Jazz Journalists Association 2011 'Best of' Lists

Best of 2011 (I know, I know, I'm late... but I just got here!)

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:59:12 GMT

1) Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - "Race Riot Suite" (Royal Potato Family)

2) Delfeayo Marsalis - "Sweet Thunder" (Troubadour Jass)

3) Marcus Strickland - "Triumph of the Heavy" (Strick Muzik)

4) Rudresh Mahanthappa - "Samdhi" (ACT)

5) Julian Lage Group - "Gladwell" (eMarcy)

6) Pilc Moutin Hoenig - "Threedom" (Motema)

7) James Farm - "James Farm: Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, Eric Harland" (Nonesuch)

8) SFJAZZ Collective - "Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions" (SFJAZZ)

9) 3 Cohens - "Family" (Anzic)

10) Bruce Barth Trio - "Live at Smalls" (smallsLIVE)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Yuko Kishimoto - "Songbook" (PlanetArts)

Rob Johnson

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:28:57 GMT

A little late (new member), but:

1. Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian - Live at Birdland (ECM)

2. Sonny Rollins - Road Shows, vol. 2 (Doxy)

3. Ambrose Akinmusire - When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)

4. Keith Jarrett - Rio (ECM)

5. Miguel Zenon - Alma Adentro (Marsalis)

6. Etienne Charles - Kaiso (Culture Shock)

7. Colin Stranahan, Glenn Zaleski, Rick Rosato - Anticipation (Capri)

8. Muhal Richard Abrams - SoundDance (Pi)

9. Marcus Strickland - Triumph of the Heavy (Strick Muzik)

10. Paul Motian - Windmills of Your Mind (Winter & Winter)

Historical

Miles Davis Quintet - Live in Europe 1967, The Bootleg Series Vol.1 (Sony/Legacy)

Reissue

Heiner Stadler - Tribute to Bird & Monk (Labor)

Compilation

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat (Disney Jazz)

Vocal

Terri Lyne Carrington - The Mosaic Project (GrooveJazz)

Christian Broecking

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:36:35 GMT

1. Jürg Wickihalder European Quartet feat. Irène Schweizer Jump! (Intakt)) 2. Angelika Niescier Quite Simply (Enja) 3. Trio 3 feat. Geri Allen Celebrating Mary Lou Williams (Intakt) 4. Sonny Rollins Road Shows, Vol. 2 (Doxy) 5. Archie Shepp / Joachim Kühn Wo!Man ( Archieball) 6. Das Kapital Plays Hanns Eisler Conflicts & Conclusions (Das Kapital Records) 7. Muhal Richard Abrams Sound Dance ( Pi) 8. Ambrose Akinmusire When The Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note) Reissue: 1. Various Free Music Production FMP - In Retrospect ( FMP)

W. Royal Stokes

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:42:16 GMT

Ten Best New Releases

Terri Lyne Carrington, The Mosaic Project (Concord Jazz)

Ron Carter, Ron Carter's Great Big Band (Sunnyside)

Keith Jarrett, Rio (ECM)

Grace Kelly and Phil Woods, Man With the Hat (Pazz Productions)

Joe Lovano/Us Five, Bird Songs (Blue Note)

Roswell Rudd, Incredible Honk (Sunnyside)

Sonny Rollins, Road Shows vol. 2 (Emarcy/Universal Music Group)

Lalo Schifrin, Jazz Meets the Symphony #7 (Aleph)

Wadada Leo Smith, Heart's Reflections (Cuneiform)

Omar Sosa, Calma (Ota)

Top Three Reissues

John Carter and Bobby Bradford, John Carter & Bobby Bradford (Mosaic Select)

Jimmie Lunceford, The Complete Jimmie Lunceford Decca Sessions (Mosaic)

Art Pepper, Blues for the Fisherman: Unreleased Art Pepper, Vol. 6 (Widow's Taste)

Best Vocal Album

Catherine Russell, Strictly Romancin’ (Harmonia Mundi/World Village)

Best Latin Jazz Album

James Carter, Caribbean Rhapsody, (Emarcy/Universal Music Group)

Best Debut CD

Lisa Lindsley, Everytime We Say Goodbye (Blondsongstress Productions)

For my additional lists of Notable Releases of 2011 go to my blog at wroyalstokes.com/weblog/

Woody Louis Armstrong Shaw III

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:43:19 GMT

2 Noteworthy Prospects for Best Reissue, Best Reissue Compilation, or other related categories of 2011:

Woody Shaw: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection (5 Stars at AllMusic.com)
(PopMarket / Legacy Recordings / Sony Music)

Dexter Gordon: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection (4.5 Stars at AllMusic.com)
(PopMarket / Legacy Recordings / Sony Music)

Neil Tesser

Neil Tesser — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:46:37 GMT

Here are the 13 albums in my Top Ten list for 2011. (Think TARDIS.) I explained my choices in three columns at Examiner.com; this last of the three contains links to the previous two.

Bill Carrothers, A Night At The Village Vanguard (Pirouet)
Rudresh Mahanthappa, Samdhi (ACT)
Dead Cat Bounce, Chance Episodes (Cunieform)
Pilc-Moutin-Hoenig, Threedom (Motema)
Steve Coleman, The Mancy Of Sound (Pi)
KLANG, Other Doors (Allos Documents)
René Marie, Black Lace Freudian Slip (Motema)
Jason Stein Quartet, The Story This Time (Delmark)
Fred Ho and the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble: Big Red (Innova)
Ambrose Akinmusire, When The Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)
BassDrumBone, The Other Parade (Clean Feed)
Jason Adasiewicz’s Sun Rooms, Spacer (Delmark)
Starlicker, Double Demon (Delmark)

Sharonne Cohen

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:24:07 GMT

Favorites for 2011 (in no particular order):

Ben Allison, Action-Refraction (Palmetto)
Tyshawn Sorey, Oblique – I (Pi)
Ambrose Akinmusire, When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)
Guillermo Klein/Aaron Goldberg, Bienestan (Sunnyside)
Carlo De Rosa’s Cross-Fade, Brain Dance (Cuneiform)
J.D. Allen Trio, Victory! (Sunnyside)
SF Jazz Collective, Music of Stevie Wonder (SF Jazz)
Avishai Cohen, Introducing Triveni (Anzic)
Ari Hoenig, Lines of Oppression (Naive)
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra, Treelines (Justin Time)

George Grella

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:22:13 GMT

A dozen worthies ...

1. Dan Tepfer, Goldberg Variations/Variations

2. Matthew Shipp, Art of the Improviser

3. Wadada Leo Smith, Heart's Reflections

4. Claudia Quintet + 1, What is the Beautiful?

5. Les doigts de l'homme, 1910

6. Honey Ear Trio, Steampunk Serenade

7. Allen Lowe, Blues and the Empirical Truth

8. Aram Shelton's Arrive, There Was ...

9. Gerry Hemingway Quintet, Riptide

10. Alon Nechustan, Words Beyond

11. Chris Parrello + Things I Wonder

12. Jen Shyu and Mark Dresser, Synastry

Annotations at The Big City

John Fenton

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:28:06 GMT

World

Pat Martino Quartet - Undeniable (Live at Blues Alley) - 'High Note'. www.jazzdepot.com

South Pacific

Tom Dennison - Zoo - 'Rattle Jazz' www.rattlejazz.com - downloads available

Alan Brown - Between the Spaces - 'Ode Records' or download from www.alanbrown.co.nz/spaces

Phil Broadhurst Quartet - Delayed Reaction - Independent Artists (Rattle) www.juliephiljazz.co.nz

Samson, Nacey, Haines - Oxide - Rattle Jazz - www.rattlejazz.com - downloads available

All reviewed on my New Zealand Jazz Blog - Jazz Local 32

(jon4jaz.wordpress.com)

Wilbert Sostre

Wilbert Sostre — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:04:35 GMT

1. Miguel Zenon - Alma Adentro

2. Stefon Harris, Christian Scott, David Sanchez - Ninety Miles

3. Gretchen Parlato - The Lost and Found

4. Fred Hersh - Alone in the Vanguard

5. Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Faith

Hrayr Attarian

Hrayr Attarian — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:41:48 GMT

Top Ten Jazz CDs by Female Instrumentalists in 2011.

1) Matana Roberts Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens De Couleur Libres

2) Tineke Postma The Dawn of Light

3) Okkyung Lee Noisy Love Songs

4) Lisa Mezzacappa & Nightshade Cosmic Rift

5) Jessica Pavone Army Of Strangers

6) Carol Morgan Blue Glass Music

7) Karolina Strassmayer Joining Forces

8) Satoko Fujii Watershed

9) Claire Daly Mary Joyce Project: Nothing to Lose

10) Nicole Mitchell Awakening

Elzy Kolb

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:14:15 GMT

These are a few of my favorite things, in no particular order:
The Bill Dixon Orchestra: Intents and Purposes (RCA)
Andrea Wolper: Parallel Lives (Jazzed Media)
Geri Allen: A Child Is Born (Motema)
Rudresh Mahanthappa: Samdhi (ACT)
Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter One (Constellation)
Virginia Mayhew: Mary Lou Williams, the Next 100 Years (Renma)
Joe Lovano Us Five: Bird Songs (Blue Note)
Nicole Mitchell: Awakening (Delmark)
JD Allen: Victory (Sunnyside)
Claire Daly Quintet: Mary Joyce Project: Nothing to Lose (Daly Bread)
The Cookers: Cast the First Stone (Plus Loin)
Pilc Moutin Hoenig: Threedom (Motema)
The Claudia Quintet +1: What Is the Beautiful? (Cuneiform)
Hazmat Modine: Cicada (Barbes)
Mary Lou Williams at Rick's Cafe Americain (Storyville)
Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra: MTO Plays Sly (RPF)
MSG: Tasty! (Plus Loin)

Luke Stewart

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:36:57 GMT

Best of 2011

New Releases

1. Ernest Dawkins - Prarie Prophet
2. Brian Settles and Central Union
3. Starlicker - Double Demon
4. Joseph Daley Earth Tones Ensemble - The Seven Deadly Sins
5. Matthew Shipp - The Art of the Improviser
6. JD Allen Trio - Victory
7. Gerald Cleaver’s Uncle June Ensemble - Be It As I See It
8. Matana Roberts - Coin Coin
9. Steve Coleman - Mancy of Sound
10. Darius Jones Trio - Big Gurl

Historical/Reissues

1. Roscoe Mitchell - Before Sound
2. Black Artists’ Group - Live in Paris, Aries 1973
3. Julius Hemphill - Dogon AD
4. Bill Dixon - Intents and Purposes
5. Gigi Gryce - Doin the GiGi

6. Juma Sultan's Aboriginal Music Society - Father of Origin
7. Miles Davis Live in Europe 1967

8. George Russell - Jazz in the Space Age
9. Lloyd McNeill Quartet - Washington Suite
10. Steve Colson and the Unity Troupe - Triumph

Alain Drouot

Alain Drouot — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:15:19 GMT

2011's ten best new releases

1. Matthew Shipp – Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear)

2. Darius Jones – Big Gurl (AUM Fidelity)

3. Vijay Iyer / Prasanna / Nitin Mitta – Tirtha (ACT)

4. Rob Brown – Unknown Skies (Rogue Art)

5. The Dorf – Le Record (Leo)

6. Led Bib – Bring Your Own (Cuneiform)

7. Endangered Blood – Endangered Blood (Skirl)

8. BassDrumBone – The Other Parade (Clean Feed)

9. Weasel Walter / Mary Halvorson / Peter Evans – Electric Fruit (Thirsty Ear)

10. Trio 3 + Geri Allen – Live at Birdland New York (Celebrating Mary Lou Williams) (Intakt)

Willard Jenkins

Willard Jenkins — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:43:17 GMT

Miles Davis Quintet, Live in Europe 1967-The Bootleg Series, Columbia

Terri Lyne Carrington, Mosaic Project, Concord

JD Allen, Victory, Sunnyside

Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton, Play the Blues, Reprise/JALC

Charles Lloyd, Athens Concert, ECM

Terell Stafford, This Side of Strayhorn, MaxJazz

Randy Weston, Blue Moses, CTI

David Murray Cuban Ensemble, Plays Nat King Cole en Espanol, Motema

SF Jazz Collective, Music of Stevie Wonder, SF Jazz

James Farm, James Farm, Nonesuch

Ben Williams, State of Art, Concord

Muhal Richard Abrams, Focus Thru Time, Pi

Marcus Shelby, Soul of the Movement, Porto Franco

Jerry Gonzalez, El Commando de Clave, Sunnyside

Freddie Hubbard, First Light, CTI

Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio, The 11th Gate, Motema

Miguel Zenon, Alma Adentro, Marsalis Music

Bridget Arnwine

bridget arnwine — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:30:00 GMT

favorite recordings of 2011 (in no particular order, except for #s 1 and 2):

1. Pinnacle- Freddie Hubbard

2. Sweet Thunder- Delfeayo Marsalis

3. Captain Black Big Band- Captain Black Big Band

4. Songs of Mirth and Melancholy- Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo

5. (re) Conception- Helen Sung

6. Fe/Faith- Gonzalo Rubalcaba

7. James Farm- James Farm

8. To Hear from There- Wayne Wallace

9. Family- Jeff "Tain" Watts

10. The Mosaic Project- Terri Lyne Carrington

honorable mention: The Lost and Found- Gretchen Parlato

Geoffrey Himes

Geoffrey Himes — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:18:46 GMT

Geoffrey Himes: Top Twenty-Five Jazz Albums of 2011 (with links):

The Miles Davis Quintet” “The Bootleg Series Vol. 1: Live in Europe 1967” (Columbia/Legacy)
Bill Frisell: “Sign of Life: Music for 858 Quartet” (Savoy Jazz)
Vijay Iyer: “Tirtha” (ACT)
David Binney: “Graylen Epicenter” (Mythology)
Brad Mehldau: “Live in Marciac” (Nonesuch) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022308123.html
Dave Douglas Brass Fantasy: “Three Views” (Greenleaf)
Orrin Evans: “Captain Black Big Band” (Positone) http://citypaper.com/music/creative-alliances-1.1177255
Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian: “Live at Birdland” (ECM)
Rudresh Mahanthappa: “Samdhi” (ACT)
Keith Jarrett Rio” (ECM)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: “Race Riot Suite” (Kinnara/Royal Potato Family) http://jazztimes.com/articles/28058-jacob-fred-jazz-odyssey-s-riotous-ambition
Pilc Moutin Hoenig: “Threedom” (Motema) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/jean-michael-pilc-trio,1214297/critic-review.html
Joe Lovano Us Five Bird Songs” (Blue Note)
Jimmy Owens: “The Monk Project” (IPO)
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones: “Rocket Science” (Eone)
Trombone Shorty: “For True” (Verve Forecast) http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/05/trombone-shorty-at-jazz-fest-2011.html
SFJazz Collective: “Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions” (SFJazz)
Joshua Redman Aaron Parks Matt Penman Eric Harland: “James Farm” (Nonesuch)
Rene Marie: “Black Lace Freudian Slip” (Motema)
Sonny Rollins: “Road Shows Vol. 2” (Doxy/Emarcy) http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/05/jazz-fest-day-6-report-and-photos.html
Warren Wolf: “Warren Wolf” (Mack Avenue) http://blogs.citypaper.com/noise/index.php/2011/12/warren-wolf-steps-out-of-the-shadows-at-an-die-musik-dec-10/
Ambrose Akinmusire: “When the Heart Emerges Glistening” (Blue Note) http://jazztimes.com/articles/27424-ambrose-akinmusire-the-storyteller
Randy Weston: “The Storyteller” (Motema) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/randy-westons-african-rhythms-quartet-featuring-lewis-nash,1180494/critic-review.html
Dee Dee Bridgewater: “Midnight Sun” (DDB/Emarcy) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/rosslyn-jazz-festival-featuring-dee-dee-bridgewater,1034464/critic-review.html
Ben Williams: “State of Art” (Concord Jazz) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/ben-williams,1210363/critic-review.html#reviewNum1

Geoffrey Himes: Top Twenty-Five Non-Jazz Albums of 2011 (with links):

1. The Beach Boys: “The SMiLE Sessions” (Capitol) http://mplayer.pastemagazine.com/issues/week-20/articles#article=/issues/week-20/articles/brian-wilson-still-smiling

2. The Decemberists: “The King Is Dead” (Capitol) http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/05/jazzfest-report-and-photos-day-2---the-decemberist.html

3. Tom Waits: “Bad as Me” (Anti-)

4. John Adams: “Son of Chamber Symphony” (Nonesuch)

5. Dave Alvin: “Eleven Eleven” (Yep Roc) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/dave-alvin-and-the-guilty-ones,1209080/critic-review.html

6. Everlast: “Songs of Ungrateful Living” (Martyr)

7. PJ Harvey: “Let England Shake” (Vagrant/Island/Def Jam) http://citypaper.com/special/topten/the-year-in-music-1.1244503

8. The Drive-By Truckers: “Go-Go Boots” (ATO) http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/festivus/2011/08/bob-dylan-and-drive-by-truckers-at-merriweather-po.html

9. Lupe Fiasco: “Lasers” (Atlantic)

10.   Adele: “21” (Columbia/XL)

11.   John Doe: “Keeper” (Yep Roc)

12.   Bon Iver: “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” (Jagjaguwar) http://mplayer.pastemagazine.com/issues/week-24/articles#article=/issues/week-24/articles/the-birth-of-a-genre-neo-gazebo-rock

13.   Kate & Anna McGarrigle: “Tell My Sister” (Nonesuch)

14.   Greg Brown: “Freak Flag” (Yep Roc)

15.   The Black Keys: “El Camino” (Nonesuch)

16.     Bob Marley and the Wailers: “Live Forever” (Island/Tuff Gong)

17.     Susana Baca: “Afrodiaspora” (Luaka Bop)

18.     Dead Rock West: “Bright Morning Stars” (Red River)19.   Ollabelle: “Neon Blue Bird” (Thirty Tigers) http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/ollabelle,1213905/critic-review.html#reviewNum1

20.    Gillian Welch: “The Harrow & the Harvest” (Acony)

21.    Anthony Hamilton: “Back to Love” (RCA)

22. The Low Anthem: “Smart Flesh” (Nonesuch) http://mplayer.pastemagazine.com/issues/week-24/articles#article=/issues/week-24/articles/the-birth-of-a-genre-neo-gazebo-rock23. Amy Lavere: “Stranger Me” (Archer)

24. The North Mississippi Allstars: “Keys to the Kingdom” (Songs of the South) http://mplayer.pastemagazine.com/issues/week-16/articles#%3Futm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=This_Week+In+The+mPlayer+07-05-11_7_5_111&article=/issues/week-16/articles/americana-gets-the-blues-a-weekend-at-the-ama-conference

25. John Hiatt: “Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns” (New West) http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/ronnie-milsap-and-john-hiatt-had-more-in-common-than-they-ever-guessed-a-quarter-century-ago/Content?oid=2610410

Antonio Terzo

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:42:46 GMT

(no particular order)

Joe McPhee and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, "Blue Chicago Blue" (NotTwo)
Fred Hersch, "Alone at the Vanguard" (Palmetto)
Satoko Fujii Min-Yoh Ensemble, "Watershed" (Libra)
Bill Dixon, "Envoi" (Victo)
David S. Ware/Cooper More/William Parker/Muhammad Ali, "Planetary Unknown" (AUM-Fidelity)
Okkyung Lee, "Noisy Love Songs (for George Dyer)" (Tzadik)
AGOGIC, "Agogic" (T&C - Table and Chairs Music)
Farmers by Nature, "Out of This World's Distortions" (AUM-Fidelity)
Uri Caine Trio, "Siren" (Winter&Winter)
Ken Vandermark Resonance, "Kafka in Flight" (NotTwo)
Steve Coleman & Five Elements, "The Mancy of Sound" (Pi Recordings)
Trio 3 + Geri Allen, "Celebrating Mary Lou Williams" (Intakt)
Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet, "Apparent Distance" (Firehouse12)
Evan Parker - Zlatko Kaucic, "Round About One O'Clock" (NotTwo)
Aki Takase + Han Bennink, "Two for Two" (Intakt)
FAB Trio, "History of Jazz in Reverse" (TUM)
Javier Girotto - Luciano Biondini, "Iguazù" (Note Sonanti)
BAAP!, "Sweet Dreams, Baby" (Monk)
Stefano Battaglia Trio, "The River of Anyder" (ECM)
Joëlle Léandre / Nicole Mitchell / Dylan van der Schyff, "Before After" (Rogueart)
Jason Kao Hwang Edge, "Crossroads Unseen" (Euonymus Rec.)
Side A (Ken Vandermark/Chad Taylor/Havard Wilk), "A New Margin" (Cleanfeed)
Klang, "Other Doors" (Allos Documents)
Fire! with Jim O'Rourke, "Unreleased?" (Runegrammofon)

Andrew Gilbert

Andrew Gilbert — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:06:52 GMT

1) Miguel Zenon, “Alma Adentro” (Marsalis Music)

2) Kenny Werner “Balloons” (HalfNote)

3) Joan Stiles “Three Musicians” (Oo-Bla-Dee)

4) Starlicker “Double Demon” (Delmark)

5) Tyshawn Sorey “Oblique-1” (Pi)

6) Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures “Both/And” (Meta)

7) Sonny Rollins “Road Show vol. 2” (Doxy)

8) Gretchen Parlato “The Lost and Found” (Obliqusound)

9) Branford Marsalis/Joey Calderazo “Songs of Mirth and Melancholy” (Maralis Music)

10) Joel Harrison “The Music of Paul Motian” (Sunnyside)

11) Aaron Goldberg/Guillermo Klein “Bienestan” (Sunnyside)

12) Fab Trio “History of Jazz In Reverse” (TUM)

13) Andrew Cyrille & Haitian Fascination “Route de Freres” (TUM)

14) Brian Carpenter’s Ghost Train Orchestra “Hothouse Stomp” (Accurate)

15) JD Allen Trio “Victory” (Sunnyside)

Tad Hendrickson

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:24:39 GMT

1. David Binney -- Graylen Epicenter

2. Keith Jarrett -- Rio

3. Gretchen Parlato -- In a Dream

4. Darius Jones -- Big Gurl

5. Matt Shipp -- Art of the Improviser

6. Aaron Goldberg and Guillermo Klein -- Bienstan

7. Craig Taborn -- Avenging Angel

8. Sonny Rollins -- Road Shows Vol. 2

9. Joe Lovano -- Bird Songs

10. Claudia Quintet -- What is Beautiful

John Chacona

John Chacona — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:56:41 GMT

With the usual proviso that this list is drawn from CDs that I heard, and jusdging from what I've read here, I've missed quite a few. That's the beauty of reading these rankings. They become a sort of to-do list for the curious and well-funded listener.

1.     Craig Taborn: Avenging Angel
2.     Tyshawn Sorey: Oblique - I
3.     Rudresh Mahanthappa: Samdhi
4.     Eric Harland: Voyager: Live By Night
5.     Miguel Zenon: Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook
6.     Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Ensemble: Inana
7.     The Claudia Quintet +1: What Is The Beautiful?
8.     Roscoe Mitchell: Before There Was Sound
9.     Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy: Rare Metals (GPS Vol. 1)
10. Ambrose Akinmusire:   When the Heart Emerges Glistening

Top reissues
1.     Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D.
2.     Miles Davis: LIVE in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1

Best vocal album

Jen Shyu and Mark Dresser: Synastry

Best debut CD

Chris Dingman: Waking Dreams

Best Latin jazz CD

Miguel Zenon: Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook

Patrick Jarenwattananon

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:39:59 GMT

Hi all. Here's a link to a discussion of my top ten at NPR Music.

The Best Jazz Of 2011

For your convenience:
1. Miguel Zenon, 'Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook'
2. Gretchen Parlato, 'The Lost And Found'
3. JD Allen Trio, 'Victory!'
4. Noah Preminger, 'Before The Rain'
5. Bill McHenry, 'Ghosts Of The Sun'
6. Ben Allison, 'Action-Refraction'
7. James Farm, 'JAMES FARM'
8. Captain Black Big Band, 'Captain Black Big Band'
9. Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra, 'Hothouse Stomp: The Music of 1920s Chicago and Harlem'
10. Rene Marie, 'Voice Of My Beautiful Country'

Michael J. West

Mike West — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:32:55 GMT

Ten Best New Releases of 2011
Matana Roberts - COIN COIN Chapter One: Gens de couleur libres (Constellation)
Steve Coleman and Five Elements - The Mancy of Sound (Pi)
Miguel Zenon - Alma Adentro (Marsalis Music)
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Samdhi (Act Music + Vision)
Matthew Shipp - Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear)
Eric Reed - Something Beautiful (WJ3)
Brian Settles/Central Union – Secret Handshake (Engine Studios)
Gerald Clayton – Bond: The Paris Sessions (Emarcy)
David Sanchez/Stefon Harris/Christian Scott – Ninety Miles (Concord Jazz)
Harris Eisenstadt's Canada Day - Canada Day II (Songlines)

Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:18:03 GMT

Recording Bests of 2011

Favorite New Releases, # 1 - 10

1) Sonny Rollins, Road Shows vol. 2

2) Nicole Mitchell, Awakening

3) Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Fé/Faith

4) Jamaadaldeen Tacuma For the Love of Ornette

5) Joseph Daley, Seven Deadly Sins

6) Tyshawn Sorey, Oblique – 1

7) Roscoe Mitchell, Before There Was Sound

8) Nguyen Le, Songs of Freedom

9) Trio M, The Guest House

10) Adam Rudolph Go: Organic Orchestra – Can you Imagine The Sound of a Dream?

Best reissues

1) Henry Threadgill, The Complete Novus and Columbia Recordings

2) Frank Sinatra Count Basie: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings

3) Bill Dixon, Intents and Purposes

Best debut CD

KG Omulo, Ayah Ye! Moving Train

Best Latin jazz album

Arturo O'Farrill Latin Jazz Orchestra, 40 Acres and a Burro

Favorite New Releases 11 - 30 (no specific order)

Rudresh Mahanthappa, Samdhi

James Carter/Robert Sierra Caribbean Rhapsody/Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra

Roy Haynes, Roy-alty

Kip Hanrahan, At Home in Anger, WHich Could Also Be called Imperfect, Happily

Wadada Leo Smith's Mbira, Dark Lady of the Sonnets

Jason Kao Hwang/Edge, Crossroads Unseen

Jaki Byard, Live at Keystone Korner

Lee Konitz/Brad Mahldau/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian, Live at Birdland

Trio 3 + Geri Allen, Celebrating Mary Lou Williams Live at Birdland New York

Andrew Cyrille & Hatian Fascination, Route de Freres

Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble, The Prairie Prophet

Keith Jarrett, Rio

Craig Taborn, Avenging Angel

Amina Claudine Myers, Augmented Variations

Elliott Sharp, The Age of Carbon

John Scofield, Moment's Peace

James Carter Organ Trio, At the Crossroads

Harris Eisenstadt, Canada Day II

Muhal Richard Abrams duets with Fred Anderson, George Lewis, Sound Dance

David Murray Cuban Orchestra Plays Nat Cole En Espanol

Bob Belden et al, Miles Espanol

Rene Marie, Black Lace Freudian Slip

Weasel Walter, Mary Halvorson and Peter Evans, Electric Fruit

Kitty Brazelton, Ecclisiastes: A Modern Oratoria *

Freddie Hubbard, Pinnacle *

* full disclosure: personal tie to project

Box Sets

Ray Charles, Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles

Jazz Icons Series 5 (DVDS): Johnny Griffin, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Freddie Hubbard, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane

R.J. DeLuke

R.J. DeLuke — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:57:04 GMT

Joe Lovano and Us Five: Birdsongs (Blue Note).
Ambrose Akinmusire: When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)
James Farm: James Farm (Nonesuch).
Tineke Postma: The Dawn of Light, (Challenge Records)
Jonathan Kriesberg: Shadowless (New For Now Music).
Chantale Gagne: Wisdom of the Water (CDBY)
John Daversa; Junk wagon; the Big Band Album (BFM Jazz)
Noah Haidu: Slipstream (Posi-Tone)
Armen Donelian: Leapfrog (Sunnyside Records)
John Escreet: The Age We Live In (Mythology Records)
Michael Pedicin: Ballads … Searching for Peace (Jazz Hut)
Jimmy Owens: The Monk Project (IPO)
David Binney: Graylen Epicenter (Mythology)
Sonny Rollins: Road Shows: (Doxy)
Stan Killian: Unified (Sunnyside)
Ernie Krivda: Blues for Pekar (Capri)
Silvano Monasterios: Unconditional (Savant)
Bill Carrothers Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (Pirouet)

VOCAL:
Kurt Elling, The Gate (Concord)
Gretchen Parlato, The Lost and Found (Obliqsound)
Karrin Allyson, Round Midnight, (Concord)

HISTORICAL:
Miles Davis Quintet, Live In Europe 1967, The Bootleg Sessions (Sony Legacy)

http://rjonjazz.blogspot.com/

Angelika Beener

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:45:04 GMT

#1 Gretchen Parlato The Lost and Found

#2 Marcus Strickland Triumph of the Heavy Volumes 1 & 2

#3 Ambrose Akinmusire When the Heart Emerges Glistening

#4 Ben Williams State of Art

#5 Ari Hoenig Lines of Oppression

#6 Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band

#7 J.D. Allen Trio Victory!

#8 Terri Lyne Carrington The Mosaic Project

#9 Adam Cruz Milestone

#10 Sonny Rollins Road Shows, Volume 2

Hank Shteamer

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:17:43 GMT

Top 10 new releases
[Annotated version here.]

1.Branford Marsalis/Joey Calderazzo Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (Marsalis Music)

2. Gerald Cleaver's Uncle June Be It as I See It (Fresh Sound New Talent)

3. New Zion Trio Fight Against Babylon (Veal)

4. Ben Allison Action-Refraction (Palmetto)

5. Honey Ear Trio Steampunk Serenade (Foxhaven)

6. Jeremy Udden's Plainville If the Past Seems So Bright (Sunnyside)

7. Bill McHenry Ghosts of the Sun (Sunnyside)

8. Craig Taborn Avenging Angel (ECM)

9. Wadada Leo Smith's Organic Heart's Reflections (Cuneiform)

10. Tin/Bag Bridges (MabnotesMusic)

Best reissues/archival

1. Miles Davis Quintet The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1: Live in Europe 1967 (Columbia/Legacy)

2. Julius Hemphill Dogon A.D. (International Phonograph)

Top 10 live shows

J.D. Allen's VisionFugitive, conducted by Butch Morris at Le Poisson Rouge
(Winter Jazzfest) - January 7
(feat. Gregg August, Rudy Royston)

Dan Weiss Trio at Cornelia Street Café - January 10
(Thomas Morgan, Jacob Sacks)

Wayne Shorter Quartet at the Town Hall - February 9
(Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade)

Wynton Marsalis Quintet/Septet at Frederick P. Rose Hall - March 31
(Quintet: Walter Blanding Jr., Dan Nimmer, Carlos Henriquez, Ali Jackson; Septet: Victor Goines, Wessell Anderson, Vincent Gardner, Marcus Roberts, Reginald Veal, Herlin Riley)

The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman at the Blue Note - April 21

Matthew Shipp/Darius Jones at Jazz Standard - April 27

Ari Hoenig Group at Smalls - June 20
(Gilad Hekselman, Shai Maestro, Orlando Le Fleming)

Tarbaby with Oliver Lake at Le Poisson Rouge (Undead Jazzfest) - June 23

Bill McHenry Quartet at Village Vanguard - November 11
(Orrin Evans, Eric Revis, Andrew Cyrille)

Gerald Cleaver's Black Host at Cornelia Street Café - December 10
(Darius Jones, Cooper-Moore, Brandon Seabrook, Pascal Niggenkemper)

Ralph A. Miriello

Ralph A. Miriello — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:07:56 GMT

This is my best of 2011 in no particular order

Gerald Wilson "Legacy"
Manhattan School of Music Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra "Tito Puente Masterworks"
Westchester Jazz Orchestra " Maiden Voyage Suite"
Ambrose Akinmusire " When the Heart Emerges Glistening"
Jeremy Pelt " The Talented Mr. Pelt"
Tim Hagans " The Moon is Waiting"
Tom Harrell "The Time of the Sun"
Denny Zeitlin "Labyrinthe"
Michael Cain "Solo"
Chick Corea and Stefano Bollani " Orvieto"
Benny Green "Source"
Sam Yahel "From Sun to Sun"
Ted Rosenthal "Out of this World"
Aaron Goldberg and Guillermo Klein " Bienestan"
James Farm "James Farm"
David Binney "Graylen Epicenter"
Donnie McCaslin " Perpetual Motion"
Ben Allison "Action-Refraction"
Sean Smith "Trust"
Christian McBride "Conversations with Christian"
BANN "AsYou Like"
Jonathan Kreisberg "Shadowless"
Julian Lage " Gladwell"
Carlos Franzetti " Alborada"
Ralph Peterson "Outer Reaches"
Adam Cruz "Milestone"
Giacomo Gates " The Revolution WIll be Jazz"
Gretchen Parlato " Lost and Found"
Chaise Baird " Crosscurrent"
Majid Khaliq "Basilisk"
Brian Landrus "Traverse"
William Carn " Run Stop Run"

Noteworthy Live Shows this Year:

Eric Clapton & Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Guillermo Klein, Aaron Goldberg, Eric Harland ,Matt Penman and Miguel Zenon at the Jazz STandard
Denny Zeitlin with Matt Wilson and Buster Williams at Kitano
Chris Potter with Adam Cruz and John Patitucci at Smoke
James Farm, Christian McBride Big Band and Jose James at Caramoor
BANN at the Turning Point in Piermont, NY
Giacomo Gates at Kitano
Darcy James Argue's performance of Brooklyn Babylon at SUNY,Purchase, NY
Joe Lovano and the WJO at Irvington Town Hall
Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY
Martha Reeves with Mel Brown at Jimmy Mak' in Portland, Or

Nick Bewsey

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:07:41 GMT

Joe Lovano/Us Five, Bird Songs (Blue Note)
Ambrose Akinmusire, When The Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)
Ben Allison, Action-Refraction (Palmetto)
Gilad Hekselman, Hearts Wide Open (Chant du Monde)
Noah Preminger, Before The Rain (Palmetto)
Giacomo Gates, The Revolution Will Be Jazz, The Songs Of Gil Scott-Heron (Savant)
Miguel Zenon, Alma Adentro, The Puerto Rican Songbook (Marsalis Music)
Sonny Rollins, Road Shows, Vol. 2 (Doxy/Emarcy)
Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Faithful (ECM)
Jake Saslow, Crosby Street (14^th Street)
Dominick Farinacci, Dawn Of Goodbye (Eone Music)
John Escreet, The Age We Live In (Mythology) + Exception To The Rule (Criss Cross)
Bruce Barth Trio, Live At Smalls (Smalls)
Sam Yahel, From Sun To Sun (Origin)
3 Cohens, Family (Anzic)
J.D. Allen, Victory (Sunnyside)
Gretchen Parlato, The Lost and Found (ObliqSound)
Tierney Sutton, American Road (BFM Jazz)
Stefon Harris/David Sanchez/Christian Scott, Ninety Miles (Concord)
Deep Blue Organ Trio, Wonderful! (Origin Records)

For full list, go to: https://jazzinspace.blogspot.com

Philip Booth

Philip Booth — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:24:47 GMT

1. 3 Cohens, Family (Anzic Records)

2. Pilc Moutin Hoenig, Threedom (Motema)

3. Joe Lovano, Bird Songs (Blue Note)

4. Sonny Rollins, Road Shows, Vol. 2 (Emarcy)

5. Kenny Wheeler, One of Many (CamJazz)

6. Sam Yahel, From Sun to Sun (Origin)

7. Tom Harrell, Time of the Sun (HighNote)

8. John Scofield A Moment's Peace (Emarcy)

9. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey #Race Riot Suite# (The Royal Potato Family)

10. Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, MSMW Live: In Case the World Changes Its Mind (Indirecto)

David Stacey

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:42:50 GMT

Paul Motian. "Windmills of Your Mind." (Winter and Winter)

Andrzej Pryzybielski and Oles Brothers. "De Profundis." (Fenommedia)

Laura Kahle. "Circular." (Dark Key Music)

Carol Morgan Trio. "Blue Glass Music." (Blue Bamboo Music)

Miles Davis Quintet. "Live in Europe, 1967." (Columbia/Legacy)

Danny McCaslin. "Perpetual Motion." (Greenleaf Music)

Etienne Charles. "Kaiso." (Culture Shock Music)

Dave Holland and Pepe Habichuela. "Hands." (Dare2 Records)

Joel Harrison String Choir. "The Music of Paul Motian." (Sunnyside Records)

Verneri Pohjola. "Aurora." (ACT Music)

Nancy Barell

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:59:03 GMT

1. Kurt Elling - The Gate

2. Dominick Farinacci - Dawn Of Goodbye

3. Giacomo Gates - Revolution Will be Jazz

4. Claudio Roditi - Bons Amigos

5. Karrin Allyson - Round Midnight

6. Christion McBride - The Good Feeling

7. Ron Carter's Great Big Band

8. The Tierney Sutton Band - American Road

9. Terri Lyne Carrington - The Mosaic Project

10. Alan Pasqua - Twin Bill:Two Piano Music of Bill Evans

"Jazz Spotlight On Sinatra"

www.live365.com/stations/nancyann3839

David R. Adler

David Adler — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:28:16 GMT

Top 25 New Releases:

Craig Taborn, Avenging Angel (ECM)

Alexis Cuadrado, Noneto Ibérico (BJU)

Ben Allison, Action-Refraction (Palmetto)

Anthony Wilson, Seasons: Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Goat Hill)

Chris Dingman, Waking Dreams (Between Worlds)

Tony Malaby, Novela (Clean Feed)

Brian Carpenter’s Ghost Train Orchestra, Hothouse Stomp (Accurate)

Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter One: Les Gens de Couleur Libres (Constellation)

Pat Metheny, What’s It All About (Nonesuch)

Ralph Peterson’s Unity Project, Outer Reaches (Onyx)

Gary Burton New Quartet, Common Ground (Mack Avenue)

Gerald Cleaver, Be It As I See It (Fresh Sound)

Tyshawn Sorey, Oblique – I (Pi)

Amir ElSaffar, Inana (Pi)

Ambrose Akinmusire, When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)

Orchestre National de Jazz/Daniel Yvinec, Shut Up and Dance (BEE Jazz)

Rez Abbasi’s Invocation, Suno Suno (Enja)

Guillermo Klein/Aaron Goldberg, Bienestan (Sunnyside)

Ralph Bowen, Power Play (Posi-Tone)

Marcus Strickland, Triumph of the Heavy (Strick Muzick)

David Weiss & Point of Departure, Snuck Out (Sunnyside)

Noah Preminger, Before the Rain (Palmetto)

Dave King Trucking Company, Good Old Light (Sunnyside)

Lee Konitz/Brad Mehldau/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian, Live at Birdland (ECM)

Uri Caine, Siren (Winter & Winter)

Top Debut Albums:

Chris Dingman, Waking Dreams (Between Worlds)

Ben Kono, Crossing (19/8)

David Cook, Pathway (BJU)

Carlo De Rosa’s Cross-Fade, Brain Dance (Cuneiform)

Adam Cruz, Milestone (Sunnyside)

Curtis Macdonald, Community Immunity (Greenleaf)

Ben Williams, State of Art (Concord)

Jake Saslow, Crosby Street (14^th Street)

Emmet Cohen, In the Element (Bada Beep)

Top Solo Recordings:

Craig Taborn, Avenging Angel (ECM)

Fred Hersch, Alone at the Vanguard (Palmetto)

Pat Metheny, What’s It All About (Nonesuch)

Keith Jarrett, Rio (ECM)

Frank Portolese, Plectrum Jazz Guitar Solos (ind.)

Kevin Hays, Variations (Pirouet)

Dan Tepfer, Goldberg Variations/Variations (Sunnyside)

Angelica Sanchez, A Little House (Clean Feed)

Kris Davis, Aeriol Piano (Clean Feed)

Omar Sosa, Calma (Otá)

Larry Goldings, In My Room (BFM Jazz)

Denman Maroney, Double Zero (Porter)

Top Large Ensemble Releases:

Orchestre National de Jazz/Daniel Yvinec, Shut Up and Dance (BEE Jazz)

Miguel Zenón, Alma Adentro (Marsalis Music)

Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures with Organic Orchestra Strings, Both/And (Meta)

Jeff Fairbanks’ Project Hansori, Mulberry Street (BJU)

Orrin Evans, Captain Black Big Band (Posi-Tone)

Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra, Treelines (Justin Time)

Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, 40 Acres and a Burro (Zoho)

Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Córdoba (Zoho)

Daniel Jamieson’s Danjam Orchestra, Sudden Appearance (OA2)

Volker Goetze Orchestra, NY 10027 (G*)

Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York, Eto (Libra)

Christian McBride Big Band, The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue)

Richard Nelson Large Ensemble, Pursuit (Heliotrope)

Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Legacy (Mack Avenue)

Top Latin Jazz Releases:

Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, 40 Acres and a Burro (Zoho)

Miguel Zenón, Alma Adentro (Marsalis Music)

Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Córdoba (Zoho)

Stefon Harris/David Sánchez/Christian Scott, Ninety Miles (Concord Picante)

Jane Bunnett & Hilario Duran, Cuban Rhapsody (Alma)

Jerry Gonzalez Y El Comande de la Clave (Sunnyside)

Mark Weinstein, El Cumbanchero (Jazzheads)

Historical/Reissue:

Bill Dixon Orchestra, Intents and Purposes (International Phonograph)

Julius Hemphill, Dogon A.D. (International Phonograph)

Freddie Hubbard, Pinnacle: Live and Unreleased from Keystone Korner (Resonance)

The Complete Jimmie Lunceford Decca Sessions (Mosaic)

http://adlermusic.com
http://blog.adlermusic.com/

Shaun Brady

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:58:48 GMT

1. BB&C - The Veil (Cryptogramophone)
2. Samuel Blaser - Consort in Motion (Kind of Blue)
3. Craig Taborn - Avenging Angel (ECM)
4. Matthew Shipp - Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear)
5. Steve Coleman & Five Elements - The Mancy of Sound (Pi)
6. David S. Ware - Organica (Solo Saxophones, Volume 2) (Aum Fidelity)
7. Wadada Leo Smith's Organic - Heart's Reflections (Cuneiform)
8. Darius Jones Trio - Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) (Aum Fidelity)
9. Rez Abbasi's Invocation - Suno Suno (Enja)
10. Curtis Macdonald - Community Immunity (Greenleaf)

John Szwed

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:17:17 GMT

1 Miles Davis. The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1: Live Europe, 1967 .

Columbia Legacy

2 Sonny Rollins. Road Shows, Vol. 2. Doxy

3 Joel Harrison. The Music of Paul Moian Sunnyside

4 Bob Belden. Miles Espanol: New Sletches of Spain. eOne

5 Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and Dennis Gonzalez. The Hymn Project. Daagim

6 Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society Father of Origin Records

7 Elery Eskelin Trio. New York. Prime Source

8 Michael Bates. Acrobat: Music For, And By, Dimitri Shostakovich. Sunnyside

9 James Carter. Caribbean Rhapsodies.

10 Benjamin Herman. Hypo-Christmas Treefuzz: More Mengelberg. Roach

Latin

Bobby Sanabria and the Mahattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Orchestra.

Tito Puente Masterpeixces Live!

Debut:

Joseph Daley Earth Tones Ensemble. The Seven Deadly Sins. JARO

Vocal

Other Dimensions in Music. Kaiso Stories. Featuring Fay Victor. Silkheart

Reissues:

Julius Hemphill, Dogon A.D. Mbira/Freedom-International Phonograph

Bill Dixon. Intents and Purposes RCA-International Phonograph

The Modern Jazz Quartet. The Complete Atlantic. . . Mosaic

Steve Feeney

Stephen Feeney — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:06:01 GMT

1) Live at Birdland - Konitz, Mehldau, Haden, Motian (ECM)

2) Bird Songs - Joe Lovano/Us Five (Blue Note)

3) Live in Marciac - Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch)

4) Brass Ecstasy at Newport - Dave Douglas United Front (Green Leaf)

5) Conversations with Christian - Christian McBride (Mack Avenue)

6) Nova Express - John Zorn (Tzadik)

7) Rio - Keith Jarrett (ECM)

8) The Madness of Crowds - Ingrid Laubrock/Sleepthief (Intakt)

9) Inana - Amir ElSaffar/Two Rivers Ensemble (Pi)

10) Ghosts of the Sun - Bill McHenry (Sunnyside)

Alex Dutilh

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:25:19 GMT

New Releases :

1 - J. REDMAN, A. PARKS, M. PENMAN, E. HARLAND : « James Farm » (Nonesuch)

2 - Ambrose AKINMUSIRE : « When the Heart Emerges Glistening » (Blue Note)

3 – Brad MEHLDAU : « Live in Marciac » (Nonesuch)

4 - Tigran HAMASYAN : « A Fable » (Verve)

5 - Kurt ELLING : « The Gate » (Concord)

6 - Perrine MANSUY : « Vertigo Songs » (Laborie)

7 - Henri TEXIER Nord Sud : « Canto Negro » (Label Bleu)

8 – Keith JARRETT : « Rio » (ECM)

9 – 3 COHENS : « Family » (Anzic)

10 - Fred HERSCH : « Alone at the Vanguard » (Palmetto)

Thomas Conrad

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:05:55 GMT

New Releases:

Sonny Rollins: Road Shows, Vol. 2 (Doxy)
Charles Lloyd/Maria Farantouri: Athens Concert (ECM)
Miles Español: New Sketches of Spain (Entertainment One)
Joe Lovano Us Five: Bird Songs (Blue Note)
Brad Mehldau: Live In Marciac (Nonesuch)
Dino Saluzzi/Anja Lechner/Felix Saluzzi: Navidad de los Andes (ECM)
Ambrose Akinmusire: When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note)
Keith Jarrett: Rio (ECM)
Chris Byars: Lucky Strikes Again (SteepleChase)
Colin Vallon Trio: Rruga (ECM)

Historical/Reissues:

Miles Davis Quintet: Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy)
Art Pepper: Blues for the Fisherman (Unreleased Art, Volume VI) (Widow’s Taste)
Jaki Byard: A Matter Of Black And White: Live At The Keystone Korner, Vol. 2 (HighNote)
Bill Dixon Orchestra: Intents and Purposes (International Phonograph)

Marcela Breton

Marcela Breton — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:22:18 GMT

Top 10

1. Various "Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & the Big Band Cumbia and Descarga Sound of Colombia 1962-1972" (FMP)

2. Cachao "The Last Mambo : La Leyenda en Vivo" (Sony)

3. Cecilia Coleman Big Band "Oh Boy!" (PandaKat Records)

4. Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria conducting "Tito Puente Masterworks Live!!!" (Jazzheads Records)

5. Jane Bunnett & Hilario Duran "Cuban Rhapsody" (Alma Records)

6. Susana Baca "Afrodiaspora" (Luaka Bop)

7. Pedro Giraudo "Cordoba" (Zoho)

8. Terri Lyne Carrington "Mosaic Project" (Concord)

9. Charles Lloyd "Athens Concert" (ECM Records)

10. TheTommy Vig Orchestra featuring David Murray "Welcome to Hungary" (Klasszikus Jazz Records)

Reissues

1. Tony Bennett "The Complete Collection" (Sony) (73 CDs, 3 DVDs)

2. Aretha Franklin "Take a Look : Complete on Columbia" (Columbia) (12 CDs)

3. The Modern Jazz Quartet "The Complete Atlantic Recordings of the Modern Jazz Quartet 1956-64" (Mosaic) (7 CDs)

Best Debut

Jose Rizo's "Mongorama" (Suangu Records)

Ken Franckling

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:00:37 GMT

The 10 best new jazz releases of 2011, listed alphabetically:

•· Lynne Arriale, Convergence (Motema)

•· The Cookers, Cast the First Stone (Plus Loin Music)

•· Fred Hersch, Alone at the Vanguard (Palmetto)

•· Julian Lage Group, Gladwell (EmArcy)

•· Brian Lynch, Unsung Heroes (Hollistic MusicWorks)

•· Roberto Magris Quintet, Morgan Rewind: A Tribute to Lee Morgan, Vol. 1 (JMood)

•· Bill O’Connell, Rhapsody in Blue (Challenge)

•· Gretchen Parlato, The Lost and Found (ObliqSound)

•· Kenny Werner, Balloons (Half Note)

•· Yellowjackets, Timeline (Mack Avenue)

The 10 best new songs of the year, listed alphabetically:

•· Lynne Arriale, “Dance of the Rain” from Convergence (Motema)

•· Pedro Giraudo, “Duende Del Mate” from Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Córdoba (Zoho)

•· Tom Harrell, “Dream Text” from The Time of the Sun (HighNote)

•· Donald Harrison Ron Carter and Billy Cobham, “Treme Swagger” from This is Jazz (Half Note)

•· Lisa Hilton, “Blue Truth” from Underground (Ruby Slippers)

•· Julian Lage, “233 Butler” from Gladwell (EmArcy)

•· Mike Longo, “A Picture of Dorian Mode” from To My Surprise (CAP)

•· Roberto Magris, “Lee-Too” from Roberto Magris Quintet, Morgan Rewind: A Tribute to Lee Morgan, Vol. 1 (JMood)

•· Vince Mendoza, “Beauty and Sadness” from Nights on Earth (Horizontal)

•· Ralph Peterson, “Outer Reaches” from Outer Reaches (self-produced)

2011's Best debut recording:

Emmet Cohen, In The Element (Bada Beep)

The best historical/reissues of 2011:

Miles Davis Quintet, Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy)
Duke Ellington, The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (Mosaic)
Bill Evans, The Sesjun Radio Shows (Naxos/Beeld en Geluid)
Jaco Pastorius. The 60th Anniversary Collection (Warner Music Japan)

The best jazz-related DVDs of 2011:

•· Miles Davis, The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux DVD Collection, 1973-1991 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

•· Stan Kenton, Artistry in Rhythm (Jazzed Media)

•· Ray Charles, Live in France 1961 ((Eagle Rock Entertainment)

The best jazz-related books of 2011:

John Swenson, “New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans” (Oxford)
Norman Granz, “The Man Who Used Jazz For Justice” (University of California Press)
Clark Terry with Gwen Terry, “Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry” (University of California Press)

Laurence Donohue-Greene

Laurence Donohue-Greene — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:08:11 GMT

Laurence Donohue-Greene, Managing Editor

The New York City Jazz Record (nycjazzrecord.com)

BEST OF 2011

TOP 10 New Releases

1- Bill Dixon - Envoi (Victo)

2- Other Dimensions in Music - Kaiso Stories (feat. Fay Victor) (Silkheart)

3- Michael Bates - Acrobat: Music for, And By, Dmitri Shostakovich (Sunnyside)

4- Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures with Organic Orchestra Strings - Both/And (Meta)

5- Darius Jones Trio - Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) (AUM Fidelity)

6- Tony Malaby's Novela - Eponymous (Clean Feed)

7- RED Trio + John Butcher - EMPIRE (NoBusiness)

8- Søren Kjærgaard/Ben Street/Andrew Cyrille - Femklang (ILK Music)

9- Georg Ruby/Michel Pilz - Deuxième Bureau (JazzHaus Musik)

10- Bad Luck (Christopher Icasiano/Neil Welch) - Two (Table & Chairs Music)

*NOTE: I had previously listed Howard Riley - The Complete Short Stories (NoBusiness) but that title has previously released material.

Reissues

1- Bill Dixon – Intents and Purposes (RCA-International Phonograph)

2- Julius Hemphill - Dogon A.D. (Mbira/Freedom-International Phonograph)

3- Randy Weston – Blue Moses (CTI-Masterworks Jazz)

4- Joe Farrell – Outback (CTI-Masterworks Jazz)

5- Roscoe Mitchell – Complete Old/Quartet Sessions (Nessa)

Unearthed Gems (*previously unreleased archival/historic recordings)

1- Roscoe Mitchell – Before There Was Sound (Nessa)

2- Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society – Father of Origin (Eremite)

3- Miles Davis – LIVE In Europe 1967: Bootleg Series Vol. 1 (Legacy)

4- John Surman – Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop (April ’69) (Cuneiform)

5- Misha Mengelberg/Piet Noordijk Quartet – Journey (Music Center The Netherlands)

Vocal Releases

1- Other Dimensions in Music – Kaiso Stories (feat. Fay Victor) (Silkheart)

2- Giacomo Gates – The Revolution Will Be Jazz (The Songs of Gil Scott-Heron) (Savant)

3- Rene Marie – Voice of my Beautiful Country (Motema Music)

4- Jen Shyu/Mark Dresser – Synastry (Pi)

5- Youn Sun Nah – Same Girl (ACT Music)

Boxed Sets

1- (Various) – In Retrospect (FMP)

2- Howard Riley – The Complete Short Stories (1998-2010) (NoBusiness)

3- Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society – Father of Origin (Eremite)

4- Louis Armstrong – The Armstrong Box (Storyville)

5- Per Henrik Wallin/Sven-Ake Johansson – 1974-2004 (Umlaut)

Debuts

1- Joseph Daley Earth Tones Ensemble – The Seven Deadly Sins (JARO)

2- Kermit Driscoll – Reveille (19/8)

3- Eco D’Alberi – Eponymous (Porter)

4- Je Suis! – Mistluren (Umlaut)

5- Chris Dingman – Waking Dreams (Between Worlds)

Tributes

1- Giacomo Gates – The Revolution Will Be Jazz (The Songs of Gil Scott-Heron) (Savant)

2- Fred Ho and the Green Monster Big Band – The Sweet Science Suite (A Scientific Soul Music Honoring of Muhammad Ali) (Big Red Media/Mutable Music)

3- Michael Bates – Acrobat: Music for, And By, Dmitri Shostakovich (Sunnyside)

4- Joe Lovano – Bird Songs (Blue Note)

5- Samuel Blaser – Consort in Motion (Kind of Blue)

Books

1- Alex Steinweiss: The Inventor of the Modern Album Cover by Kevin Reagan

2- The Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968 by Keith Waters

3- Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry with Gwen Terry (University of CA Press)

4- Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice (University of CA Press)

5- Traveling the Spaceways: Sun Ra, the Astro Black and other Solar Myths edited by John Corbett (University of Chicago Press)

Top 10 Concerts of the Year (*listed chronologically)

-Wayne Shorter Quartet w/Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade @Town Hall (2/9/11)

-Ken Vandermark/Nate Wooley/Paul Lytton @The Stone (3/18/11)

-"Creative Music for 3 Bass Saxophones": Scott Robinson, Vinny Golia, JD Parran & Warren Smith @Harlem in the Himalayas, Rubin Museum of Art (4/15/11)

-Matt Wilson solo @Homage Skate Park, Undead Jazz Fest (6/25/11)

-"Interstellar Duos": Tony Malaby w/Tom Rainey & John Hollenbeck @Evolving Music Series, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center (7/25/11)

-David Binney Quartet w/Craig Taborn, Eivind Opsvik, Tyshawn Sorey @Harlem in the Himalayas, Rubin Museum of Art (9/16/11)

-Muhal Richard Abrams Quartet w/Vincent Chancey, Stomu Takeishi, Adam Rudolph @Community Church of New York, AACM-NY (9/23/11)

-Anthony Braxton Tri-Centric Foundation Orchestra @Roulette (10/6/11)

-Pat Metheny/Larry Grenadier @Blue Note (10/11/11)

-Peter Evans Quartet feat. guest John Butcher w/Carlos Homs, Tom Blancarte, Jim Black @Cornelia St. Café (11/6/11)

Ron Sweetman

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:34:31 GMT

Artist                             Album Title                                            Record Label

Lina Allemano                Jargon                                                   Lumo

Darcy James Argue’s      Infernal Machines                                   Newamsterdam
Secret Society

Atomic                          Theatre Tilters Vol 1                               Jazzland

Joseph Daley Ensemble   The Seven Deadly Sins                           Jaro

Gord Grdina + Mats Guftassen     Barrel Fire                                 Drip Audio

Joe Lang

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:34:50 GMT

1. TERRY VOSBEIN and KNOXVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Fleet Street (Max Frank Music – 002)

2. HARRY ALLEN and ROSSANO SPORTIELLO - Conversations (No Label or Catalog Number)

3. THE PHIL NORMAN TENTET - Encore (MAMA – 1040)

4. WARREN VACHÉ - Ballads and Other Cautionary Tales (Arbors – 19340)

5. TED ROSENTHAL - Out of This World (Playscape – 031010)

6. THE H2 BIG BAND - You’re It (Jazzed Media – 1053)

7. SEAN SMITH - Trust (Smithereen- 1001)

8. FRANK TATE - Thanks for the Memory (Arbors – 19421)

9. KEN PEPLOWSKI - In Search of… (Capri – 74108)

10. FRED HERSCH - Alone at the Vanguard (Palmetto – 2147)

Fred Kaplan

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:26:41 GMT

Sonny Rollins, "Road Shows, Vol. 2" (Doxy)

World Saxophone Quartet, "Yes We Can" (Jazzwerkstatt)

David Weiss & Point of Departure, "Snuck Out" (Sunnyside)

Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood, "In Case the World Changes Its Mind" (Indirecto)

Orchestre National de Jazz / John Hollenbeck, "Shut Up and Dance" (Bee Jazz)

Bill Frisell, "Sign of Life" (Savoy)

Ambrose Akinmusire, "When the Heart Emerges Glistening" (Blue Note)

Youn Sun Nah, "Same Girl" (ACT)

Noah Preminger, "Before the Rain" (Palmetto)

Chris Dingman, "Waking Dreams" (Between Worlds Music)

REISSUE

Miles Davis Quintet, "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1, Live in Europe, 1967" (Columbia Legacy)

Lyn Horton

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:48:42 GMT

Joe McPhee and Michael Zerang, Creole Gardens: A New Orleans Suite (NoBusiness)
Matthew Shipp and Matthew Shipp Trio, Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear)
Wadada Leo Smith's Organic, Heart's Reflections (Cuneiform)
William Parker, Crumbling In The Shadows Is Fraulein Miller's Stale Cake (Centering)
Daniel Levin Quartet, Organic Modernism (Clean Feed)
Mary Halvorsen and Jessica Pavone, Departure of Reason (Thirsty Ear)
Darius Jones Trio, Big Gurl (AUM Fidelity)
The Rempis Percussion Quartet, Montreal Parade (482 Music)
Spanish Donkey, XYX (Northern Spy)
Klang, Other Doors (Allos Documents)

http://jazztimes.com/community/profiles/17952-lyn-horton

http://lynhorton.blogspot.com/

http://www.lynhorton.net/

Bob Putignano

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:45:20 GMT

Best recordings- 2011 Bob Putignano

Cornell Dupree "I'm Alright" www.DialToneRecords.com
Warren Haynes "Man In Motion" Stax/Concord
The Bo-Keys "Got To Get Back" Red Eye - www.theBoKeys.com
Mighty Sam McClain "One Drop Is Plenty" Valley Entertainment
EG Kight "Lip Service" Vizztone - www.EGKight.com
Don Sugar Cane Harris "Cup Full of Dreams" www.Promising-Music.com
Papa John DeFrancesco "A Philadelphia Story" Savant Records
Marcia Ball "Roadside Attractions" Alligator Records
Rue de Funk "Weather the Storm" www.BobbyCampoMusic.com
The Wide Hive Players "Players II Guitar" www.WideHive.com
Bob Putignano: www.SoundsofBlue.com

Andrea Canter

Andrea Canter — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:44:49 GMT

So far, still pondering....

Best of the Year (Top 2 and the rest in no particular order)

*Craig Taborn, Avenging Angel (ECM)

*Three Cohens, Family (Anzic)

Fred Hersch, Alone at the Vanguard (Palmetto)

Brad Mehldau, Live in Marciac (Nonesuch)

Joe Lovano's Us Five, Birdsongs (Blue Note)

Karrin Allyson, Round Midnight (Concord)

Bill Carrothers, Excelsior & Live at Village Vanguard (Pirouet)

Pat Mallinger, Home on Richmond

James Farm, James Farm (Nonesuch)

Dan Tepfer, Goldberg Variations/Variations (Sunnyside)

Tierney Sutton, American Road

Kurt Elling, The Gate (Concord)

Geri Allen, A Child Is Born (Motema)

Terell Stafford, This Side of Strayhorn (MaxJazz)

Pilc/Moutin/Hoenig, Threedom (Motema)

Chick Coreal/Stefano Bollani, Orvieto (ECM)

Lynne Arriale, Convergence (Motema)

.

JJA Member Site Administrator — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:36:37 GMT

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