|
|
Jazz Consumer Guide Index
#17: Festival Visions (in progress)
| Picks | - William Parker: Double Sunrise Over Neptune (AUM Fidelity) A
- Rob Brown Ensemble: Crown Trunk Root Funk (AUM Fidelity) A-
|
| A | - Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Suite (Tzadik) A-
- Bloodcount: Seconds (Screwgun) A-
- The Roy Campbell Ensemble: Akhenaten Suite (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Ted Des Plantes' Washboard Wizards: Thumpin' and Bumpin' (Stomp Off) A-
- Mike Ellis: Bahia Band (Alpha Pocket) A-
- Scott Fields Freetet: Bitter Love Songs (Clean Feed) A-
- Brent Jensen: One More Mile (Origin) A-
- Alex Kontorovich: Deep Minor (Chamsa) A-
- Myra Melford/Mark Dresser/Matt Wilson: Big Picture (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Nublu Orchestra: Conducted by Butch Morris (Nublu) A-
- Slow Poke: At Home (Palmetto) A-
- Vandermark 5: Beat Reader (Atavistic) A-
- Mike Walbridge's Chicago Footwarmers: Crazy Rhythm (Delmark) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Music From Guys and Dolls (Arbors) A-
- Grupo Los Santos: Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea (Deep Tone) A-
- Dick Hyman/Chris Hopkins: Teddy Wilson in 4 Hands (Victoria) A-
- Mary Lou Williams: A Grand Night for Swinging (High Note) A-
- Paul Shapiro's Ribs and Brisket Revue: Essen (Tzadik) A-
- Ari Roland: And So I Lived in Old New York . . . (Smalls) A-
- Marilyn Mazur/Jan Garbarek: Elixir (ECM)
- Steve Lehman Quintet: On Meaning (Pi)
- Giacomo Gates: Luminosity (Doubledave Music)
- Sal Mosca Quartet: You Go to My Head (Blue Jack Jazz)
- Adam Kolker: Flag Day (Sunnyside)
- Stacey Kent: Breakfast on the Morning Tram (Blue Note)
- James Carter: Present Tense (Emarcy)
- The Jack & Jim Show Presents: Hearing Is Believing (Boxholder)
- Harry Allen: Hits by Brits (Challenge)
- Jason Kao Hwang/Edge: Stories Before Within (Innova)
- Tom Teasley: Painting Time (T&T Music)
- Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra: Maria Juanez (TCB)
- The Joe Locke Quartet: Sticks and Strings (Jazz Eyes)
- Vince Seneri: The Prince's Groove (Prince V)
- Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: The Messenger: Live at the Original Velvet Lounge (Delmark)
|
| HM
[**] | - Rob Brown Trio: Sounds (Clean Feed)
- Marty Ehrlich & Myra Melford: Spark! (Palmetto)
- The Rocco John Group: Don't Wait Too Long (COCA Productions)
|
| Duds | - Maria Schneider Orchestra: Sky Blue (ArtistShare) B
- Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble: Black Unstoppable (Delmark) B-
- Christian Scott: Anthem (Concord) B-
|
Album count: 42; Word count: 1692 (graded 24: 1291; additional 18: 401).
#16: Funk Fusion, Bebop Terrorism in New Jazz Records (2008-05-13)
| Picks | - MI3: Free Advice (Clean Feed) A
- Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Shamokin!!! (Hot Cup) A
|
| A | - Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Holon (ECM) A-
- Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia/Legacy) A-
- Jostein Gulbrandsen: Twelve (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette: My Foolish Heart: Live at Montreux (ECM) A-
- Rafi Malkiel: My Island (Raftone) A-
- William Parker/Raining on the Moon: Corn Meal Dance (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert (1981, Widow's Taste) A-
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert (1982, Widow's Taste) A-
- Alvin Queen: I Ain't Looking at You (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Louis Sclavis: L'Imparfait des Langues (ECM) A-
- Joan Stiles: Hurly-Burly (Oo-Bla-Dee) A-
- McCoy Tyner: Quartet (McCoy Tyner Music/Half Note) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Horace Silver: Live at Newport '58 (1958, Blue Note) A-
- Jimmy Blythe: Messin' Around Blues (Delmark)
- Nanette Natal: I Must Be Dreaming (Benyo Music)
- Ila Cantor: Mother Nebula (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Joe Temperley/Harry Allen: Cocktails for Two (Sackville)
- Alvin Fielder Trio: A Measure of Vision (Clean Feed)
- Enrico Rava: The Words and the Days (ECM)
- George Lewis: Sequel (For Lester Bowie) (Intakt)
|
| HM
[**] | - Wallace Roney: Jazz (High Note)
- Nicki Parrott/Rossano Sportiello: People Will Say We're in Love (Arbors)
- Anthony Braxton: Solo Willisau (Intakt)
|
| Duds | - Eric Alexander: Temple of Olympic Zeus (High Note) B-
- Kurt Elling: Nightmoves (Concord) C+
- Enrico Rava/Stefano Bollani: The Third Man (ECM) B
|
#15: Old Forms, Fresh Outlooks (2008-02-12)
| Picks | - Chris Byars: Photos in Black, White and Gray (Smalls) A-
- That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History [1895-1950] (WHRA) A
|
| A | - The Claudia Quintet: For (Cuneiform) A-
- The Neil Cowley Trio: Displaced (Hide Inside) A-
- Happy Apple: Happy Apple Back on Top (Sunnyside) A-
- Matt Lavelle Trio: Spiritual Power (Silkheart) A-
- Hugh Masekela: Live at the Market Theatre (Times Square/4Q) A-
- Chris Potter Underground: Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside) A-
- John Sheridan and His Dream Band: Swing Is Still the King (Arbors) A-
- Assif Tsahar/Cooper-Moore/Chad Taylor: Digital Primitives (Hopscotch) A-
- Fay Victor Ensemble: Cartwheels Through the Cosmos (ArtistShare) A-
- David S. Ware Quartet: Renunciation (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Yerba Buena Stompers: The Yama-Yama Man (Stomp Off) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Von Freeman: The Best of Von Freeman on Premonition (Premonition)
- Adam Lane/Ken Vandermark/Magnus Broo/Paal Nilssen-Love: 4 Corners (Clean Feed)
- Josh Roseman: New Constellations: Live in Vienna (Accurate)
- Marcus Strickland Twi-Life Group: Open Reel Deck (Strick Muzik)
- The Blueprint Project: People I Like (Creative Nation Music)
- Amir ElSaffar: Two Rivers (Pi)
- Terence Blanchard: A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina) (Blue Note)
- Frank Morgan: A Night in the Life (High Note)
- Sonic Openings Under Pressure: Muhheankuntuk (Clean Feed)
- Matt Chamberlain/Bill Frisell/Tucker Martine/Lee Townsend: Floratone (Blue Note)
- Paul Zauners Blue Brass: Soil (PAO/BluJazz)
- Quadro Nuevo: Tango Bitter Sweet (Justin Time)
- Charlie Haden/Antonio Forcione: Heartplay (Naim)
|
| HM
[**] | - The Phil Woods Quintet: American Songbook II (Kind of Blue)
- Allen Lowe: Jews in Hell: Radical Jewish Acculturation (Spaceout)
|
| Duds | - Chris Potter 10: Song for Anyone (Sunnyside) B
- Satoko Fujii Quartet: Bacchus (Onoff)
- Herbie Hancock: River: The Joni Letters (Verve)
- Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations II (ECM)
|
#14: The Raw Power of a Fresh Start (2007-10-23)
| Picks | - Jewels and Binoculars: Ships With Tattooed Sails (Upshot) A
- Powerhouse Sound: Oslo/Chicago Breaks (Atavistic) A
|
| A | - Maria Anadon: A Jazzy Way (Arbors) A-
- Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake: From the River to the Ocean (Thrill Jockey) A-
- Pablo Aslan: Buenos Aires Tango Standards (Zoho) A-
- Billy Bang Quintet Featuring Frank Lowe: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Justin Time) A-
- Kahil El'Zabar's Infinity Orchestra: Transmigration (Delmark) A-
- David Murray Black Saint Quartet: Sacred Ground (Justin Time) A
- Joshua Redman: Back East (Nonesuch) A-
- Logan Richardson: Cerebral Flow (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Sonic Liberation Front: Change Over Time (High Two) A-
- The Tierney Sutton Band: On the Other Side (Telarc) A-
- Albert van Veenendaal/Meinrad Kneer/Yonga Sun: Predictable Point of Impact (Evil Rabbit) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - William Parker & Hamid Drake: First Communion + Piercing the Veil (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Joe Morris/Ken Vandermark/Luther Gray: Rebus (Clean Feed) A-
- Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: American Landscapes 1 (Okkadisk)
- Frank Carlberg: State of the Union (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Avishai Cohen: As Is . . . Live at the Blue Note (Razdaz/Half Note)
- Phil Bodner: Once More With Feeling (Arbors)
- Tord Gustavsen Trio: Being There (ECM)
- Jason Lindner: Ab Aeterno (Fresh Sound World Jazz)
- Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy (Delmark)
- Dave Liebman: Back on the Corner (Tone Center)
- Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid: Tongues (Domino)
- Nicole Mitchell/Harrison Bankhead/Hamid Drake: Indigo Trio: Live in Montreal (Paperback Series Vol. 3) (Greenleaf Music)
|
| HM
[**] | - Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: American Landscapes 2 (Okkadisk)
- Charles Mingus Sextet With Eric Dolphy: Cornell 1964 (Blue Note)
|
| Duds | - Soweto Kinch: A Life in the Day of B19: Tales of the Tower Block (Dune) B-
- Kenny Burrell: 75th Birthday Bash Live! (Blue Note) C+
- Kenny Garrett: Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch) B
- Mark Murphy: Love Is What Stays (Verve) D
|
#13: Muscling Up and Rocking Out (2007-06-26)
| Picks | - Wolfgang Muthspiel: Bright Side (Material) A-
- Anders Nilsson's Aorta: Blood (Kopasetic) A-
|
| A | - Club D'Elf: Now I Understand (Accurate) A-
- Satoko Fujii Four: When We Were There (Libra) A-
- Gato Libre: Nomad (No Man's Land) A-
- Vijay Iyer + Mike Ladd: Still Life With Commentator (Savoy Jazz) A-
- Steve Lacy Quintet: Esteem (1975, Atavistic) A-
- Joe Lovano & Hank Jones: Kids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Blue Note) A-
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Codebook (Pi) A-
- Bob Reynolds: Can't Wait for Perfect (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Sound in Action Trio: Gate (Atavistic) A-
- David Torn: Prezens (ECM) A-
- Frank Wright: Unity (1974, ESP-Disk) A-
|
| HM | - The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpático (ArtistShare) A-
- Vittor Santos: Renewed Impressions (Adventure Music) A-
- Carneyball Johnson: Carneyball Johnson (Akron Cracker) A-
- Anat Fort: A Long Story (ECM)
- Gordon Grdina's Box Cutter: Unlearn (Spool/Line)
- Joel Frahm: We Used to Dance (Anzic)
- Anat Cohen & the Anzic Orchestra: Noir (Anzic)
- BassDrumBone: The Line Up (Clean Feed)
- Bob French: Marsalis Music Honors Bob French (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
- Jerry Granelli/V16: The Sonic Temple: Monday and Tuesday (Songlines)
- Satoko Fujii/Natsuki Tamura: In Krakow in November (Not Two)
- Dave Liebman: Back on the Corner (Tone Center)
- Uri Caine Ensemble: Plays Mozart (Winter & Winter)
- Russell Malone: Live at Jazz Standard: Volume One (MaxJazz)
- Les DeMerle: Cookin' at the Corner, Vol. 1 (Origin)
|
| HM
[**] | - Michael Brecker: Pilgrimage (Heads Up)
- Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker: Get Ready (Mack Avenue)
|
| Duds | - Turtle Island String Quartet: A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane (Telarc) C+
- John Abercrombie: The Third Quartet (ECM) B
- Vijay Iyer & Rudresh Mahanthappa: Raw Materials (Savoy Jazz) B
- Wynton Marsalis: From the Plantation to the Penitentiary (Blue Note) B
|
#12: No Training Wheels Necessary (2007-03-20)
| Picks | - Nils Petter Molvaer: ER (Thirsty Ear) A
- The Vandermark 5: Free Jazz Classics Vols. 3 & 4 (Atavistic) A
|
| A | - Omer Avital: The Ancient Art of Giving (Smalls) A-
- Ignacio Berroa: Codes (Blue Note) A-
- Scott Hamilton: Nocturnes & Serenades (Concord) A-
- Hat: Hi Ha (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid: The Exchange Session Vol. 1 (Domino) A-
- Frank Hewitt: Fresh From the Cooler (1996, Smalls) A-
- Andrew Hill: Pax (1965, Blue Note) A-
- Maurice Hines: To Nat "King" Cole With Love (Arbors) A-
- Kidd Jordan/Hamid Drake/William Parker: Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Diana Krall: From This Moment On (Verve) A-
- Bucky Pizzarelli: 5 for Freddie: Bucky's Tribute to Freddie Green (Arbors) A-
|
| HM | - Maurice El Médioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez: Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions (Piranha) A-
- Billy Stein Trio: Hybrids (Barking Hoop)
- Sergi Sirvent & Xavi Maureta: Lines Over Rhythm (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Ellery Eskelin: Quiet Music (Prime Source)
- Regina Carter: I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey (Verve)
- Tomasz Stanko Quartet: Lontano (ECM)
- Von Freeman: Good Forever (Premonition)
- Mark Helias' Open Loose: Atomic Clock (Radio Legs Music)
- Samo Salamon Quartet: Two Hours (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Sathima Bea Benjamin: Song Spirit (Ekapa)
- Wayne Horvitz Gravitas Quartet: Way Out East (Songlines)
- Frank Morgan: Reflections (High Note)
- Dennis González Boston Project: No Photograph Available (Clean Feed)
- John Hicks: Sweet Love of Mine (High Note)
- Sonny Simmons: I'll See You When You Get There (Jazzaway)
- Kali Z. Fasteau/Kidd Jordan: People of the Ninth: New Orleans and the Hurricane 2005 (Flying Note)
|
| Duds | - Warren Vaché and the Scottish Ensemble: Don't Look Back (Arbors) B-
- Cheryl Bentyne: The Book of Love (Telarc) C-
- David 'Fathead' Newman: Life (High Note) C+
- Charles Tolliver Big Band: With Love (Blue Note/Mosaic) B
|
#11: Fractious Grammar (2006-12-13)
| Picks | - Ornette Coleman: Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar) A
- Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: New Magical Kingdom (Clean Feed) A-
|
| A | - Ben Allison: Cowboy Justice (Palmetto) A-
- François Carrier: Happening (Leo) A-
- Jeff Healey & the Jazz Wizards: It's Tight Like That (Stony Plain) A-
- Junk Box: Fragment (Libra) A-
- Charles Lloyd: Sangam (ECM) A-
- Paul Motian: On Broadway Vol. 4 (Winter & Winter) A-
- Sonny Rollins: Sonny, Please (Doxy) A-
- Thomas Strřnen: Pohlitz (Rune Grammofon) A-
- The Vandermark 5: A Discontinuous Line (Atavistic) A-
- Ulf Wakenius: Notes From the Heart (ACT) A-
|
| HM | - Nils Petter Molvaer: An American Compilation (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Anders Aarum Trio: First Communion (Jazzaway)
- Pete McCann: Most Folks (Omnitone)
- Marcus Strickland: Quartets: Twi-Life (Strick Muzik)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya: Maru (Bakamo)
- François Carrier/Dewey Redman: Open Spaces (Spool/Line)
- Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron: Ballads (CAM Jazz)
- Adam Lane Trio: Music Degree Zero (CIMP)
- Terra Hazelton: Anybody's Baby (HealeyOphonic)
- Shot x Shot: Shot x Shot (High Two)
- Avishai Cohen: Continuo (RazDaz/Sunnyside)
- The Gift: Live at Sangha: Nov 6, 2004 (Bmadish)
- Christian McBride: Live at Tonic (Ropeadope, 3CD)
- Kris Davis: The Slightest Shift (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Aaron Weinstein: A Handful of Stars (Arbors)
- Boxhead Ensemble: Nocturnes (Atavistic)
- Mike Boone: Yeah, I Said It . . . (Dreambox Media)
|
| Duds | - The Matt Savage Trio: Quantum Leap (Savage) C+
- Geri Allen: Timeless Portraits and Dreams (Telarc) B-
- The Chris Walden Big Band: No Bounds (Origin) C+
|
#10: Shine Balls (2006-08-29)
| Picks | - Jon Faddis: Teranga (Koch) A
- World Saxophone Quartet: Political Blues (Justin Time) A
|
| A | - Rabih Abou-Khalil/Joachim Kühn: Journey to the Centre of an Egg (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Bill Carrothers: Shine Ball (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Ramón Díaz: Diŕleg (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Erik Friedlander: Prowl (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Manu Katché: Neighbourhood (ECM) A-
- Adam Lane Trio: Zero Degree Music (CIMP) A-
- Joe Morris Quartet: Beautiful Existence (Clean Feed) A-
- Francis Wong: Legends & Legacies (Asian Improv) A-
- Zentralquartett: 11 Songs -- Aus Teutschen Landen (Intakt) A-
|
| HM | - Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille): Time Being (Intakt)
- NOW Orchestra & Marilyn Crispell: Pola (Victo)
- Batagraf: Statements (ECM)
- Johnnie Valentino: Stingy Brim (Omnitone)
- Dave Burrell/Billy Martin: Consequences (Amulet)
- Carl Maguire: Floriculture (Between the Lines)
- Michael Musillami's Dialect: Fragile Forms (Playscape)
- Helen Sung Trio: Helenistique (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Trio-X: Moods: Playing With the Elements (CIMP)
- Erik Truffaz: Saloua (Blue Note)
- Unexpected: Plays the Blues in Need (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Industrial Jazz Group: Industrial Jazz a Go Go! (Evander Music)
- Dave Frishberg: Retromania: At the Jazz Bakery (Arbors)
- Randy Sandke and the Metatonal Big Band: The Subway Ballet (Evening Star)
- Buck Hill: Relax (Severn)
- Dom Minasi: The Vampire's Revenge (CDM)
|
| Duds | - Kenny G: The Essential Kenny G (1986-2004, Arista/Legacy) C
- Randy Brecker w/Michael Brecker: Some Skunk Funk (Telarc) C
- Larry Goldings: Quartet (Palmetto) B-
- The Ed Palermo Big Band: Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Cuneiform) C-
|
#9: Second Term Blues (2006-05-30)
| Picks | - Bernardo Sassetti Trio˛: Ascent (Clean Feed) A
- Irčne Schweizer: Portrait (1984-2004, Intakt) A
|
| A | - The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Hey, Look Me Over (Arbors) A-
- Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Stoa (ECM) A-
- The Claudia Quintet: Semi-Formal (Cuneiform) A-
- Garage A Trois: Outre Mer (Telarc) A-
- Moncef Genoud: Aqua (Savoy Jazz) A-
- Steve Lehman: Demian as Posthuman (Pi) A-
- Mario Pavone Sextet: Deez to Blues (Playscape) A-
- Bob Rockwell: Bob's Ben: A Salute to Ben Webster (Stunt) A-
- Alexander von Schlippenbach: Monk's Casino (Intakt) A-
- Sonny Simmons: The Traveller (Jazzaway) A-
- Miguel Zenón: Jíbaro (Marsalis Music/Rounder) A-
|
| HM | - Sonny Simmons: The Complete ESP-Disk' Recordings (1966, ESP-Disk)
- Marc Johnson: Shades of Jade (ECM)
- Gianluca Petrella: Indigo 4 (Blue Note)
- Ben Goldberg Quintet: The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact (Cryptogramophone)
- Exploding Customer: Live at Tampere Jazz Happening (Ayler)
- Jamie Davis: It's a Good Thing (Unity Music)
- Jason Kao Hwang: Graphic Evidence (Asian Improv)
- Antonio Arnedo: Colombia (Adventure Music)
- Ray Barretto: Time Was - Time Is (O+ Music)
- Bob Belden: Three Days of Rain (Original Soundtrack) (Sunnyside)
- Brent Jensen: Trios (Origin)
- String Trio of New York With Oliver Lake: Frozen Ropes (Barking Hoop)
- Ray Russell: Goodbye Svengali (Cuneiform)
- Jimmy Amadie Trio: Let's Groove! A Tribute to Mel Tormé (TP)
- Kenny Wheeler: What Now? (Cam Jazz)
- Andrew Lamb/Warren Smith: The Dogon Duo (Engine)
|
| Duds | - Taylor Eigsti: Lucky to Be Me (Concord) B-
- James Carter/Cyrus Chestnut/Ali Jackson/Reginald Veal: Gold Sounds (Brown Brothers)
- Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra With Arturo O'Farrill: Noche Inolvidable (Palmetto)
|
#8: Fungible Insights (2006-02-21)
| Picks | - FME: Cuts (Okka Disk) A
- Sheila Jordan + Cameron Brown: Celebration (High Note) A-
|
| A | - Uri Caine/Bedrock: Shelf-Life (Winter & Winter) A-
- Peter Epstein/Brad Shepik/Matt Kilmer: Lingua Franca (Songlines) A-
- Rich Halley Trio: Mountains and Plains (Louie) A-
- Arthur Kell Quartet: Traveller (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Steve Lacy/Joëlle Léandre: One More Time (Leo) A-
- Hilary Noble & Rebecca Cline: Enclave (Zoho) A-
- Triptych Myth: The Beautiful (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Assif Tsahar/Cooper-Moore/Hamid Drake: Lost Brother (Hopscotch) A-
- Mark Whitecage & the Bi-Coastal Orchestra: BushWacked: A Spoken Opera (Acoustics) A-
|
| HM | - Dominic Duval/Mark Whitecage: Rules of Engagement, Vol. 1 (Drimala)
- Randy Reinhart: At the Mill Hill Playhouse: As Long as I Live (Arbors)
- Sam Rivers/Ben Street/Kresten Osgood: Violet Violets (Stunt)
- Bayashi: Rock (Jazzaway)
- Joe Fielder Trio: Plays the Music of Albert Mangelsdorff (Clean Feed)
- Billy Jenkins: When the Crowds Have Gone (Babel)
- Dominic Frasca: Deviations (Cantaloupe/Serious Music)
- Joel Futterman/Alvin Fielder/Ike Levin Trio: Resolving Doors (Charles Lester Music)
- The Onus: Triphony (Hipnotic)
- Trygve Seim: Sangam (ECM)
- Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano: I Have the Room Above Her (ECM)
- Joe Giardullo: No Work Today: Nine for Steve Lacy (Drimala)
- Hamid Drake & Assif Tsahar: Live at Glenn Miller Café (Ayler)
- George Colligan's Mad Science: Realization (Sirocco Jazz)
- Julius Tolentino: Just the Beginning (Sharp Nine)
- Mark Weinstein: Algo Mas (Jazzheads)
- Rake-Star: Some Ra (Spool/Line)
- The Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: Be Music, Night (Okka Disk)
|
| Duds | - Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra: Don't Be Afraid . . . The Music of Charles Mingus (Palmetto) B-
- Jamie Cullum: Catching Tales (Verve/Forecast)
- Nnenna Freelon: Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday (Concord)
- David Murray 4tet & Strings: Waltz Again (Justin Time)
|
#7: Low Rent (2005-12-14)
| Picks | - Anthony Braxton: 20 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Leo) A
- Paraphrase: Pre-Emptive Denial (Screwgun) A
|
| - Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake/William Parker: Blue Winter (Eremite) A-
- Tom Christensen: New York School (Playscape) A-
- Anat Cohen: Place & Time (Anzic) A-
- Gerry Hemingway Quartet: The Whimbler (Clean Feed) A-
- George Russell and the Living Time Orchestra: The 80th Birthday Concert (Concept Publishing) A-
- Jenny Scheinman: 12 Songs (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Mary Stallings: Remember Love (Half Note) A-
- Ralph Sutton & Dick Cary: Rendezvous at Sunnie's 1969 (1969, Arbors) A-
- The Vandermark 5: Alchemia (Not Two) A-
- The Vandermark 5: The Color of Memory (Atavistic) A-
|
| HM | - Diane Reeves: Good Night, and Good Luck (Concord)
- David Hazeltine: Modern Standards (Sharp Nine)
- Mike Ladd: Negrophilia [The Album] (Thirsty Ear)
- Will Calhoun: Native Lands (Half Note)
- Enrico Rava: Full of Life (CAM Jazz)
- Marc Copland/John Abercrombie/Kenny Wheeler: Brand New (Challenge)
- Ernest Dawkins' Chicago 12: Misconceptions of a Delusion Shades of a Charace (Dawk)
- Hank Jones: For My Father (Justin Time)
- The Dave Brubeck Quartet: London Flat London Sharp (Telarc)
- Gerry Hemingway Quintet: Double Blues Crossing (Between the Lines)
- Sunny Murray: Perles Noires, Vol. I (Eremite)
|
| Duds | - Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (Hear Music) C
- Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Heiroglyphics: It Is Written (ACT)
- Bill Charlap/Sandy Stewart: Love Is Here to Stay (Blue Note)
- Marian McPartland & Friends: 85 Candles -- Live in New York (Concord)
- Mizell: The Mizell Brothers at Blue Note (Blue Note)
|
#6: Bush Medicine (2005-08-24)
| Picks | - Fieldwork: Simulated Progress (Pi) A-
- Dennis González Spirit Meridian: Idle Wild (Clean Feed) A-
|
| - Eric Alexander: Dead Center (HighNote) A-
- Scott Amendola Band: Believe (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Pierre Dřrge & New Jungle Orchestra: Dancing Cheek to Cheek (Stunt) A-
- Jerry Granelli: Sandhills Reunion (Songlines) A-
- Jim Hall: Magic Meeting (ArtistShare) A-
- Happy Apple: The Peace Between Our Companies (Sunnyside) A-
- Ari Hoenig: The Painter (Smalls) A-
- Ibrahim Electric: Meets Ray Anderson (Stunt) A-
- Russ Lossing: Phrase 6 (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana: Climbing the Banyan Tree (Clean Feed) A-
- One More: Music of Thad Jones (IPO) A-
- Greg Osby: Channel Three (Blue Note) A-
- Houston Person: To Etta With Love (High Note) A-
|
| HM | - Triot With John Tchicai: Sudden Happiness (TUM)
- The Nels Cline Singers: The Giant Pin (Cryptogramophone)
- Benoît Delbecq Unit: Phonetics (Songlines)
- Fred Lonberg-Holm Trio: Other Valentines (Atavistic)
- Steve Turre: The Spirits Up Above (High Note)
- James Finn Trio: Plaza de Toros (Clean Feed)
- Eugene Chadbourne: The Hills Have Jazz (Boxholder)
- Sherman Irby: Faith (Black Warrior)
- Duo Nueva Finlandia: Short Stories (TUM)
- Keely Smith: Vegas '58--Today (Concord)
- Rosenberg/Baker/Hatwich/Daisy: New Folk, New Blues (482 Music)
- Tord Gustavsen Trio: The Ground (ECM)
|
| Duds | - Javon Jackson: Have You Heard (Palmetto) C+
- Bill Frisell: Richter 858 (Songlines)
- Doug Wamble: Bluestate (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
|
#5: Odd Tangents (2005-06-27)
| Picks | - William Parker Quartet: Sound Unity (AUM Fidelity) A
- Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock: Symbiosis (Spartacus) A
|
| - Rez Abbasi: Snake Charmer (Earth Sounds) A-
- The Blueprint Project (Creative Nation Music) A-
- Brötzmann/Friis Nielsen/Uuskyla: Medicina (Atavistic) A-
- Avishai Cohen Trio & Ensemble: At Home (RazDaz/Sunnyside) A-
- Dave Douglas/Louis Sclavis/Peggy Lee/Dylan van der Schyff: Bow River Falls (Premonition) A-
- Gerd Dudek/Buschi Niebergall/Edward Vesala: Open (1977, Atavistic) A-
- FME: Underground (Okka Disk) A-
- The Frank and Joe Show: 33 1/3 (Hyena) A-
- Scott Hamilton: Back in New York (Concord) A-
- Raphe Malik Quartet: Last Set: Live at the 1369 Club (1984, Boxholder) A-
- William Parker: Luc's Lantern (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Steve Shapiro and Pat Bergeson: Low Standards (Sons of Sound) A-
|
| HM | - Tony Malaby: Adobe (Sunnyside)
- Per Henrik Wallin: Burning in Stockholm (1981, Atavistic)
- Willie Nelson: Nacogdoches (1997, Pedernales)
- Raphe Malik/Joe McPhee/Donald Robinson: Sympathy (Boxholder)
- John Hagen: Segments (Cadence Jazz)
- Gian Tornatore: Sink or Swim (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Jeff Parker: The Relatives (Thrill Jockey)
- Michiel Scheen Quartet: Dance, My Dear? (Data)
- John Ellis: One Foot in the Swamp (Hyena)
- Brötzmann Clarinet Project: Berlin Djungle (1984, Atavistic)
- Ricardo Silveira/Luiz Avellar: Live: Play the Music of Milton Nascimento (Adventure Music)
- Sonore: No One Ever Works Alone (Okka Disk)
- Noël Akchoté: Sonny II: The Music of Sonny Sharrock (Winter & Winter)
- Bobby Watson & Horizon: Horizon Reassembled (Palmetto)
- Cosmosamatics: Three (Boxholder)
- Fred Hess Quartet: Crossed Paths (Tapestry)
|
| Duds | - Chris Botti: When I Fall in Love (Columbia) B-
- Steve Cole: Spin (Narada Jazz)
- The Frank and Joe Show: 66 2/3 (Hyena)
- Sun Ra: Spaceship Lullaby (1954-60, Atavistic)
|
#4: Rituals of Getting Acquainted (2005-04-04)
| Picks | - Amalgam: Prayer for Peace (1969, FMR) A
- Triage: American Mythology (Okka Disk) A
|
| - Raoul Björkenheim/Lukas Ligeti: Shadowglow (TUM) A-
- Anthony Braxton: 23 Standards (Quartet) (Leo) A-
- Claudia Quintet: I, Claudia (Cuneiform) A-
- Dennis González Inspiration Band: Nile River Suite (Daagnim) A-
- Frank Hewitt: We Loved You (Smalls) A-
- Jewels & Binoculars: Floater (Ramboy) A-
- Mylab (Terminus) A-
- Chris Potter Quartet: Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside) A-
- Steve Reid: Rhythmatism (1976, Universal Sound) A-
- Lisa Sokolov: Presence (Laughing Horse) A-
|
| HM | - E.S.T.: Seven Days of Falling (215 Records)
- Scott Hamilton Quartet: Live in London (Concord)
- Yeah No: Swell Henry (Squealer)
- Patricia Barber: A Fortnight in Paris (Blue Note)
- Nils Petter Molvaer: Live: Steamer (Sula)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Mother Tongue (Pi)
- Jacob Young: Evening Falls (ECM)
- Henry Grimes Trio: Live at the Kerava Jazz Festival (Ayler)
- Gorka Benítez: Sólo la Verdad Es Sexy (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Jessica Jones Quartet: Nod (New Artists)
- The Flip Phillips Quartet: Live at the Beowulf (1977-78, Arbors)
- Jim Black: Habyor (Winter & Winter)
- Evan Parker: The Snake Decides (1986, Psi)
- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Walking With Giants (Hyena)
|
| Duds | - Branford Marsalis Quartet: Eternal (Marsalis Music/Rounder) B-
- Miles Davis: Birdland 1951 (Blue Note)
- Fred Hersch Ensemble: Leaves of Grass (Palmetto)
- Mount Analog: New Skin (Film Guerrero)
- Maria Schneider Orchestra: Concert in the Garden (ArtistShare)
|
#3: Updates, Not Throwbacks (2005-01-04)
| Picks | - Matthew Shipp: Harmony and Abyss (Thirsty Ear) A
- Don Pullen: Mosaic Select (1986-90, Mosaic) A
|
| - Rabih Abou-Khalil: Morton's Foot (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Geri Allen/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette: The Life of a Song (Telarc) A-
- Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Hollywood (Tzadik) A-
- Big Satan: Souls Saved Hear (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Chicago Underground Trio: Slon (Thrill Jockey) A-
- Denis Colin Trio: Something in Common (Sunnyside) A-
- Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (NatSat) A-
- Jerry Gonzalez y los Piratas del Flamenco (Sunnyside) A-
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Blue Note) A-
- Septeto Rodriguez: Baila! Gitano Baila! (Tzadik) A-
- Tripleplay: Gambit (Clean Feed) A-
- Warren Vaché: Dream Dancing (Arbors) A-
|
| HM | - Adam Pieronczyk: Amusos (PAO)
- Firehouse: Live at Glenn Miller Café (Ayler)
- Mats Gustafsson/Sonic Youth: Hidros 3 (to Patti Smith) (Smalltown Supersound)
- Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Dual Pleasure 2 (Smalltown Supersound)
- The Thing: Garage (Smalltown Superjazz)
- Jan Garbarek: In Praise of Dreams (ECM)
- Paradigm Shift: Shifting Times (Nagel Heyer)
- Satoko Fujii Trio: Illusion Suite (Libra)
- Eddie Gale: Afro-Fire (Black Beauty)
- The Great Jazz Trio: Someday My Prince Will Come (Eighty-Eights/Columbia)
|
| Duds | - Chick Corea Elektrik Band: To the Stars (Stretch) C
- Helen Merrill: Lilac Wine (Sunnyside)
- Bob Mintzer Big Band: Live at MCG With Special Guest Kurt Elling (MCG Jazz)
- Steve Swallow/Ohad Talmor Sextet: L'Histoire du Clochard: The Bum's Tale (Palmetto)
- Kim Waters: In the Name of Love (Shanachie)
|
#2: The Caribbean Tinge (2004-09-28)
| Picks | - David Murray & the Gwo-Ka Masters: Gwotet (Justin Time) A
- Sonic Liberation Front: Ashé a Go-Go (High Two) A
|
| - Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake: Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey) A-
- James Brown: Soul on Top (1969, Verve) A
- Marilyn Crispell Trio: Storyteller (ECM) A-
- Marty Ehrlich: Line on Love (Palmetto) A-
- El-P/The Blue Series Continuum: High Water (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Percy Heath: A Love Song (Daddy Jazz) A-
- Ian Hendrickson-Smith: Up in Smoke! (Sharp Nine) A-
- Michel Portal/Stephen Kent/Mino Cinelu: Burundi (PAO) A-
- Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Breeding Resistance (Delmark) A-
- The Vandermark Five: Elements of Style . . . Exercises in Surprise (Atavistic) A
|
| HM | - Fred Anderson: Back at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark)
- Joe Locke & 4 Walls of Freedom: Dear Life (Sirocco)
- Dave Burrell Full-Blown Trio: Expansion (High Two)
- Lafayette Gilchrist: The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist (Hyena/Shantytone)
- Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith: Yo Miles! Sky Garden (Cuneiform)
- Arild Andersen: The Triangle (ECM)
- Kris Davis: Lifespan (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Ken Vandermark/Brian Dibblee: Duets (Future Reference)
- Ignasi Terraza Trio: IT's Coming (TCB)
- Bill Bruford's Earthworks: Random Acts of Happiness (Summerfold)
- Hiromi: Brain (Telarc)
- Roy Haynes: Fountain of Youth (Dreyfus)
|
| Duds | - Michael Brecker/Joe Lovano/Dave Liebman: Saxophone Summit: Gathering of Spirits (Telarc) C+
- George Benson: Irreplaceable (GRP)
- Wayne Escoffery: Intuition (Nagel Heyer)
- Fourplay: Journey (Bluebird)
- Antonio Hart: All We Need (Downtown Sound/Chiaroscuro)
- Keith Rowe/Axel Dörner/Franz Hautzinger: A View From the Window (Erstwhile)
- Spyro Gyra: The Deep End (Heads Up)
|
#1: All True, More or Less (2004-07-01)
| Picks | - Zu & Spaceways Inc.: Radiale (Atavistic) A
- Bennie Wallace: The Nearness of You (Enja/Justin Time) A-
|
| - The Bad Plus: Give (Columbia) A-
- Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra: Monk's Moods (Water Baby) A-
- James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Warner Bros.) A-
- Sir Roland Hanna/Carrie Smith: I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues: The Songs of Harold Arlen (IPO) A-
- Lyambiko: Shades of Delight (Nagel Heyer) A-
- Michiko Ogawa Trio: . . . It's All About Love! (Arbors) A-
- Quartet B: Crystal Mountain (Fono) A-
- Jenny Scheinman: Shalagaster (Tzadik) A-
- Tomasz Stanko: Suspended Night (ECM) A-
|
| R&R | - Duke Ellington: The Bubber Miley Era (1924-29, Jazz Legends)
- Duke Ellington: Ellington Uptown (1947-52, Columbia/Legacy)
- Benny Carter: Sax ŕ la Carter (1960, Capitol Jazz)
- Charles Lloyd/Billy Higgins: Which Way Is East (ECM)
- Sir Roland Hanna: Tributaries: Reflections on Tommy Flanagan (IPO)
- Tomasz Stanko: Rarum Vol. 17: Selected Recordings (1975-98, ECM)
|
| HM | - Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine)
- Allan Vaché and Friends: Ballads, Burners and Blues (Arbors)
- The Yoko Miwa Trio: Fadeless Flower (PJL)
- Cooper-Moore/Assif Tsahar: America (Hopscotch)
- The New Archie Shepp Quartet: Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day (PAO)
- Randy Sandke: Cliffhanger (Nagel Heyer)
|
| Duds | - James Carter: Gardenias for Lady Day (Columbia) B-
- Monty Alexander/Ernest Ranglin: Rocksteady (Telarc)
- John Pizzarelli: Bossa Nova (Telarc)
- Spring Heel Jack: The Sweetness of the Water (Thirsty Ear)
|
"R&R" stands for Reissues and Redundancies. The idea was to
second some items, all A- or better, that other Voice writers had
already reviewed, and throw in some quick votes for obvious reissues.
Wasn't my name for the section, and I never returned to it.
|