B. Goren.

This is probably the best trio recording I've recently listened to. Higgins' playing is beautiful and full of emotion. But not only Higgins: The other two trio members are also doing a perfect job: Don Wilner (his bow playing on the bass is outstanding) and James Martin. Recommended.

December 17: Walter Booker, bass, 1933 Sonny Red, alto sax, 1932.

December 16: Rene McLean, flute, tenor & alto sax, 1946 Joe Farrell, alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones, flute, 1937 John Abercrombie, guitar, 1944 Sam Most, flute and tenor sax, 1930

James Moody.

December 15: Curtis Fuller, trombone, 1934 Eddie Palmieri, piano, 1936 Stan Kenton, pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader, 1911

Also Phineas Newborn, piano, 1931

I haven't listened to too many new releases this year but among those I listened to, here are my favorites: Junko Onishi - Baroque Jason Moran - Ten Geri Allen- Flying Toward the Sound Marc Cary - Focus Trio Live 2009

Another Ella set: The Porter, Rodgers & Hart Songbooks: £4.93. Dinah Washington, The Queen Sings (4CD): £8.99

Ella Fitzgerald: 10 CDs box set for £13.99.

Horowitz - Complete Deutsche Grammophon Recordings. 6 CDs for £20.67. Great stuff.

The complete Columbia studio recordings of Miles Davis with Gil Evans for £12.99.

Louis Armstrong & Danny Kaye.

December 12: Frank Sinatra, vocals, 1915 John Hicks, piano, 1941 Richard Galliano, accordion, 1950

I plan to order this:

January 06, 2011 PCD 4490 Shaporow,Michelle(vo)/Purple Skies January 12, 2011 KICJ 609 Jimbo,Akira(ds)/Jimbojamboree YZSO 10014 Togashi,Masahiko(ds),Masahiko Sato(p),JF Jenny Clark(b)/Paris Session-Autumn In Paris January 15, 2011 MMEX 143CD Sims,Zoot(ts)/Live In Yamagata Vol.1 MMEX 144CD Getz,Stan(ts)/Dear Old Stan Getz Vol.1 MMEX 145CD Brown,Ted(ts),Gene Dinovi(p)/Live In Yokohama January 19, 2011 COCB 53965 Frisell,Bill(g)/Beautiful Dreamers DDCZ 1728 Malta(as)/Live In Japan-Jazz Up,Back Up,Dress Up- MYCJ 30584 Roon,Marc Van(vo)/Solo Ballad Project PCCY 30181 Akiyoshi,Toshiko(p)/Fukkatsu!!Akiyoshi Toshiko Jazz Orchestra feat. Lew Tabackin PCCY 30182 V.A./Warm Paradise(Female Vocal Collection) PCD 93384 Grifith,Johnny(p)/The Geneva Connection PCD 4491 Speedomater/The Ultimate Speedometer UCCJ 2084(SHM CD) Kim,Hakuei(p)/Trisonique UCGJ 9001(SACD)Limited Edition Kim,Hakuei(p)/Trisonique VACM 1425 Goldings,Larry(org),Harry Allen(ts)/Under Paris Skies VHCD 01049 Hersch,Fred(p)/Everybody's Song But My Own YMCJ 10006 Evans,Kellylee(vo)/Nina YMCJ 10007 Antonioli,Laurie(vo)/American Dreams January 26, 2011 ABCJ 616 Pepper,Art(as)/Holland ABCJ 617 Sims,Zoot(ts)/Las Vegas Night ABCJ 618 Harris,Harold(p)/Bluesville Revisited +3 ABCJ 619 Hawes,Hampton(p)/On Vantage +2 COCB 53964 Shanti(vo)/Romance With Me DDCZ 1736 Tajika,Masahiro(ds)/Tahji SICL 246 Suzuki,Shigeko(vo)&Kishino Yashijo(p)/With You TOCT 27025 quasimode/Magic Ensemble TOCT 90020(+DVD)Limited Edition quasimode/Magic Ensemble UCCE 7011 Katche,Manu(ds)/Third Round UCCM 1192 Clayton,Gerald(p)/Bond UCCM 1193 Bad Plus,The/Never Stop UCGO 9007(SACD) Evans,Bill(p)/Explorations +2 UCGO 9008(SACD) Davis,Miles(tp)/Cookin' UCGO 9009(SACD) Rollins,Sonny(ts)/Way Out West +3 UCGU 9010(SACD) Merrill,Helen(vo)/Helen Merrill(With Clifford Brown) UCGU 9013(SACD) Montgomery,Wes(g)/A Day In The Life DQC 614 Miyawaki,Yuko(tp)/Song Of Flower

Also Diane Schuur, vocals, 1953

Tete was also great as a sideman. Everything he recorded with Dexter Gordon on SteepleChase is recommended: Another favorite of mine is Gentle Ben with Ben Webster:

In memory of John Lennon: Working Class Hero is one of the best protest songs ever written.

These CDs could be a very good start: