Balladeer

Very open-minded, pioneering musician unafraid of musical borders. From his recordings for legendary south German MPS label ("Knirsch" with Coryell and Hiseman) up to the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble Wolfgang Dauner made jazz more attractive for young people in Germany. RIP.

Esther Philips "From a Whisper to a Scream", another earyl 70s Kudo, is also a fantastic album!

Tony Fruscella (Atlantic)

" Spencer Meyer plays William Bolcom "Piano Rags" (Steinway and Sons)

Spencer Meyer plays William Bolcom "Piano Rags" (Steinway and Sons)

Eleanor Weingartner - 21 Century Lyrical Clarinet Concertos (Urtext)

Carsten Dahl trio - Simplicity (Storyville)

Wish I were there. Regrettably the probability that she will perform in Germany is very small. IMO Ravishing singer and musician. There are a few voices I fell in love with this year- - be it roots or classical music. Hers belongs to them.

Gillian Welch - Soul Journey (Acony Records)

Plainville - Jeremy Udden (Fresh Sound)

Tom Waits - Alice (Anti) 70 - belatetd congrats, Tom Waits, and thanks for your unique music!

Gillian Welch - Boots No 1; The Official Revival Bootleg (Acony Records)

Bill Evans Trio - Village Vanguard

Bill Evans & Jim Hall

Jeremy Udden - Plainville (Fresh Sound)

Jenny Scheinman - King of Hearts

Rosanne Cash - Rules of Travel (Capitol)

One gem of the eighties I forgot to mention earlier: Chet Baker Live in Sweden with Ake Johansson trio (Dragon, 1983) If you´re looking for the definitve haunting ballad then stop searching. You´ll find it here. Listen to Chet playing Charlie Haden´s "Ellen and David" live in Gothenburg - this one knocks me out every time. Now let´s really talk obscure and diggin deeper: If you ever get the chance to buy it, grab for it, because it´s really fantastic and extremely rare: Recorded in Italy: "The Incredible Chet Baker plays and sings. Recorded in 1977" (ANS)

Gillian Welch - Time (the Revelator)

Thanks to Larry Kart for bringing up evaluation of late Chet and merits of Munich folks of Enja records digging up those pearls. But: Though "In Chicago" is a nice, diverse set highlighting a seldom heard "We ll meet again" this album surely does not belong to his best recordings of the eightis. Consider: "From the Moonlight" "Live in Tokyo", "Sesjun Radio Shows", "Diane" and of course "Last Great Concert"- all playing in a different, higher league.

Red Norvo - Wigwammin´ (Hep)

Let´s share our grief. I have a similar story. 1979 a year CB was in his midlate bloom his excelletn quartet with Phil Markowitz gave a concert in my home town. But Mr B was not on my radar then so I missed the concert and learned only much later about it when I had listened hundreds of times to the quartet´s "Broken Wing" they had recorded that year in Paris. So it goes...

Malia - RIpples, Echoes of Dreams (MPS)

Dave Pike Set feat. Volker Kriegel - Big Schlepp

55 6 (21) Variations - Wayne Horvitz (from: The Snowghost Sessions)