2018 - Favorite New & New-to-You Recordings

[HutchFan]

Here's some cool stuff that I discovered in 2018, all of it new-to-me:

Dizzy Gillespie - At Onkel Pö's Carnegie Hall, Hamburg 1978 (Jazz Line, 2 CDs)
I've probably listened to Dizzy more than any other artist this year. The man's music never gets old.  

Chico Hamilton - Peregrinations (Blue Note)
with Arthur Blythe and Steve Turre (on bass!); thanks to Jim S. for his Chico advocacy, prompting me to dig into Hamilton's catalog. 

Ethan Iverson, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Ben Street - Live at Smalls (Smalls Live)
This trio manages to sound traditional and contemporary at the same time. I think Iverson's an exceptional pianist, regardless of the context.

Johnny Lytle - Soul Rebel and People & Love (Dusty Groove/Milestone)
Jack McDuff - The Heatin' System (Cadet, 2 LPs)
Two new soul-jazz favorites. The Heatin' System is one of McDuff's best. How come it has never been reissued (other than for a minute in Japan)??? Dusty Groove should do their thing with it, just like they did with Lytle's Milestone LPs.

Carmen McRae - At The Great American Music Hall (Blue Note)
Some of the most compelling Carmen McRae that I've heard. She's with her working band, and you can tell.

James Moody - Heritage Hum (Perception)
Along with Diz, Moody's been another huge focus for me this year. (No coincidence there.) I could have easily listed five or six other new-to-me Moody records. But his flute work on Heritage Hum is irresistible -- so it gets my vote.

Cal Tjader - Primo (Fantasy)
Superb Latin jazz, featuring arrangements from Charlie Palmieri. If you think Tjader's music is fun but "lightweight," you might want to check this out. The more I dig into Tjader's discography, the more I'm impressed.

Lucky Thompson - Illuminations (Groove Note)
Originally released as two LPs, Goodbye Yesterday and I Offer You, this album features a stellar rhythm section: Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes. (Note to those who are electric-piano-averse: Walton uses both acoustic and electric piano on these sides. FWIW, I love Cedar's playing here, regardless of instrument.) Rhythm section aside, Lucky is the star of the show. His soprano sax work is otherworldly -- so vulnerable and naked that it'll break your heart. . . . If I'm picking ONE new favorite for this year, it's this one. 

 

Who or what caught YOUR ear in 2018?  

Edited December 14, 2018 by HutchFan

[soulpope]

Stupendous playing by Emil Gilels and a very nice presentation .... this 5CD set is a treasure trove for sure ....

Edited December 14, 2018 by soulpope

[mjazzg]

All of these made a big impact on my 2018

and finally ...

[7/4]

my list...here.

[kh1958]

Jupiter and Okwess, Kinsonic (Glitterbeat)

Jason Moran, Mary Halvorson and Ron Miles, Bangs

Lonnie Smith, All in My Mind (Blue Note)

Harriet Tubman, The Terror End of Beauty (Sunnyside)

Sameer Gupta, A Circle Has No Beginning

Sona Jobarteh, Fasiya (West African Guild)

Sidi Toure, Toubalbero (Thrill Jockey)

Trumpet Mafia, Live at the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Munck)

Terrence Blanchard and E Collective, Live (Blue Note)

Fatoumata Diawara, Fenfo (Shanachie)

Logan Richardson, Blues People (Ropeadope)

Jason Marsalis and the 21st Century Trad Band, Melody Reimagined, Book 1 (Basin Street)

Sons of Kemet, Your Queen is a Reptile (Impulse)

Charles Lloyd and the Marvels, Vanished Gardens (Blue Note)

John Coltrane, Both Directions at Once (Impulse)

Erroll Garner, Nightconcert (Mack Avenue)

Wayne Shorter, Emanon (Blue Note)

Cedric Burnside, Benton County Relic (Single Lock)

Charles Mingus, Jazz in Detroit

Nikki Hill, Feline Roots

Sun Ra, God is More than Love Can Ever Be

Magos Herrera and Brooklyn Rider, Dreamers (Sony)

African Scream Contest 2 (Analog Africa)

Edited December 16, 2018 by kh1958

[soulpope]

The complete final recital in excellent transfer .... worth the ticket of entry for her reading of Bach’s BWV 914 Toccata alone ....

[bluesForBartok]