HutchFan

The new year is just around the corner. I thought it might be fun to launch a thread where we can discuss the recordings that we've discovered and enjoyed in 2017. Rather than limiting the discussion to music that was released in 2017, I suggest that we expand it to include anything that we've discovered this year, regardless of when it was released. The music may not be new -- but if you discovered it in 2017, then it's "new to you." Here's what I came up with: David Friedman - Of the Wind's Eye (Enja, 1981) The compositions are all Friedman originals, and the line-up is killer -- Jane Ira Bloom, Harvie Swartz and Daniel Humair. The sound quality is ridiculously good, and the sonics add to the powerful musical effect. Art Pepper - The Maiden Voyage Sessions, Vol. 3 (Galaxy, 1984) Prime late-in-the-game Pepper; with George Cables, David Williams, and Carl Burnett. Jack Walrath - Wholly Trinity (Muse, 1988) This LP has a wonderful Ornette-like vibe. Walrath dispenses with the piano, paring the group down to a trio consisting of his trumpet, Chip Jackson's bass, and Jimmy Madison's drums. The music is thrusting and powerful. Walrath's personality -- quirky, puckish, serious -- shines through. Eddie Palmieri ‎– Vamonos Pa'l Monte (Tico, 1971) Mongo Santamaria - Mongo at Montreux (Atlantic, 1971) Poncho Sanchez - Poncho (Discovery, 1979) I've spent quite a bit of time listening to Latin Jazz this year. These three are the new-to-me recordings that I've enjoyed the most. JD Allen - Radio Flyer (Savant, 2017) One of only a few new releases that I bought this year. Allen's working trio throws down. Adding guitarist Liberty Ellman to the mix takes the music even higher. Joe Lovano Us Five - Bird Songs (Blue Note, 2011) I like how Lovano and his band transform these ultra-familiar Charlie Parker songs into something new. The band features two drummers, and it works surprisingly well in a clattery sort of way. Michel Petrucciani/Ron McClure - Cold Blues (Owl, 1985) Aldo Romano - Ritual (Owl, 1988) Ed Sarath - Voice of the Wind (Owl, 1990) Three from Jean-Jacques Pussiau's Owl label. I was drawn to all three by the pianists. Petrucciani is obvious. Romano's CD features Franco D'Andrea and Sarath's features Joanne Brackeen. Russ Freeman/Shelly Manne - One on One (Contemporary, 1982) I discovered this music when another forum member posted something about it on this site. Fun to hear the unusual instrumentation of a piano/drums duo. Manne's musicality leaps out. Enrico Pieranunzi - Perugia Suite (EGEA, 2002) Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet - The Year of the Elephant (Pi, 2002) My favorite new-to-me discoveries of 2017. Musically, they're very dissimilar -- but both succeed in conveying a sense of vastness and wonder. Powerful music! And outside the world of jazz: Mahler - Symphony No. 7 / Boulez, Cleveland O (DG, 1996) Boulez's transparent textures and the Cleveland Orchestra's virtuosity make this "problematic" symphony seem almost inevitable. Rush - Snakes and Arrows (Anthem/Atlantic, 2007) 70s prog rock lives! **************************** So how about you? What has knocked you out this year??? By the way, don't feel compelled to create a big list. If you want to name one record (or artist), that's fine. If you want to list twenty, that's fine too. Whatever. No rules -- other than telling us what you've discovered & dug in 2017. And if you don't like list-type threads . . . well, you don't get to play.

The Art Farmer Quartet - Sing Me Softly of the Blues (Atlantic, 1965) with Steve Kuhn (p), Steve Swallow (b), and Pete La Roca (d) One of Farmer's many peaks.

Bill Evans - Consecration I (Timeless) Recorded at the Keystone Korner just weeks before Evans died.

Denny Zeitlin - Labyrinth: Live Solo Piano (Sunnyside) Bill Evans - New Conversations (Warner Brothers)

Mucho Machito: Machito Orchestra - Fireworks (Coco/Charly) featuring Lalo Rodriguez Machito - Kenya: Afro-Cuban Jazz (Roulette) featuring Cannonball Adderley and Joe Newman

More music from the same '74 Vanguard gig heard on Since We Met: Bill Evans - Re: Person I Knew (Fantasy/OJC)

Good stuff.

The Bill Evans Trio - Since We Met (Fantasy/OJC, 1974) with Eddie Gomez & Marty Morell

I'm listening to this again: Jane Ira Bloom - Meets Jackson Pollack: Chasing Paint (Arabesque)

Johnny Griffin & Lockjaw Davis - Playing the Music of Thelonious Monk: Lookin' at Monk! (Jazzland/OJC) with Monk sidemen Larry Gales & Ben Riley; Junior Mance rounds out the rhythm section Right as rain.

Randy Weston - Vishnu Wood Duo - Perspective (Denon) And then. . . Another Denon release, also a duo, also recorded in the 1970s: Archie Shepp-Dollar Brand [Abdullah Ibrahim] - Duet (Denon) Both of these are quietly sublime.

Caribbean Jazz Project / Dave Samuels: Here and Now - Live in Concert (Concord Picante) Dave Samuels (vib, mar); Diego Urcola (tr, flhn); Dario Eskenazi (p); Oscar Stagnaro (el b); Mark Walker (d); Roberto Quintero (congas, perc)

Speaking of Japanese pianists, I've really enjoyed what I've heard from Masahiko Sato.

The Milt Jackson Big 4 - At the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975 (Pablo) I've been playing this over-and-over-again. Jackson is one of the few who can conjure that extraordinary Louis Armstrong feeling of joy through rhythm.

Wow. This is very inspiring!

Now spinning this new-to-me LP for the first time: Martial Solal Et Son Grand Orchestre Jouent André Hodeir (Carlyne, 1984)

Jane Ira Bloom - Meets Jackson Pollock: Chasing Paint (Arabesque) Wonderful.

Aldo Romano - To Be Ornette to Be (Owl)

John Coltrane - Coltrane (Prestige 2-fer) with Traneing In and Soultrane

Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet - The Year of the Elephant (Pi) with Anthony Davis, Malachi Favors Maghostut, and Jack DeJohnette

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Jazz at the College of the Pacific, Volume 2 (Fantasy/OJC)

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - "Harlem" (Pablo) Recorded live at the Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden on March 9, 1964.

Sibelius: Syms. Nos. 2 & 7 / Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra (Sony)