GA Russell Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 It's that time of year again! Time to review what has come out in the past twelve months that is the creme de la creme for you. Here are my 10 picks, in the order in which I got them. Bill Henderson - Beautiful Memory Clifton Anderson - Decade Art Pepper - The Art History Project Kobie Watkins - Involved John Surman - Brewster's Rooster Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge - Off & On John Abercrombie - Wait Till You See Her Quartet San Francisco - QSF Plays Brubeck Here Comes The Nice Guy Trio Dana Hall - Into the Light Honorable Mention: Enrico Rava - New York Days Al Hood - Just a Little Taste What say you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Ben Allison--Think Free (Palmetto) Von Freeman--Vonski Speaks (Nessa) Chico Hamilton--Twelve Tones of Love (Joyous Shout) Tom Harrell--Prana Dance (High Note) Magos Herrera (with Aaron Goldberg and Lionel Loueke)--Distancia (Sunnyside) Vijay Iyer Trio--Historicity (Act) Azar Lawrence--Prayer for My Ancestors (Furthermore) The Jazz Tribe (Ray Mantilla, Bobby Watson, Jack Walrath, Xavier Davis, Curtis Lundy, Victor Lewis)--Everlasting (Red) Charnett Moffett--The Art of Improvisation (Motema) Lonnie Smith--Rise Up (Palmetto) Honorable mentions: Avery Sharpe Trio with Onaje Allan Gumbs--Autumn Moonlight (JKNM) Go Home (Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Ron Miles) (BAG) Blues: Otis Taylor (with Jason Moran and Bandwagon)--Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs (Telarc) Brazil: Ceu--Vagarosa (Urban Jungle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
save0904 Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 This was a real good year for jazz imho. Tom Harrell Prana Dance Keith Jarrett Paris/London: Testament Tomasz Stanko Dark Eyes Steve Kuhn /w Joe Lovano Mostly Coltrane Donny McCaslin Declaration Enrico Rava New York Days David S. Ware Shakti Josh Berman Old Idea Marty Ehrlich Rites Quartet Things Have Got To Change Joshua Redman Compass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjazzg Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 in no particular order, except for the first two which were the most enjoyed Alexander Hawkins Ensemble - No now is so (FMR) Rob Mazurek Quintet - Sound is (Delmark) Dennis Gonzalez - A matter of blood (Furthermore) Daniel Levin Quartet - Live at Roulette (Clean Feed) Steve Lehmann Octet - Travail, transformation and flow (Pi records) Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored: returned (ECM) Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith - Abbey Road Quartet (Treader) AMM with John Butcher - Trinity (Matchless) Mary Halvorson - Dragon's head (Firehouse 12) Vijay Iyer - Historicity (ACT) three re-releases of note: Yusef Lateef - at Cranbrook and elsewhere (Cherry Red) Manfred Schoof - Resonance (ECM) Leo Smith - Spirit catcher (Nessa) looking at the list, thank heavens for small independent labels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldB3 Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 My Top 10 for the year: Diego Barber - Calima Medeski, Martin and Wood - Radiolarians II Jon Hassell - Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street Stefano Bollani - Stone in the Water Alex Cline - Continuation John Surman - Brewster's Rooster Monterey Quartet - Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival Enrico Rava - New York Days Keith Jarret - Yesterdays Joe Lovano Us Five - Folk Art Re-Issue: Kind Of Blue (Sony Legacy two disc edition with Miles 58 sessions) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted December 6, 2009 Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 My Village Voice Jazz Poll ballot: Ten best new releases: 1) "Vonski Speaks" -- Von Freeman (Nessa) 2) "For the Last Time" -- Ruby Braff (Arbors) 3) "Old Idea" -- Josh Berman (Delmark) 4) "Friendly Pants" -- Akira Sakata and Chikamorachi (Family Vineyard) 5) "Varmint" -- Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown (Cuneiform) 6) "Tea Music" -- James Falzone's Klang (Allos Documents) 7) "Grant Stewart Plays the Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn" -- Grant Stewart (Sharp Nine) 8) "Lucky Thompson, New York City, 1964-65" (Uptown) 9) "Deep Lee" -- Lee Konitz and Minsarah (Enja) 10) "Crazy 'Bout Red-Head Mamas" -- Le Rois du Fox-Trot (Stomp Off) Top three reissues 1) "All the Numbers" -- Lester Bowie (Nessa) 2) "Congliptious" -- Roscoe Mitchell (Nessa) 3) "Spirit Catcher" -- Leo Smith (Nessa) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papsrus Posted December 6, 2009 Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 Haven't focused too much on new music this year -- (understatement) -- but two releases absolutely deserve 5-star mention: 1. Von Freeman--Vonski Speaks (Nessa) 2. Alexander Hawkins Ensemble - No now is so (FMR) (I have Josh Berman -- Old Ideas (delmark) on order and can safely anticipate that it would make my top 10 list, given that I have only two releases on there now.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Seemingly like many others, I didn't buy a whole lot of music this year. But these three new releases really stand out for me: Von Freeman - "Vonski Speaks" Matt Wilson - "That's Gonna Leave A Mark" Fly - "Sky & Country" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Lots of stuff on these lists that I really look forward to checking out. Some of it is on order already... I'd like to hear more about this MMW project since this is the first I've read of it. WorldB3, what's the deal? Really want to get the Berman, Hawkins, and Rolldown releases as budget allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I'd like to hear more about this MMW project since this is the first I've read of it. WorldB3, what's the deal? C., That MMW Radiloarians series is some of their best work IMO. III is my favorite and then reverse. Big new box set coming this week as well. Saw them a few weeks back and they were unstoppable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 (edited) I did not hear a lot of new releases in 2009. I spent most of my music budget filling in holes in the collection. With that said, here is the list (in alphabetical order) I submitted for Jazz Inside Magazine. Chris Byars - Blue Lights - The Music of Gigi Gryce - SteepleChase Stacy Dillard - One - Smalls Records Fly - Sky & Country - ECM Von Freeman - Vonski Speaks - Nessa Records Satoko Fujii & Myra Melford - Under The Water - Libra Jimmy Greene - Mission Statement - Sunnyside Tom Harrell - Prana Dance - HighNote Vijay Iyer - Historicity - ACT Music Trio 3 + Geri Allen - At This Time - Intakt Frank Wess - Once Is Not Enough - Labeth Edited December 8, 2009 by relyles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I was very close to putting At This Time into my Davis list. Once my to-review shelf gets cleaned out I will be grabbing a copy of Vonski Speaks. Can't wait to hear it (again). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldB3 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I'd like to hear more about this MMW project since this is the first I've read of it. WorldB3, what's the deal? C., That MMW Radiloarians series is some of their best work IMO. III is my favorite and then reverse. Big new box set coming this week as well. Saw them a few weeks back and they were unstoppable! While I don't have III yet (I need to get it soon) I will say Radiloarians II is the best album MMW ever made and its the album I kind of always wanted them to make. I think what makes it so great is that before they went into the studio to cut these tracks they toured with them for a year so they had the optimal arraignments and familiarity with them for the improvisations as opposed to the normal way of recording a brand new song for a album and they having the tracks develop into something better later on tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I'd like to hear more about this MMW project since this is the first I've read of it. WorldB3, what's the deal? C., That MMW Radiloarians series is some of their best work IMO. III is my favorite and then reverse. Big new box set coming this week as well. Saw them a few weeks back and they were unstoppable! While I don't have III yet (I need to get it soon) I will say Radiloarians II is the best album MMW ever made and its the album I kind of always wanted them to make. I think what makes it so great is that before they went into the studio to cut these tracks they toured with them for a year so they had the optimal arraignments and familiarity with them for the improvisations as opposed to the normal way of recording a brand new song for a album and they having the tracks develop into something better later on tour. I missed the pre-larians shows but I was just blown away at the musicianship they are now so comfortable with. Medeski is the Dick Butkus of the groove! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Here's mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Here's mine. I didn't know that your first name really is Clifford! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Yes indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Well, I don't feel that I've heard enough new releases to make a list of 10, but here are six, including some that haven't been mentioned yet: Von Freeman - Vonski Speaks (Nessa) John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble - Eternal Interlude (Sunnyside) Panorama Jazz Band - Come Out Swingin' (PR) Steve Lehman - Travail, Fransformation, and Flow (Pi) Tom McDermott - New Orleans Duets (Rabadash) Fly - Sky and Country (ECM) I'll be seeking out some of the others folks have listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I see that Fly has been mentioned by several people--it's in my to be listened to pile--I should get to it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 You can listen to Fly's Sky & Country at lala here: http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039264011...Sky_%26_Country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okierambler Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 (edited) This has been a good year for new releases, but if I have to list just ten then these are the ones: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Infernal Machines Andy Sheppard - Movements In Colour Jon Hassell - Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street John Hollenbeck - Eternal Interlude Stefano Bolliani Trio - Stone in the Water John Surman - Brewster's Rooster John Zorn / The Dreamers - O'o Diego Barber - Calima Masada Quintet w/ Joe Lovano - Stolas: Book of Angels Vol. 12 Christophe Pays - Ellipse Edited December 16, 2009 by okierambler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Haven't heard as many new CD's this year; but here's ten that I really enjoyed. in alphabetical order Ruby Braff - For the Last Time (Arbors) Bob Florence Limited Edition - Legendary (Mama) Von Freeman - Vonski Speaks (Nessa) Freddie Hubbard - Without a Song (Blue Note) Dick Hyman - In Concert At the Old Mill Inn (Sackville) Joe Locke/David Hazeltine Quartet - Mutual Admiration Society 2 (Sharp Nine) Andy Martin/Scott Whitfield - A Tribute to Carl Fontana Set 1 (Woofy) Rosanno Sportiello - It Amazes Me (Sackville) Grant Stewart Plays the Muisc of Ellington and Strayhorn (Sharp Nine) Phil Woods - The Childrens' Suite (Jazzed Media) If I had to choose one it would be the Woods - a really exceptional piece of work. Honorable Mention: Phil Kelly and the NW Prevailing Winds - Ballet of the Bouncing Beagles (Origin) - haven't had this one long enough or listened to it enough to let it knock out one of the above - but it's a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LWayne Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 My top 10 new releases (just changed to add the new Odean Pope that I bought recently in Germnay. It is outstanding!): Artist Title Label 1 Fly Sky & Country ECM 2 The Monterey Quartet Live at the 2007 Jazz Festival Monterey Jazz Festival 3 Chris Potter & Underground Ultrahang ArtistShare 4 Henry Threadgill This Brings Us to, Volume 1 Pi Recordings 5 Tom Harrell Prana Dance High Note 6 Odean Pope Odean's List In & Out 7 Enrico Rava New York Days ECM 8 Joe Lovano Us Five Blue Note 9 Paul Motian Trio 2000 Plus Two On Broadway, Volume 5 Winter & Winter 10 Frank Kimbrough & Joe Locke Verrazano Moon Omnitone Happy Holidays LWayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Is the Kimbrough Locke duet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 I just got the Von from Nessa - too late to make my "list" but it's an unbelievable corker. Considering that in 2002 I arrived late to the concert heavily jetlagged and can only remember its greatness through an indistinct fog, this document is very helpful. The version of "Summertime" is un-fucking-believable. Thanks to Nessa for keeping the flame alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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