunity to hear the wonderful piano playing of Irene Schweizer is welcome and this (together with her duet with drummer, Joey Baron) has been a welcome addition to 2017.
ROY BOOTH
NEW RELEASES
Harry Allen - Something About Jobim
New Jazz Ensemble-with Gerry Mulligan
Junior Mance - Groovn’ With Junior
FROM THE VAULT / RE-RELEASES
Cannonball Adderley-with Joe Zawinal
Gary McFarland - with Special Guest Bill Evans
Eddie Higgins - Great Trio Sessions
Duke Ellington -Blues In Orbit / The Cosmic Scene
Joe Bushkin - Live At The Embers
Oscar Peterso - Affinity / The Jazz Soul Of Oscar Peterson
Nat King Cole - The Complete Billy May Sessions
Ella Fitzgerald - At Mr Kelly’s 1958
Stan Kenton - Concerts In Miniature ( Volume 19 )
Only the Harry Allen album is of recent vintage but the other two are first time issues to my knowledge. Harry Allen has an affinity with Jobim’s music and although this is not the best of Harry
Allen it is better than many other recent releases. The New Jazz Ensemble is a very articulate group and combined with Mulligan‘s compositions and playing it makes for an outstanding experience.
The Junior Mance album is one of the best piano trio recordings I have for some time.
The Cannonball Adderley album brings together the complete tracks with Joe Zawvinal which is some of the best recordings of the Quintet. Gary McFarland’s arrangements are particularly interesting and the presence of Bill Evans is an added bonus. The albums of Eddie Higgins were brilliant examples of jazz piano and this double album charts some of his earlier work.
The Duke Ellington release brings together two of his better albums one by the full band together with a smaller group recording. The Joe Bushkin album is so relaxing to listen to and also has some fine trumpet by Buck Clayton.
Oscar Peterson’s album with two original LP’s by his Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen cover some of their best work. Billy May’s arrangements add that extra dimension to Nat King Cole’s fine vocals.
Ella Fitzgerald albums would seem to be appearing thick and fast, this one recorded at Mr Kelly’s is one of her best to date. The Stan Kenton Concerts in Miniature are radio broadcasts with a hint of nostalgia clude a number of gems and are well recorded.
album with two original LP’s by his Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen cover some of their best work. Billy May’s arrangements add that extra dimension to Nat King Cole’s fine vocals.
Ella Fitzgerald albums would seem to be appearing thick and fast, this one recorded at Mr Kelly’s is one of her best to date. The Stan Kenton Concerts in Miniature are radio broadcasts with a hint of nostalgia include a number of gems and are well recorded.
Harry Allen - Something About Jobim
New Jazz Ensemble-with Gerry Mulligan
Junior Mance - Groovn’ With Junior
FROM THE VAULT / RE-RELEASES
Cannonball Adderley-with Joe Zawinal
Gary McFarland - with Special Guest Bill Evans
Eddie Higgins - Great Trio Sessions
Duke Ellington -Blues In Orbit / The Cosmic Scene
Joe Bushkin - Live At The Embers
Oscar Peterso - Affinity / The Jazz Soul Of Oscar Peterson
Nat King Cole - The Complete Billy May Sessions
Ella Fitzgerald - At Mr Kelly’s 1958
Stan Kenton - Concerts In Miniature ( Volume 19 )
Only the Harry Allen album is of recent vintage but the other two are first time issues to my knowledge. Harry Allen has an affinity with Jobim’s music and although this is not the best of Harry
Allen it is better than many other recent releases. The New Jazz Ensemble is a very articulate group and combined with Mulligan‘s compositions and playing it makes for an outstanding experience.
The Junior Mance album is one of the best piano trio recordings I have for some time.
The Cannonball Adderley album brings together the complete tracks with Joe Zawvinal which is some of the best recordings of the Quintet. Gary McFarland’s arrangements are particularly interesting and the presence of Bill Evans is an added bonus. The albums of Eddie Higgins were brilliant examples of jazz piano and this double album charts some of his earlier work.
The Duke Ellington release brings together two of his better albums one by the full band together with a smaller group recording. The Joe Bushkin album is so relaxing to listen to and also has some fine trumpet by Buck Clayton.
Oscar Peterson’s album with two original LP’s by his Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen cover some of their best work. Billy May’s arrangements add that extra dimension to Nat King Cole’s fine vocals.
Ella Fitzgerald albums would seem to be appearing thick and fast, this one recorded at Mr Kelly’s is one of her best to date. The Stan Kenton Concerts in Miniature are radio broadcasts with a hint of nostalgia clude a number of gems and are well recorded.
album with two original LP’s by his Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen cover some of their best work. Billy May’s arrangements add that extra dimension to Nat King Cole’s fine vocals.
Ella Fitzgerald albums would seem to be appearing thick and fast, this one recorded at Mr Kelly’s is one of her best to date. The Stan Kenton Concerts in Miniature are radio broadcasts with a hint of nostalgia include a number of gems and are well recorded.
JIM BURLONG
NEW RELEASES
Stefano Bollani Trio/ The Berlin Philharmonic Mediterraneo (ACT Records)
Various Artists The Passion Of Charlie Parker (Impulse Records)
Parisien-Peirani-Shaerer-Wollny Out Of Land (ACT Records)
Elaine Elias Dance Of Time (Concord Jazz)
Freddie Gavita Transient (Froggy Records)
Terry Pack's Trees Heart Of Oak (Symbol Records)
Adam Baldych & The Heige Lien Trio Brothers (ACT Records)
Terence Blanchard The Comedian (Blue Note)
Leo Richardson Quartet - The Chase (Ubunyu Music)
Colin Steele Quartet - Diving For Pearls (Marina Records)
FROM THE VAULTS/REISSUES
Joe Harriott Helter Skelter (ACM Records)
Gary McFarland Orchestra/Bill Evans Webster Hall New York City 11/61 (Phono Records)
Duke Ellington An Intimate Piano Session (Storyville)
John Coltrane & Don Cherry The Avant-Garde (Essential Jazz Classics)
Mose Allison Complete 1957-62 Vocal Sides (Essential Jazz Classics)
It's been another great year for jazz in 2017 with both the UK and European releases giving the Americans more than a run for their money. There has been a prolific output from Ziggy Loch's Berlin based ACT label in their 25th anniversary year. They have gradually forged a distinctive place on a par with Blue Note and ECM with their brilliant stable of young ground breaking musicians, unique style and recording quality. Stefano Bollani and The Berlin Philharmonic proved beyond doubt that symphonic jazz is hear to stay with a stunning album of themes from the likes of Rossini and Monteverdi to the cinematic works of Morricone and Rota. Adam Baldych has just about rewritten the book for jazz violin while the super group now renamed after their stunning album "Out Of Land" have taken us to musical places many have never reached before. The Parker tribute album was a master stroke from producer Larry Klein, tracing the great mans life through song with Donny McCaslin's saxophone giving a glimpse of the sound Bird could have been making today. Of the Brits' Freddie Gavita was justly crowned at the top of the poll of UK trumpet players for his debut album while Terry Pack's Trees Big Band have produced a stunning contemporary cd/dvd release to equal almost all that have gone before it. On the re-issue side of things Joe Harriott reminded us just what a great player he was with excerpts from four stunning sets from his heyday in the fifties and sixties, while Duke's piano set proved to be a must have, plus the Gary McFarland showed us the quality we have been missing since his untimely death in 1972.
Stefano Bollani Trio/ The Berlin Philharmonic Mediterraneo (ACT Records)
Various Artists The Passion Of Charlie Parker (Impulse Records)
Parisien-Peirani-Shaerer-Wollny Out Of Land (ACT Records)
Elaine Elias Dance Of Time (Concord Jazz)
Freddie Gavita Transient (Froggy Records)
Terry Pack's Trees Heart Of Oak (Symbol Records)
Adam Baldych & The Heige Lien Trio Brothers (ACT Records)
Terence Blanchard The Comedian (Blue Note)
Leo Richardson Quartet - The Chase (Ubunyu Music)
Colin Steele Quartet - Diving For Pearls (Marina Records)
FROM THE VAULTS/REISSUES
Joe Harriott Helter Skelter (ACM Records)
Gary McFarland Orchestra/Bill Evans Webster Hall New York City 11/61 (Phono Records)
Duke Ellington An Intimate Piano Session (Storyville)
John Coltrane & Don Cherry The Avant-Garde (Essential Jazz Classics)
Mose Allison Complete 1957-62 Vocal Sides (Essential Jazz Classics)
It's been another great year for jazz in 2017 with both the UK and European releases giving the Americans more than a run for their money. There has been a prolific output from Ziggy Loch's Berlin based ACT label in their 25th anniversary year. They have gradually forged a distinctive place on a par with Blue Note and ECM with their brilliant stable of young ground breaking musicians, unique style and recording quality. Stefano Bollani and The Berlin Philharmonic proved beyond doubt that symphonic jazz is hear to stay with a stunning album of themes from the likes of Rossini and Monteverdi to the cinematic works of Morricone and Rota. Adam Baldych has just about rewritten the book for jazz violin while the super group now renamed after their stunning album "Out Of Land" have taken us to musical places many have never reached before. The Parker tribute album was a master stroke from producer Larry Klein, tracing the great mans life through song with Donny McCaslin's saxophone giving a glimpse of the sound Bird could have been making today. Of the Brits' Freddie Gavita was justly crowned at the top of the poll of UK trumpet players for his debut album while Terry Pack's Trees Big Band have produced a stunning contemporary cd/dvd release to equal almost all that have gone before it. On the re-issue side of things Joe Harriott reminded us just what a great player he was with excerpts from four stunning sets from his heyday in the fifties and sixties, while Duke's piano set proved to be a must have, plus the Gary McFarland showed us the quality we have been missing since his untimely death in 1972.
KEN CHEETHAM
NEW RELEASES
Ivo Perelman (6 CD Set) (Leo Records)1-6)
the first of them is Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp Live in Brussels – (CD LR 804/805). This is exquisite, showing a new edge to Perelman’s technique and a wonderful eloquence in his rappor with Shipp’s percussive piano, especially in the more conventional of the instrument’s tonal range.
Denis Peters/Simon Rose - Edith’s Problem (CD LR 812)
For the interactions between musicians and their instruments
Anne-liis Poll - Free Radicals (CD LR 790)
Wonderful dynamism from each player and vast spontaneity in their execution.
Trio Now! Tanja Feichtmair/Uli Winter/Fredi Pröl (CD LR 789)
For Tanja’s precise saxophone voice and the collective reinforcement of the trio as a whole, fuelling their intentions to recite their music eloquently.
Blazing Flame Quintet - The Set List Shuffle ( CD LR 788)
This took me back so instantly to the poetry/jazz I explored in the 60s/70s that I recalled a verse line that had echoed with me since then – “…….one leaves a trail of bells softly ringing deep in the mind” – from a little book of Gary Snyder I’m sure.
Roscoe Mitchell - Bells For The Southside - ECM 571 1952
FROM THE VAULTS/RE-ISSUES
John Coltrane & Don Cherry – The Avant -Garde (Essential Jazz Classics)
Tubby Hayes Quartet - Invitation: Live At The Top Alex 1973 (Acrobat ACMCD 4391)
Don Cherry/John Tchicai/Irene Schweizer.Leon Francioli/Pierre Favre - Musical Monsters (Intakt Records: Intakt CD269)
John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk - Complete Studio Master Takes ( Jazz Images 38006)
Ivo Perelman (6 CD Set) (Leo Records)1-6)
the first of them is Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp Live in Brussels – (CD LR 804/805). This is exquisite, showing a new edge to Perelman’s technique and a wonderful eloquence in his rappor with Shipp’s percussive piano, especially in the more conventional of the instrument’s tonal range.
Denis Peters/Simon Rose - Edith’s Problem (CD LR 812)
For the interactions between musicians and their instruments
Anne-liis Poll - Free Radicals (CD LR 790)
Wonderful dynamism from each player and vast spontaneity in their execution.
Trio Now! Tanja Feichtmair/Uli Winter/Fredi Pröl (CD LR 789)
For Tanja’s precise saxophone voice and the collective reinforcement of the trio as a whole, fuelling their intentions to recite their music eloquently.
Blazing Flame Quintet - The Set List Shuffle ( CD LR 788)
This took me back so instantly to the poetry/jazz I explored in the 60s/70s that I recalled a verse line that had echoed with me since then – “…….one leaves a trail of bells softly ringing deep in the mind” – from a little book of Gary Snyder I’m sure.
Roscoe Mitchell - Bells For The Southside - ECM 571 1952
FROM THE VAULTS/RE-ISSUES
John Coltrane & Don Cherry – The Avant -Garde (Essential Jazz Classics)
Tubby Hayes Quartet - Invitation: Live At The Top Alex 1973 (Acrobat ACMCD 4391)
Don Cherry/John Tchicai/Irene Schweizer.Leon Francioli/Pierre Favre - Musical Monsters (Intakt Records: Intakt CD269)
John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk - Complete Studio Master Takes ( Jazz Images 38006)
EUAN DIXON
NEW RELEASES
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau – (Nonesuch Records)
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Real Enemies (New Amsterdam Records)
Dejohnette, Grenadier, Medeski, Scofield – Hudson (Motema)
Joey DeFrancesco+The People – Project Freedom (Mack Avenue)
Steve Slagle – Alto Manhattan (Panorama Records)
Blue Note All Stars – Our Point of View (Blue Note Records)
Burak Bedikyan – Awakening (Steeplechase)
Richie Cole – Plays Ballads & Love Songs (Richie Cole Presents)
Leo Richardson – The Chase (Ubuntu Music)
Andreas Scherer – The Big Wig (ACT Records)
FROM THE VAULT/RE-ISSUES
Jaco Pastorius – Truth, Liberty & Soul (Resonance Records)
Chris Rogers – Voyage Home (Art of Life Records)
John Benson Brooks – Folk Jazz USA & Alabama Concerto (Fresh Sounds Records)
Milt Jackson – The Early Years (Acrobat Music)
John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk - Complete Studio Master Takes (Jazz Images)
A highly fertile year for new releases and re-issues has enabled me to put together a rich, eclectic list of recordings worthy of the `Albums of the Year` accolade. On the experimental front my big discovery of the year has been the music of Darcy James Argue who like Maria Schneider is enriching and extending the language of orchestral jazz. I also took delight in the mad-cap ingenuity of Andreas Scherer and his massed forces but at the other end of the spectrum there has been plenty of lusty blowing from the likes of Leo Richardson, Steve Slagle and Troy Roberts, who stars in Joey DeFrancesco’s unmissable disc, to provide the necessary balance. My `From the Vault` selection includes two items that aren’t strictly re-issues but valuable recordings that have languished too long in obscurity. I refer to the restored and reconstructed Pastorius concert tapes and Chris Roger’s debut disc.
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau – (Nonesuch Records)
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Real Enemies (New Amsterdam Records)
Dejohnette, Grenadier, Medeski, Scofield – Hudson (Motema)
Joey DeFrancesco+The People – Project Freedom (Mack Avenue)
Steve Slagle – Alto Manhattan (Panorama Records)
Blue Note All Stars – Our Point of View (Blue Note Records)
Burak Bedikyan – Awakening (Steeplechase)
Richie Cole – Plays Ballads & Love Songs (Richie Cole Presents)
Leo Richardson – The Chase (Ubuntu Music)
Andreas Scherer – The Big Wig (ACT Records)
FROM THE VAULT/RE-ISSUES
Jaco Pastorius – Truth, Liberty & Soul (Resonance Records)
Chris Rogers – Voyage Home (Art of Life Records)
John Benson Brooks – Folk Jazz USA & Alabama Concerto (Fresh Sounds Records)
Milt Jackson – The Early Years (Acrobat Music)
John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk - Complete Studio Master Takes (Jazz Images)
A highly fertile year for new releases and re-issues has enabled me to put together a rich, eclectic list of recordings worthy of the `Albums of the Year` accolade. On the experimental front my big discovery of the year has been the music of Darcy James Argue who like Maria Schneider is enriching and extending the language of orchestral jazz. I also took delight in the mad-cap ingenuity of Andreas Scherer and his massed forces but at the other end of the spectrum there has been plenty of lusty blowing from the likes of Leo Richardson, Steve Slagle and Troy Roberts, who stars in Joey DeFrancesco’s unmissable disc, to provide the necessary balance. My `From the Vault` selection includes two items that aren’t strictly re-issues but valuable recordings that have languished too long in obscurity. I refer to the restored and reconstructed Pastorius concert tapes and Chris Roger’s debut disc.
JACK KENNY
NEW RELEASES
Lee Konitz - Frescalalto (Impulse)
Erroll Garner - Ready Take One (Sony Legacy)
Howard Riley - To Be Continued (Slam)
Joe Harriott - Helter Skelter-Live, Rare and Previously Unreleased Recordings 1955 - 1963 (Acrobat)
Gary Peacock Trio - Tangents (ECM)
Darcy James Argue - Real Enemies (New Amsterdam)
Duke Ellington - An Intimate Piano Session (Storyville)
Cuong Vu 4-Tet – Ballet The Music of Michael Gibbs (RareNoise)
FROM THE VAULT / RE-ISSUES
Ben Webster - Gentle Ben (Ensayo)
Duke Ellington - Blues in Orbit The Cosmic Scene (Essential Jazz Classics)
MOSE ALLISON - Complete 1957-1962 Vocal Sides (Essential Jazz Classics)
CHARLES MINGUS & THE JAZZ WORKSHOP ALL STARS - The Complete 1961- 1962 Birdland Broadcasts (Solar)
John Coltrane Trane - The Atlantic Collection (Atlantic/Rhino)
Arthur Blythe - Elaborations Light Blue Put Sunshine In It (BGO)
Arthur Blythe - Lenox Avenue Breakdown In The Tradition Illusions Blythe Spirit (BGO)
Oregon - Out Of The Woods Roots In The Sky (BGO)
‘Real Enemies’ from Darcy James Argue is a new way of making jazz relevant to the world we are experiencing. Cuong Vu has a new way of interpreting the music of Mike Gibbs. There have been some wonderful compilations from BGO. Lee Konitz has at last recorded for Impulse! Storyville looks as though, after forty three years since the death of Ellington, it is running out of new Ducal material.
Lee Konitz - Frescalalto (Impulse)
Erroll Garner - Ready Take One (Sony Legacy)
Howard Riley - To Be Continued (Slam)
Joe Harriott - Helter Skelter-Live, Rare and Previously Unreleased Recordings 1955 - 1963 (Acrobat)
Gary Peacock Trio - Tangents (ECM)
Darcy James Argue - Real Enemies (New Amsterdam)
Duke Ellington - An Intimate Piano Session (Storyville)
Cuong Vu 4-Tet – Ballet The Music of Michael Gibbs (RareNoise)
FROM THE VAULT / RE-ISSUES
Ben Webster - Gentle Ben (Ensayo)
Duke Ellington - Blues in Orbit The Cosmic Scene (Essential Jazz Classics)
MOSE ALLISON - Complete 1957-1962 Vocal Sides (Essential Jazz Classics)
CHARLES MINGUS & THE JAZZ WORKSHOP ALL STARS - The Complete 1961- 1962 Birdland Broadcasts (Solar)
John Coltrane Trane - The Atlantic Collection (Atlantic/Rhino)
Arthur Blythe - Elaborations Light Blue Put Sunshine In It (BGO)
Arthur Blythe - Lenox Avenue Breakdown In The Tradition Illusions Blythe Spirit (BGO)
Oregon - Out Of The Woods Roots In The Sky (BGO)
‘Real Enemies’ from Darcy James Argue is a new way of making jazz relevant to the world we are experiencing. Cuong Vu has a new way of interpreting the music of Mike Gibbs. There have been some wonderful compilations from BGO. Lee Konitz has at last recorded for Impulse! Storyville looks as though, after forty three years since the death of Ellington, it is running out of new Ducal material.
NICK LEA
NEW RELEASES
Jane Ira Bloom - Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson (Outline)
Alan Broadbent - Developing Story (Eden River Records)
Deep Tide Quartet - See One, Do One, Teach One (Discus)
Glen Manby - Homecoming (Mainstem)
Georgia Mancio & Alan Broadbent - Songbook (Roomspin Records)
Terry Pack's Trees - Heart Of Oak (Symbol Records)
Sam Braysher & Michael Kanan - Golden Earrings (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Tommy Smith - Embodying The Light: A Dedication To John Coltrane (Spartacus Records)
Colin Steele - Even In The Darkest Places/Diving For Pearls
(Gadgemo Records) & (Marina Records)
Christine Tobin - Pelt (Trail Belle Records)
ECM
Django Bates' Béloved - The Study Of Touch (ECM)
Julis Hülsmann Trio - Sooner And Later (ECM)
Quercus - Nightfall (ECM)
Tarkovsky Quartet - Nuit Blanche (ECM)
Trio Mediaeval & Arve Henriksen - Rímur (ECM)
So many fine new releases this year that choosing just ten has proved difficult. I have therefore taken somewhat of a liberty by selecting ten artists and eleven discs. After an absence from the recording scene for a number of years, trumpeter Colin Steele released two magnificent albums in the space of few months. Being impossible to make a decision on which was the better of the two for inclusion in my end of years honors list, I have included both.
Terry Pack's Trees is simply superb and offers a fascinating take on just what a big band can be, with an album that is brimful of great melodies, fantastic arrangements and wonderful solos. Staying with a large ensemble, another outstanding album is Developing Story by legendary American maestro, Alan Broadbent, accompanied (sic) by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.
Two great vocal albums from British artists, living either side of the pond,with Christine Tobin's (now based in New York), Pelt, and the brilliant Songbook set from Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent (another musician with two entries in my top ten!) .
From the great jazz tradition come two wonderful albums from alto saxophonists, Glen Manby and Sam Braysher, with Manby producing one of the best straight-ahead bebop inspired albums of the year and young Sam Braysher investigating the joys of the Great American songbook; and in a year full of Coltrane tribute albums Tommy Smith once again demonstrates his jazz credentials with an homage to the maestro that is heartfelt and full of vigour, yet never in awe of the subject.
This year I managed to listen to very few reissues with most of these being John Coltrane albums reissued on vinyl. I have therefore elected take editorial licence and instead pick five more new releases but all from the ECM imprint, a label that has been a huge part of my listening this year. If I was too have stuck with reissues I would also have plumped for ECM albums newly reissued on 180g vinyl from the original analogue tapes from artists such as Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett, Ralph Towner, Gary Peacock, Egberto Gismonti & Nan Vasconcelos, and Terje Rypdal but these will be published shortly under their own disting article in the near future.
Jane Ira Bloom - Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson (Outline)
Alan Broadbent - Developing Story (Eden River Records)
Deep Tide Quartet - See One, Do One, Teach One (Discus)
Glen Manby - Homecoming (Mainstem)
Georgia Mancio & Alan Broadbent - Songbook (Roomspin Records)
Terry Pack's Trees - Heart Of Oak (Symbol Records)
Sam Braysher & Michael Kanan - Golden Earrings (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Tommy Smith - Embodying The Light: A Dedication To John Coltrane (Spartacus Records)
Colin Steele - Even In The Darkest Places/Diving For Pearls
(Gadgemo Records) & (Marina Records)
Christine Tobin - Pelt (Trail Belle Records)
ECM
Django Bates' Béloved - The Study Of Touch (ECM)
Julis Hülsmann Trio - Sooner And Later (ECM)
Quercus - Nightfall (ECM)
Tarkovsky Quartet - Nuit Blanche (ECM)
Trio Mediaeval & Arve Henriksen - Rímur (ECM)
So many fine new releases this year that choosing just ten has proved difficult. I have therefore taken somewhat of a liberty by selecting ten artists and eleven discs. After an absence from the recording scene for a number of years, trumpeter Colin Steele released two magnificent albums in the space of few months. Being impossible to make a decision on which was the better of the two for inclusion in my end of years honors list, I have included both.
Terry Pack's Trees is simply superb and offers a fascinating take on just what a big band can be, with an album that is brimful of great melodies, fantastic arrangements and wonderful solos. Staying with a large ensemble, another outstanding album is Developing Story by legendary American maestro, Alan Broadbent, accompanied (sic) by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.
Two great vocal albums from British artists, living either side of the pond,with Christine Tobin's (now based in New York), Pelt, and the brilliant Songbook set from Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent (another musician with two entries in my top ten!) .
From the great jazz tradition come two wonderful albums from alto saxophonists, Glen Manby and Sam Braysher, with Manby producing one of the best straight-ahead bebop inspired albums of the year and young Sam Braysher investigating the joys of the Great American songbook; and in a year full of Coltrane tribute albums Tommy Smith once again demonstrates his jazz credentials with an homage to the maestro that is heartfelt and full of vigour, yet never in awe of the subject.
This year I managed to listen to very few reissues with most of these being John Coltrane albums reissued on vinyl. I have therefore elected take editorial licence and instead pick five more new releases but all from the ECM imprint, a label that has been a huge part of my listening this year. If I was too have stuck with reissues I would also have plumped for ECM albums newly reissued on 180g vinyl from the original analogue tapes from artists such as Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett, Ralph Towner, Gary Peacock, Egberto Gismonti & Nan Vasconcelos, and Terje Rypdal but these will be published shortly under their own disting article in the near future.
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