Rhapsody Streamnotes: Year 2016 Index

December 31

  1. Ab-Soul: Do What Thou Wilt (2016, Top Dawg) A-
  2. Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids: We Be All Africans (2016, Strut) B+(***)
  3. Adia Victoria: Beyond the Bloodhounds (2016, Canvasback/Atlantic) B+(*)
  4. Aesop Rock & Homebody Sandman: Lice Two: Still Buggin' (2016, Stones Throw, EP) B+(***)
  5. Harry Allen's All Star New York Saxophone Band: The Candy Men (2016, Arbors) B+(*)
  6. Babyfather: BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow (2016, Hyperdub) B-
  7. BadBadNotGood: IV (2016, Innovative Leisure) B-
  8. John Beasley: Presents MONK'estra Vol. 1 (2016, Mack Avenue) B-
  9. William Bell: This Is Where I Live (2016, Stax) B
  10. Sarah Bernstein Quartet: Still/Free (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(***)
  11. Beyoncé: Lemonade (2016, Parkwood/Columbia) A-
  12. Black Art Jazz Collective: Presented by the Side Door Jazz Club (2016, Sunnyside) B+(**)
  13. Aziza Brahim: Abbar El Hamada (2016, Glitterbeat) B+(**)
  14. David Bromberg Band: The Blues, the Whole Blues, and Nothing but the Blues (2016, Red House) B+(***)
  15. Peter Brötzmann/Steve Swell/Paal Nilssen-Love: Live in Copenhagen (2016, Not Two) A-
  16. Jane Bunnett & Maqueque: Oddara (2016, Linus Entertainment) B
  17. Burial: Young Death/Nightmarket (2016, Hyperdub, EP) B+(*)
  18. Taylor Ho Bynum: Enter the Plustet (2016, Firehouse 12) A-
  19. João Camões/Jean-Marc Foussat: À La Face Du Ciel! (2014 [2016], Shhpuma) B+(***)
  20. François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Rafal Mazur: The Joy of Being (2015 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(***)
  21. Albert Cirera/Hernâni Faustino/Gabriel Ferrandini/Agustí Fernández: Before the Silence (2015 [2016], NoBusiness) A-
  22. J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only (2016, Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope) B+(**)
  23. Jeff Collins: The Keys to Christmas (2016, Crossroads) C-
  24. Alexis Cuadrado: Poética (2016, Sunnyside) B+(**)
  25. CupcakKe: Cum Cake (2016, self-released) A-
  26. Daniele D'Agaro/Giovanni Maier/Zlatko Kaucic: Disorder at the Border Plays Ornette (2015 [2016], Not Two) B+(**)
  27. Deap Vally: Femejism (2016, Nevado) B+(***)
  28. Dear Eloise: Uncontrollable, Ice Age Stories (2012 [2016], Maybe Mars) B+(*)
  29. John Dikeman/Luis Vicente/Hugo Antunes/Gabriel Ferrandini: Salão Brazil (2016, NoBusiness) B+(*)
  30. The Dining Rooms: Do Hipsters Love Sun (Ra)? (2015, Schema) B+(**)
  31. The DKV Thing Trio: Collider (2014 [2016], Not Two) B+(**)
  32. Dog Leg Dilemma: Not This Time (2016 [2017], self-released) B+(*)
  33. Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra: Ubi Zaa (2016, SteepleChase) B
  34. Dave Douglas: Dark Territory (2014 [2016], Greenleaf Music) B+(*)
  35. Dave Douglas/Frank Woeste: Dada People (2015 [2016], Greenleaf Music) B+(***)
  36. Mark Dresser Seven: Sedimental You (2016, Clean Feed) B+(**)
  37. D.D. Dumbo: Utopia Defeated (2016, 4AD) B
  38. El Guincho: Hiperasia (2016, Nacional) B
  39. ELEW: And to the Republic (2016, Sunnyside) B+(***)
  40. EOLA: Dang (2016, Leaving, EP) B-
  41. Family Atlantica: Cosmic Unity (2016, Soundway) B+(*)
  42. Fire!: She Sleeps/She Sleeps (2015 [2016], Rune Grammofon) B+(**)
  43. Paolo Fresu & Omar Sosa: Eros (2016, Otá) B+(*)
  44. Jonny Fritz: Sweet Creep (2016, ATO) B+(*)
  45. Future: EVOL (2016, Epic) B+(**)
  46. GFOTY: Call Him a Doctor (2016, PC Music, EP) B-
  47. Margaret Glaspy: Emotions and Math (2016, ATO) B+(**)
  48. Macy Gray: Stripped (2016, Chesky) B+(**)
  49. Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra: Time/Life (Song for the Wahles and Other Beings) (2011-15 [2016], Impulse) A-
  50. Wayne Hancock: Slingin' Rhythm (2016, Bloodshot) B+(**)
  51. Freddie Hendrix: Jersey Cat (2010 [2016], Sunnyside) B+(**)
  52. Heron Oblivion: Heron Oblivion (2016, Sub Pop) B+(**)
  53. Dre Hocevar: Transcendental Within the Sphere of Indivisible Remainder (2016, Clean Feed) B+(*)
  54. I Am Three: Mingus Mingus Mingus (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(***)
  55. Ich Bin Nintendo: Lykke (2016, Shhpuma) B+(**)
  56. Carly Rae Jepsen: E-MO-TION: Side B (2014-15 [2016], School Boy/Interscope, EP) B+(***)
  57. Ka: Honor Killed the Samurai (2016, Iron Works) A-
  58. Bobby Kapp/Matthew Shipp: Cactus (2016, Northern Spy) A-
  59. Brian Kastan: Roll the Dice on Life (2016 [2017], Kastan, 2CD) C+
  60. Tyler Keith & the Apostles: Do It for Johnny (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  61. Irene Kepl: SololoS (2016, Fou) B+(*)
  62. Alicia Keys: Here (2016, RCA) A-
  63. Kirk Knuffke: Little Cross (2014 [2015], SteepleChase) B+(*)
  64. Konx-Om-Pax: Caramel (2016, Planet Mu) B+(*)
  65. Kornél Kovács: The Bells (2016, Studio Barnhus) B+(**)
  66. Krokofant: Krokofant II (2015, Rune Grammofon) B+(*)
  67. Martin Küchen/Mark Tokar/Arkadijus Gotesmanas: Live at Vilnius Jazz Festival (2016, NoBusiness) B+(**)
  68. Lady Gaga: Joanne (2016, Streamline/Interscope) B
  69. Jinx Lennon: Past Pupil Stay Sane (2016, Septic Tiger) B+(***)
  70. Jinx Lennon: Magic Bullets of Madness to Uplift Grief Magnets (2016, Septic Tiger) B+(**)
  71. Live the Spirit Residency: Presents the Young Masters 1: Coming of Age (2016, self-released) A-
  72. The Pedrito Martinez Group: Habana Dreams (2016, Motéma) B+(*)
  73. Rob Mazurek & Emmett Kelly: Alien Flower Sutra (2016, International Anthem) C
  74. Brad Mehldau Trio: Blues and Ballads (2012-14 [2016], Nonesuch) B+(**)
  75. Mekons: Existentialism (2015 [2016], Bloodshot) A
  76. Myra Melford + Ben Goldberg: Dialogue (2014 [2016], BAG) B
  77. Parker Millsap: The Very Last Day (2016, Okrahoma) B+(*)
  78. Modus Factor: The Picasso Zone (2015 [2016], Browntasaurus) B+(**)
  79. Moker: Ladder (2016, El Negocito) B+(*)
  80. Moor Mother: Fetish Bones (2016, Don Giovanni) B
  81. Donny Most: Swinging Down the Chimney Tonight (2016, Summit) B
  82. Motif: My Head is Listening (2013-15 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  83. Nao: For all We Know (2016, Little Tokyo) B+(*)
  84. Willie Nelson: For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price (2016, Legacy) B+(*)
  85. Nice as Fuck: Nice as Fuck (2016, Loves Way, EP) B+(*)
  86. Noname: Telefone (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  87. Nots: Cosmetic (2016, Goner) A-
  88. The Nu Band: The Final Concert (2012 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(**)
  89. NxWorries: Yes Lawd! (2016, Stones Throw) B+(***)
  90. Uwe Oberg/Silke Eberhard: Turns (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(***)
  91. Roberto Occhipinti: Stabilimento (2016, Modica Music) B
  92. Frank Ocean: Blonde (2016, Boys Don't Cry) B+(**)
  93. Phronesis: Parallax (2015 [2016], Edition) B+(**)
  94. Populous: Night Safari (2014, Bad Panda) B+(***)
  95. Mark Pritchard: Under the Sun (2016, Warp) B+(*)
  96. Pussy Riot: XXX (2016, Nice Life, EP) B+(***)
  97. Eve Risser White Desert Orchestra: Les Deux Versants Se Regardent (2016, Clean Feed) A-
  98. The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome (2016, Polydor) B+(***)
  99. Daniel Romano: Mosey (2016, New West) B-
  100. Ned Rothenberg/Mark Feldman/Sylvie Courvoisier: In Cahoots (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  101. Schoolboy Q: Blank Face LP (2016, Top Dawg/Interscope) B+(***)
  102. Serengeti & Sicker Man: Doctor My Own Patience (2016, Graveface) B
  103. Sleigh Bells: Jessica Rabbit (2016, Torn Clean) B
  104. Todd Snider: Eastside Bulldog (2016, Aimless) B+(***)
  105. Elza Soares: The Woman at the End of the World (A Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo) (2015 [2016], Mais Um Discos) A-
  106. Regina Spektor: Remember Us to Life (2016, Sire) B+(**)
  107. Steve Swell Quintet: Soul Travelers (2015 [2016], RogueArt) A-
  108. Steve Swell/Gebhard Ullmann/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Michael Zerang: The Chicago Plan (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  109. Swet Shop Boys: Cashmere (2016, Customs) A-
  110. Tanya Tagaq: Retribution (2016, Six Shooter) A-
  111. Gregory Tardy: Chasing After the Wind (2015 [2016], SteepleChase) B
  112. Tell Tale: Film in Music (2014 [2016], Drip Audio) B+(*)
  113. A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It From Here . . . Thank You 4 Your Service (2016, Epic) A-
  114. A Tribe Called Red: We Are the Halluci Nation (2016, Radicalized) B+(***)
  115. William Tyler: Modern Country (2016, Merge) B+(*)
  116. Alexander von Schlippenbach: Jazz Now! (Live at Theater Gütersloh) (2015 [2016], Intuition) B+(***)
  117. Kelsey Waldon: I've Got a Way (2016, Monkey's Eyebrow) A-
  118. Mat Walerian-Matthew Shipp Duo: The Uppercut: Live at Okuden (2012 [2015], ESP-Disk) B+(***)
  119. Mat Walerian/Matthew Shipp/Hamid Drake: Jungle: Live at Okuden (2012 [2016], ESP-Disk, 2CD) B+(***)
  120. Becky Warren: War Surplus (2016, self-released) A-
  121. The Weeknd: Starboy (2016, XO/Republic) B+(*)
  122. Wilco: Schmilco (2016, dBpm) B+(*)
  123. Andre Williams: I Wanna Go Back to Detroit City (2016, Bloodshot) B+(*)
  124. Jamila Woods: HEAVN (2016, Closed Sessions) B+(*)
  125. Neil Young + Promise of the Real: Earth (2015 [2016], Reprise, 2CD) B+(*)
  126. Neil Young: Peace Trail (2016, Reprise) B+(**)
  127. Yussef Kamaal: Black Focus (2016, Brownswood) B+(*)
  128. Tom Zé: Canções Eróticas De Ninar (2016, Circus) A-
  129. Dave Burrell and Bob Stewart: The Crave (1994 [2016], NoBusiness) A-
  130. Bob Dylan: The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert! (1966 [2016], Columbia/Legacy, 2CD) B
  131. Dizzy Gillespie & Friends: Concert of the Century: A Tribute to Charlie Parker (1980 [2016], Justin Time) B+(*)
  132. Betty Harris: The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul (1964-69 [2016], Soul Jazz) B+(**)
  133. Steve Lehman's Camouflage Trio: Interface (2004 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  134. Joe McPhee & Raymond Boni: Live From the Magic City (Birmingham, Alabama) (1985 [2016], Trost) B+(**)
  135. Evan Parker/Daunik Lazro/Joe McPhee: Seven Pieces: Live at Willisau 1995 (1995 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  136. Howard Riley: Constant Change 1976-2016 (1976-2016 [2016], NoBusiness, 5CD) B+(***)
  137. Pat Thomas: Coming Home: Original Ghanaian Highlife & Afrobeat Classics 1967-1981 (1967-81 [2016], Strut, 2CD) A-
  138. Urgent Jumping! East African Musiki Wa Dansi Classics (1972-82 [2016], Sterns Africa, 2CD) A-
  139. David S. Ware & Matthew Shipp Duo: Live in Sant'Anna Arresi, 2004 (2004 [2016], AUM Fidelity) B+(***)
  140. Neil Young: Bluenote Café (1987-88 [2015], Reprise, 2CD) B+(*)
  141. Taylor Ho Bynum & SpiderMonkey Strings: Other Stories (2003-05 [2005], 482 Music) B+(*)
  142. Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet: Asphalt Flowers Forking Paths (2008, Hatology) B+(**)
  143. Neil Young + Promise of the Real: The Monsanto Years (2015, Reprise) B+(**)
  144. Miranda Lambert: The Weight of These Wings (2016, RCA Nashville, 2CD) A-

November 30

  1. Sophie Agnel/Daunik Lazro: Marguerite D'Or Pâle (2016, Fou) B+(**)
  2. Aguankó: Latin Jazz Christmas in Havana (2016, Aguankó) B
  3. Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio: Desire & Freedom (2016, Not Two) A-
  4. Amendola vs. Blades: Greatest Hits (2015 [2016], Sazi) B+(**)
  5. BassDrumBone: The Long Road (2013-16 [2016], Auricle, 2CD) B+(***)
  6. Martin Bejerano: Trio Miami (2016, Figgland) B+(*)
  7. Eraldo Bernocchi/Prakash Sontakke: Invisible Strings (2016, RareNoise) B+(***)
  8. Nat Birchall: Creation (2016, Sound Soul & Spirit) B+(***)
  9. Karl Blau: Introducing Karl Blau (2016, Raven Marching Band) B
  10. Boi Akih: Liquid Songs (2016, TryTone) B+(*)
  11. Christiane Bopp/Jean-Luc Petit: L'Écorce et la Salive (2015 [2016], Fou) B+(*)
  12. Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra: Basically Baker Vol. 2: The Big Band Music of David Baker (2016, Patois, 2CD) B+(*)
  13. Oguz Buyukberber and Simon Nabatov: Wobbly Strata (2014 [2016], TryTone) B+(**)
  14. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Skeleton Tree (2016, Bad Seeds) B-
  15. John Chin: Fifth (2014 [2016], Jinsy) B+(**)
  16. Richie Cole: Plays Ballads & Love Songs (2015 [2016], Mark Perna Music) B+(***)
  17. Tom Collier: Impulsive Illuminations (2014-15 [2016], Origin) B
  18. Common: Black America Again (2016, Def Jam) B+(**)
  19. The Core Trio: Live Featuring Matthew Shipp (2014 [2016], Evil Rabbit) B+(**)
  20. The Delegation: Evergreen (Canceled World) (2014-15 [2016], ESP-Disk, 2CD) B+(*)
  21. Dim Lighting: Your Miniature Motion (2014 [2016], Off) B+(*)
  22. Andrew Downing: Otterville (2016, self-released, 2CD) B
  23. Rebecca DuMaine and the Dave Miller Trio With Friends: Happy Madness (2016, Summit) B-
  24. Earth Tongues: Ohio (2015 [2016], Neither/Nor, 2CD) B
  25. The Fat Babies: Solid Gassuh (2016, Delmark) B+(**)
  26. Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band: ¡Intenso! (2016, Clavo) B+(**)
  27. David Friesen Circle 3 Trio: Triple Exposure (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(*)
  28. Clay Giberson: Pastures (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  29. Jari Haapalainen Trio: Fusion Machine (2016, Moserobie) B+(*)
  30. Jason Hainsworth: Third Ward Stories (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  31. Stu Harrison: Volume I (2016, One Nightstand) B+(**)
  32. Heroes Are Gang Leaders: Flukum (2016, Flat Langston's Arkeyes) B+(**)
  33. Eric Hofbauer Quintet: Prehistoric Jazz Volume 3: Three Places in New England (2016, Creative Nation Music) B+(***)
  34. Roger Ingram: Sklyark (2015, One Too Tree) B
  35. Erik Jekabson: A Brand New Take (2015 [2016], OA2) B+(*)
  36. Jerome Jennings: The Beast (2016, Iola) B+(**)
  37. The Matthew Kaminski Quartet: Live at Churchill Grounds (2015 [2016], Chicken Coup) B+(*)
  38. Walter Kemp 3oh!: Dark Continent (2016, Blujazz) B+(*)
  39. Frank Kimbrough: Solstice (2016, Pirouet) B+(**)
  40. Lambchop: FLOTUS (2016, Merge) B
  41. Miranda Lambert: The Weight of These Wings (2016, RCA Nashville, 2CD) B+(***)
  42. Ingrid Laubrock: Serpentines (2016, Intakt) B+(*)
  43. Jerry Leake: Crafty Hands (2016, Rhombus Publishing) B+(**)
  44. Nate Lepine Quartet: Vortices (2016, Eyes & Ears) B+(*)
  45. Jasmine Lovell-Smith's Towering Poppies: Yellow Red Blue (2015 [2016], Paint Box) B+(**)
  46. Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: A Day in Brooklyn: At Ibeam (2015 [2016], Constant Sorrow, 2CD) B+(***)
  47. Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: Hell With an Ocean View (2016, Constant Sorrow) A-
  48. Thierry Maillard Trio and Philharmonic Orchestra: Ethnic Sounds (2016, Blujazz) B-
  49. Mamutrio [Lieven Cambré/Piet Verbist/Jesse Dockx]: Primal Existence (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  50. Tom Marko: Inner Light (2016, Summit) B
  51. Melanie Marod: I'll Go Mad (2016, ITI) B+(*)
  52. Bruno Mars: 24K Magic (2016, Atlantic) B
  53. Delfeayo Marsalis presents the Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Make America Great Again! (2016, Troubadour Jass) B+(**)
  54. MAST: Love and War_ (2016, Alpha Pup) B+(*)
  55. Matt Mayhall: Tropes (2015 [2016], Skirl) B+(*)
  56. Donny McCaslin: Beyond Now (2016, Motema) B+(*)
  57. The Monkees: Good Times! (2016, Rhino) B-
  58. Van Morrison: Keep Me Singing (2016, Caroline) A-
  59. John Moulder: Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit (2014-16 [2016], Origin) B
  60. Moutin Factory Quintet: Deep (2016, Blujazz) B+(*)
  61. Fredrik Nordström: Gentle Fire/Restless Dreams (2016, Moserobie, 2CD) A-
  62. Phil Parisot: Lingo (2016, OA2) B+(*)
  63. Felix Peikli & Joe Doubleday: It's Showtime! (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  64. Ivo Perelman/Karl Berger/Gerald Cleaver: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 1 (2016, Leo) B+(***)
  65. Ivo Perelman/Mat Maneri/Whit Dickey: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 2 (2016, Leo) B+(***)
  66. Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp/Gerald Cleaver: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 3 (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(**)
  67. Ivo Perelman/William Parker/Gerald Cleaver: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 4 (2016, Leo) A-
  68. Ivo Perelman/Joe Morris/Gerald Cleaver: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 5 (2016, Leo) B+(***)
  69. Ivo Perelman/Joe Morris/Gerald Cleaver: The Art of the Improv Trio Volume 6 (2016, Leo) A-
  70. Pink Martini: Je Dis Oui (2016, Heinz) B+(*)
  71. Bobby Previte: Mass (2016, RareNoise) C+
  72. Carol Robbins: Taylor Street (2016 [2017], Jazzcats) B+(*)
  73. Rudy Royston Trio: RisEofOrion (2016, Greenleaf Music) B+(***)
  74. Ken Schaphorst Big Band: How to Say Goodbye (2014 [2016], JCA) B+(*)
  75. Adam Schneit Band: Light Shines In (2016, Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
  76. Steve Slagle: Alto Manhattan (2016 [2017], Panorama) B+(***)
  77. Enoch Smith Jr.: The Quest: Live at APC (2016, Misfitme Music) C
  78. Snaggle: The Long Slog (2016, Browntasaurus) B-
  79. Soul Basement feat. Jay Nemor: What We Leave Behind (2016, ITI) B+(*)
  80. Terell Stafford: Forgive and Forget (2016, Herb Harris Music) A-
  81. Andrew Van Tassel: It's Where You Are (2016, Tone Rogue) B+(*)
  82. Anna Webber's Simple Trio: Binary (2016, Skirl) B+(***)
  83. Scott Whitfield: New Jazz Standards (Volume 2) (2016, Summit) B+(*)
  84. Basak Yavuz: A Little Red Bug (2015 [2016], Things&) B+(**)
  85. Zarabande: El Toro (2016, AFlo) B+(*)
  86. Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance [The Bootleg Series Vol. 5] (1966-68 [2016], Columbia/Legacy, 3CD) B+(*)
  87. Erroll Garner: Ready Take One (1967-71 [2016], Legacy) B+(*)
  88. Sonny Criss: The Complete Imperial Sessions (1956 [2000], Blue Note, 2CD) A-
  89. Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington: The Stockholm Concert (1966 [1994], Jazz World) B+(***)

October 29

  1. 75 Dollar Bill: Wooden Bag (2015, Other Music) B+(***)
  2. 75 Dollar Bill: Wood/Metal/Plastic/Pattern/Rhythm/Rock (2013-15 [2016], Thin Wrist) A-
  3. Stefan Aeby Trio: To the Light (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(**)
  4. Joey Alexander: Countdown (2016, Motéma) B+(*)
  5. JD Allen: Americana: Musings on Jazz and Blues (2016, Savant) A-
  6. Amber Arcades: Fading Lines (2016, Heavenly) B+(*)
  7. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society: Real Enemies (2016, New Amsterdam) B+(**)
  8. Jay Azzolina/Dino Govoni/Adam Nussbaum/Dave Zinno: Chance Meeting (2016, Whaling City Sound) B+(**)
  9. Andrzej Bauer/Adam Baldych/Cezary Duchnowski/Cezary Konrad: Trans-Fuzja (2012 [2016], ForTune) B+(**)
  10. Beekman: Vol. 02 (2015 [2016], Ropeadope) B+(***)
  11. Black Bombaim/Peter Brötzmann: Black Bombaim & Peter Brötzmann (2016, Clean Feed) A-
  12. Bon Iver: 22, a Million (2016, Jagjaguwar) B+(*)
  13. Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition (2016, Warp) A-
  14. John Butcher & Ståle Liavik Solberg: So Beautiful, It Starts to Rain (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  15. George Cables: The George Cables Songbook (2016, HighNote) B+(***)
  16. Lou Caimano/Eric Olsen: Dyad Plays Jazz Arias (2015 [2016], self-released) B
  17. Neko Case/KD Lang/Laura Veirs: Case/Lang/Veirs (2016, Anti-) B+(**)
  18. Nels Cline: Lovers (2013 [2016], Blue Note, 2CD) B-
  19. Clipping: Splendor & Misery (2016, Sub Pop) B+(*)
  20. Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker (2016, Columbia) A-
  21. Cymbals Eat Guitars: Pretty Years (2016, Sinderlyn) B
  22. Andrew Cyrille Quartet: The Declaration of Musical Independence (2014 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  23. Damana (Dag Magnus Narvesen Octet): Cornua Copiae (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  24. Dogbrain: Blue Dog (2016, Dogbrain Music, EP) B+(***)
  25. Dreezy: No Hard Feelings (2016, Interscope) B+(*)
  26. Drive-By Truckers: American Band (2016, ATO) A-
  27. Earprint: Earprint (2016, Endectomorph Music) B+(**)
  28. Orrin Evans: #Knowingishalfthebattle (2016, Smoke Sessions) B+(**)
  29. Jonathan Finlayson & Sicilian Defense: Moving Still (2016, Pi) B+(**)
  30. Five in Orbit: Tribulus Terrestris (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
  31. Fond of Tigers: Uninhabit (2016, Offsesson/Drip Audio) C+
  32. Friends & Neighbors: What's Wrong? (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  33. Future of the Left: The Peace & Truce of Future of the Left (2016, Prescriptions) B+(***)
  34. Robert Glasper Experiment: ArtScience (2016, Blue Note) B+(*)
  35. GOAT: Requiem (2016, Sub Pop) B+(***)
  36. Mary Halvorson Octet: Away With You (2015 [2016], Firehouse 12) B+(***)
  37. The Handsome Family: Unseen (2016, Loose Music) A-
  38. Billy Hart & the WDR Big Band: The Broader Picture (2016, Enja/Yellowbird) B+(***)
  39. Luke Hendon: Silk & Steel (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  40. Dave Holland/Chris Potter/Lionel Loueke/Eric Harland: Aziza (2016, Dare2) A-
  41. Jenny Hval: Blood Bitch (2016, Sacred Bones) C+
  42. Ital Tek: Hollowed (2016, Planet Mu) B+(**)
  43. Nicolas Jaar: Sirens (2016, Other People) B+(**)
  44. Kate Jackson: British Road Movies (2016, Hoo Ha) B+(*)
  45. Manu Katché: Unstatic (2016, Anteprima) B+(*)
  46. Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate (2016, Polydor) B+(**)
  47. Mike LeDonne & the Groover Quartet: That Feelin' (2016, Savant) B+(**)
  48. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam: I Had a Dream That You Were Mine (2016, Glassnote) B
  49. John Lindberg Raptor Trio: Western Edges (2012 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  50. John Lindberg BC3: Born in an Urban Ruin (2016, Clean Feed) B+(**)
  51. Jacam Manricks: Chamber Jazz (2015 [2016], self-released) A-
  52. Grégoire Maret: Wanted (2016, Sunnyside) B-
  53. Jørgen Mathisen/Christian Meaas Svendsen/Andreas Wildhagen: Momentum (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(*)
  54. Maxwell: blackSUMMERS'night (2016, Columbia) B
  55. Anna Meredith: Varmints (2016, Moshi Moshi) B
  56. Rale Micic: Night Music (2015 [2016], Whaling City Sound) B+(*)
  57. Minim Experiment: Dark Matter (2016, ForTune) B+(**)
  58. Moonbow: When the Sleeping Fish Turn Red and the Skies Start to Sing in C Major I Will Follow You to the End (2016, ILK) B+(**)
  59. Kevin Morby: Singing Saw (2016, Dead Oceans) B+(***)
  60. The Mowgli's: Where'd Your Weekend Go? (2016, Photo Finish/Island) B
  61. Mudcrutch: 2 (2016, Reprise) B
  62. Mark Murphy: Slip Away (2016, Mini Movie) B
  63. Naked Wolf: Ahum (2016, Clean Feed) B+(*)
  64. Steve Noble & Kristoffer Berre Alberts: Condest Second Yesterday (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  65. Sean Noonan: Memorable Sticks (2015 [2016], ForTune) B
  66. Angel Olsen: My Woman (2016, Jagjaguwar) B+(***)
  67. Parker Abbott Trio: Elevation (2016, self-released) B
  68. Nicholas Payton: Textures (2016, Paytone) B-
  69. Houston Person & Ron Carter: Chemistry (2015 [2016], HighNote) A
  70. John Prine: For Better, or Worse (2016, Oh Boy) A-
  71. Punkt 3: Ordnung Herrscht (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  72. Rae Sremmurd: SremmLife 2 (2016, Eardrum/Interscope) B+(*)
  73. Revolutionary Snake Ensemble: I Want That Sound! (2016, Innova) A-
  74. Huerco S: For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) (2016, Proibito) B+(**)
  75. Savages: Adore Life (2016, Matador) B+(***)
  76. SBTRKT: Save Yourself (2016, self-released, EP) B-
  77. Schlippenbach Trio: Warsaw Concert (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  78. John Scofield: Country for Old Men (2016, Impulse!) B+(*)
  79. Travis Scott: Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016, Epic) B+(**)
  80. Elliott Sharp Aggregat: Dialectrical (2016, Clean Feed) B+(***)
  81. Alan Silva/Mette Rasmussen/Ståle Liavik Solberg: Free Electric Band (2014 [2016], ForTune) B+(*)
  82. Sleaford Mods: TCR (2016, Rough Trade, EP) B+(***)
  83. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani: Sunergy (2015 [2016], RVNG Intl.) B+(**)
  84. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith: Ears (2016, Western Vinyl) B+(**)
  85. Wadada Leo Smith: America's National Parks (2016, Cuneiform, 2CD) B+(***)
  86. Solange: A Seat at the Table (2016, Saint/Columbia) B+(**)
  87. Richard Sussman: The Evolution Suite (2015 [2016], Zoho) B
  88. Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos (2016, Lex) B+(**)
  89. Touché Amoré: Stage Four (2016, Epitaph) B+(*)
  90. Wax Tailor: By Any Beats Necessary (2016, Le Plan) B+(*)
  91. Whitney: Light Upon the Lake (Secretly Canadian) B-
  92. YG: Still Brazy (2016, Def Jam) B+(*)
  93. Yoni & Geti: Testarossa (2016, Joyful Noise) B+(**)
  94. American Honey ([2016], UME) B+(***)
  95. Vieux Kanté: The Young Man's Harp (2005 [2016], Sterns) A-
  96. Bruce Springsteen: Chapter and Verse (1966-2012 [2016], Columbia) B+(***)
  97. Black Bombaim: Titans (2012, Lovers & Lollypops) B+(***)
  98. Black Bombaim/La La La Ressonance: Black Bombaim & La La La Ressonance (2013 [2014], PAD/Lovers & Lollypops) B+(**)
  99. Black Bombaim: Far Out (2014, Lovers & Lollipops) A-
  100. Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton/Schlippenbach Trio: 2X3=5 (1999 [2001], Leo) B+(***)
  101. Schlippenbach Trio: Bauhaus Dessau (2009 [2010], Intakt) B+(***)
  102. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live 1975-85 (1975-85 [1986], Columbia, 3CD) B+(***)
  103. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 (1975 [2006], Columbia, 2CD) B+(**)
  104. Bruce Springsteen: The Promise (1977-78 [2010], Columbia, 2CD) B+(*)
  105. Bruce Springsteen: In Concert/MTV Unplugged (1992 [1993], Columbia) B-
  106. Bruce Springsteen: The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995, Columbia) B
  107. Bruce Springsteen: Tracks (1972-95 [1998], Columbia, 4CD) B+(*)
  108. Bruce Springsteen: 18 Tracks (1972-99 [1999], Columbia) B+(**)
  109. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live in New York (2000 [2001], Columbia, 2CD) B+(**)
  110. Bruce Springsteen With the Sessions Band: Live in Dublin (2006 [2007], Columbia, 2CD) B+(**)
  111. Alexander von Schlippenbach: Payan (1972 [2014], Enja) B+(*)
  112. Alex von Schlippenbach/Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Tony Bianco: Vesuvius (2004 [2005], Slam) B+(**)
  113. Alexander von Schlippenbach: Piano Solo: Twelve Tone Tales, Vol. 1 (2005 [2006], Intakt) B+(**)
  114. Alexander von Schlippenbach: Piano Solo: Twelve Tone Tales, Vol. 2 (2005 [2006], Intakt) B+(**)

September 22

  1. Paolo Angeli/Robert Burke/Mirko Guerrini/Jordan Murray/Stephen Magnusson/Stefano Tamborrino: Sardinian Liturgy (2015 [2016], Jazzhead) B+(*)
  2. Carol Bach-y-Rita: Minha Casa/My House (2016, Arugula) B+(**)
  3. The Bad Plus: It's Hard (2016, Okeh) B+(*)
  4. Shirantha Beddage: Momentum (2014 [2016], Factor) B+(***)
  5. Bent Shapes: Wolves of Want (2015 [2016], Slumberland) B+(**)
  6. Mili Bermejo/Dan Greenspan: Arte Del Dúo (2016, Ediciones Pentagrama) B+(***)
  7. Seamus Blake: Superconductor (2015 [2016], 5Passion) B-
  8. Seamus Blake/Chris Cheek With Reeds Ramble: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (2015 [2016], Criss Cross) B+(**)
  9. Anthony Branker & Imagine: Beauty Within (2016, Origin) B+(**)
  10. Joshua Breakstone/The Cello Quartet: 88 (2016, Capri) B+(**)
  11. Brian Bromberg: Full Circle (2016, Artistry) B
  12. Peter Brötzmann/Heather Leigh: Ears Are Filled With Wonder (2015 [2016], Not Two) B
  13. Burning Ghosts: Burning Ghosts (2015 [2016], Orenda) B+(**)
  14. Will Calhoun: Celebrating Elvin Jones (2016, Motéma) B
  15. Ron Carter Quartet & Vitoria Maldonado: Brasil L.I.K.E. (2016, Summit) B+(*)
  16. Chris Cheek: Saturday Songs (2015 [2016], Sunnyside) B
  17. The Roger Chong Quartet: Funkalicious (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  18. Stanley Clarke/Biréli Lagrène/Jean-Luc Ponty: D-Stringz (2015, Impulse!) B+(**)
  19. Cobalt: Slow Forever (2016, Profound Lore, 2CD) B
  20. The Cookers: The Call of the Wild & Peaceful Heart (2016, Smoke Sessions) B+(*)
  21. Ian William Craig: Centres (2016, 130701) B
  22. Elysia Crampton: Demon City (2016, Break World, EP) B+(***)
  23. Tim Davies Big Band: The Expensive Train Set (2013-15 [2016], Origin) B
  24. De La Soul: And the Anonymous Nobody (2016, AOI) B+(**)
  25. Gonzalo Del Val Trio: Koiné (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(*)
  26. Dinosaur: Together, as One (2016, Edition) B+(**)
  27. The Dirty Snacks Ensemble: Tidy Universe (2014 [2016], Gotta Groove) C+
  28. Lajos Dudas Quartet/Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss: Brückenschlag (2015 [2016], Jazz Sick) B+(**)
  29. Mats Eilertsen: Rubicon (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  30. Eska: Eska (2015, Naim Edge) B+(*)
  31. Gene Ess: Absurdist Theater (2016, SIMP) C
  32. Paolo Fresu/Richard Gallliano/Jan Lundgren: Mare Nostrum II (2014 [2016], ACT Music) B+(**)
  33. Satoko Fujii/Joe Fonda: Duet (2015 [2016], Long Song) B+(***)
  34. Charles Gayle Trio: Christ Everlasting (2014 [2015], ForTune) A-
  35. Generations Quartet: Flow (2015 [2016], Not Two) A-
  36. David Gilmore: Energies Of Change (2015 [2016], Evolutionary Music) B+(**)
  37. Ricardo Grilli: 1954 (2016, Tone Rogue) B+(**)
  38. Barry Guy/Marilyn Crispell/Paul Lytton: Deep Memory (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  39. Scott Hamilton/Harry Allen: Live! (2014 [2016], GAC) A-
  40. Craig Hartley: Books on Tape Vol. II: Standard Edition (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(***)
  41. Hearts & Minds: Hearts & Minds (2014 [2016], Astral Spirits) B+(***)
  42. Gilad Hekselman: Homes (2014 [2015], Jazz Village) B+(*)
  43. Hiromi: Spark (2016, Telarc) B+(*)
  44. Anna Högberg: Attack (2016, Omlott) B+(***)
  45. Honey Ear Trio: Swivel (2014 [2016], Little (i) Music) A-
  46. Dylan Howe: Subterranean: New Designs on Bowie's Berlin (2014, Motorik) B+(**)
  47. Christoph Irniger Pilgrim: Big Wheel Live (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  48. Darrell Katz and OddSong: Jailhouse Doc With Holes in Her Socks (2015 [2016], JCA) B
  49. Franklin Kiermyer: Closer to the Sun (2015 [2016], Mobility Music) A-
  50. Sinikka Langeland: The Magical Forest (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  51. Joëlle Léandre/Théo Ceccaldi: Elastic (2015 [2016], Cipsela) B+(**)
  52. Lydia Loveless: Real (2016, Bloodshot) B
  53. Romero Lubambo: Setembro: A Brazilian Under the Jazz Influence (2015, Sunnyside) B+(*)
  54. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Make the Changes (2016, Hot Cup, EP) A-
  55. Raymond MacDonald & Marilyn Crispell: Parallel Moments (2010 [2014], Babel) B+(**)
  56. Made to Break: Before the Code: Live (2014, Audiographic) B+(**)
  57. Made to Break: N N N (2014 [2015], Audiographic) A-
  58. Made to Break: Dispatch to the Sea (2014 [2016], Audiographic) A-
  59. Joe McPhee: Flowers (2009 [2016], Cipsela) B+(*)
  60. Francisco Mela: Fe (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  61. MIA: AIM (2016, Interscope) A-
  62. Michelson Morley: Strange Courage (2016, Babel) B+(*)
  63. Cameron Mizell: Negative Spaces (2016, Destiny) B
  64. Nils Petter Molvaer: Buoyancy (2016, Okeh) B+(*)
  65. Moskus: Ulv Ulv (2015 [2016], Hubro) B+(**)
  66. Bob Mould: Patch the Sky (2016, Merge) B+(*)
  67. Sabir Mateen/Conny Bauer/Mark Tokar/Klaus Kugel: Collective Four (2015 [2016], ForTune) A-
  68. Shawn Maxwell: Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow (2016, OA2) B+(**)
  69. Tom McCormick: South Beat (2016, Manatee) B+(*)
  70. Pat Metheny: The Unity Sessions (2014 [2016], Nonesuch) B
  71. Tony Moreno: Short Stories (2015 [2016], Mayimba Jazz, 2CD) B+(**)
  72. Mostly Other People Do the Killing: (Live) (2012 [2016], ForTune) B+(***)
  73. Naima: Bye (2015 [2016], Cuneiform) B+(*)
  74. The Phil Norman Tentet: Then & Now: Classic Sounds & Variations of 12 Jazz Legends (2015 [2016], Summit) B+(***)
  75. Lina Nyberg: Aerials (2016, Hoob Jazz, 2CD) B+(**)
  76. Ray Obiedo: Latin Jazz Project Vol. 1 (2016, Rhythmus) B+(**)
  77. Opaluna: Opaluna (2016, Ridgeway) B
  78. Hanna Paulsberg Concept: Eastern Smiles (2015 [2016], Odin) A-
  79. Ralph Peterson/Zaccai Curtis/Luques Curtis: Triangular III (2016, Truth Revolution/Onyx Music) B+(**)
  80. Enrico Pieranunzi: Proximity (2013 [2015], CAM Jazz) B+(**)
  81. Enrico Pieranunzi with Simona Severini: My Songbook (2014 [2016], Via Veneto) B+(*)
  82. Dominique Pifarély Quartet: Trace Provisoire (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  83. John Pizzarelli: Midnight McCartney (2015, Concord) B
  84. Bobby Previte & the Visitors: Gone (2015 [2016], ForTune) B+(*)
  85. Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau: Nearness (2011 [2016], Nonesuch) B+(**)
  86. Little Johnny Rivero: Music in Me (2016, Truth Revolution) B+(***)
  87. Rønnings Jazzmaskin: Jazzmaskin (2014 [2016], Losen) B+(***)
  88. Jamison Ross: Jamison (2015, Concord) B
  89. Catherine Russell: Harlem on My Mind (2016, Jazz Village) A-
  90. Arturo Sandoval: Live at Yoshi's (2015, ALFI) B+(*)
  91. Shabaka and the Ancestors: Wisdom of Elders (2015 [2016], Brownswood) B+(*)
  92. Naomi Moon Siegel: Shoebox View (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  93. Edward Simon: Latin American Songbook (2016, Sunnyside) B+(**)
  94. Ferenc Snetberger: In Concert (2013 [2016], ECM) B+(*)
  95. Mark Solborg & Herb Robertson: Tuesday Prayers (2016, ILK) B
  96. Sonic Liberation 8: Bombogenic (2015 [2016], High Two) A-
  97. Omar Sosa/Joo Kraus/Gustavo Ovalle: JOG (2015, Otá) A-
  98. Britney Spears: Glory (2016, RCA) A-
  99. Vinnie Sperrazza/Jacob Sacks/Masa Kamaguchi: Play Tadd Dameron (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
  100. Tomasz Sroczynski Trio: Primal (2015 [2016], ForTune) B+(**)
  101. Vince Staples: Prima Donna (2016, Def Jam, EP) B+(**)
  102. Matthew Stevens: Woodwork (2014 [2015], Whirlwind) B+(*)
  103. Michael Jefry Stevens: Brass Tactics (2008 [2016], Konnex) B+(*)
  104. Eric St-Laurent: Planet (2016, Katzenmusik) B+(*)
  105. Al Strong: Love Strong Volume 1 (2016, Al Strong Music) B+(**)
  106. Dave Stryker: Eight Track II (2016, Strikezone) B+(***)
  107. Steve Turre: Colors for the Masters (2016, Smoke Sessions) B+(**)
  108. The U.S. Army Blues: Swamp Romp: Voodoo Boogaloo (2008 [2016], self-released) B
  109. Peter Van Huffel/Alex Maksymiw: Kronix (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(*)
  110. Glauco Venier: Miniatures: Music for Piano and Percussion (2013 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  111. Cuong Vu/Pat Metheny: Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny (2016, Nonesuch) B+(*)
  112. Waco Brothers: Going Down in History (2016, Bloodshot) B+(***)
  113. The Doug Webb Quartet: Sets the Standard (2016, VSOP) B+(*)
  114. White Denim: Stiff (2016, Downtown) B+(*)
  115. Anthony Wilson: Frogtown (2016, Goat Hill) B+(*)
  116. Florian Wittenburg: Eagle Prayer (2014-15 [2016], NurNichtNur) B+(**)
  117. Nate Wooley: Seven Storey Mountain V (2015 [2016], Pleasure of the Text) B+(*)
  118. Nate Wooley: Argonautica (2016, Firehouse 12) B+(**)
  119. Lizz Wright: Freedom & Surrender (2015, Concord) B+(*)
  120. Rik Wright's Fundamental Forces: Subtle Energy (2016, Hipsync) B+(*)
  121. Pawel Wszolek Quintet: Faith (2016, ForTune) B+(**)
  122. Yellowjackets: Cohearence (2016, Mack Avenue) B+(**)
  123. Yells at Eels: In Quiet Waters (2013 [2015], ForTune) B+(***)
  124. Young Thug: No, My Name Is Jeffery (2016, 300 Entertainment/Atlantic) A-
  125. Brandee Younger: Wax & Wane (2016, Revive Music, EP) B+(*)
  126. Denny Zeitlin: Early Wayne: Explorations of Classic Wayne Shorter Compositions (2014 [2016], Sunnyside) B+(*)
  127. The Beatles: Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1964-65 [2016], Universal/Apple) A-
  128. Harry Beckett: Still Happy (1974 [2016], My Only Desire, EP) B
  129. Born to Be Blue: Music From the Motion Picture ([2016], Rhino) B+(*)
  130. Peter Erskine Trio/John Taylor/Palle Danielsson: As It Was (1992-97 [2016], ECM, 4CD) B+(*)
  131. Shirley Horn: Live at the 4 Queens (1988 [2016], Resonance) A-
  132. Miles Ahead [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] ([2016], Columbia/Legacy) B+(*)
  133. Revive Music Presents Supreme Sonacy, Vol. 1 (2015, Revive Music/Blue Note) B-
  134. Tanbou Toujou Lou: Merengue, Kompa Kreyou, Vodou Jazz & Electric Folklore From Haiti (1960-1981) (1960-81 [2016], Ostinato) B+(***)
  135. Ray Anderson/Han Bennink/Christy Doran: A B D (1994-95 [2011], Hatology) B+(**)
  136. The Beatles: 1967-1970 (1967-70 [2010], Apple, 2CD) A
  137. The Beatles: Anthology 1 (1958-94 [1995], Capitol, 2CD) B+(**)
  138. The Beatles: Anthology 2 (1965-95 [1996], Capitol, 2CD) B+(**)
  139. The Beatles: Anthology 3 (1968-70 [1996], Apple/Capitol, 2CD) B
  140. Harry Beckett's Flugelhorn 4+3: All Four One (1991, Spotlite) B
  141. Peter Brötzmann/Masahiko Satoh/Takeo Moriyama: Yatagarasu (2011 [2012], Not Two) B+(**)
  142. Christy Doran: What a Band (1991 [1992], Hat Art) B+(***)
  143. Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra: Live at Birdland (1999 [2003], Stunt) B+(***)
  144. Peter Erskine/Palle Danielsson/John Taylor: You Never Know (1992 [1993], ECM) B+(*)
  145. Peter Erskine/Palle Danielsson/John Taylor: Time Being (1993 [1994], ECM) B+(*)
  146. Peter Erskine/Palle Danielsson/John Taylor: As It Is (1995 [1996], ECM) B+(*)
  147. Peter Erskine/Palle Danielsson/John Taylor: Juni (1997 [1999], ECM) B+(*)
  148. Marco von Orelli 6: Close Ties on Hidden Lanes (2010 [2012], Hatology) B
  149. Marco von Orelli 5: Alluring Prospect (2015, Hatology) B+(*)

August 25

  1. Greg Abate & Phil Woods with the Tim Ray Trio: Kindred Spirits: Live At Chan's (2014 [2016], Whaling City Sound, 2CD) B+(**)
  2. Joey Alexander: My Favorite Things (2014 [2015], Motéma) B+(**)
  3. Karrin Allyson: Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein (2015, Motéma) B
  4. Livio Almeida: Action and Reaction (2014 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  5. Atmosphere: Fishing Blues (2016, Rhymesayers Entertainment) A-
  6. Audio One: The Midwest School (2014, Audiographic) B+(**)
  7. Karlis Auzins/Lucas Leidinger/Tomo Jacobson/Thomas Sauerborn: Mount Meander (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  8. Lucian Ban Elevation: Songs From Afar (2014 [2016], Sunnyside) B+(*)
  9. Peter Bernstein: Let Loose (2016, Smoke Sessions) B+(*)
  10. Jim Black Trio: The Constant (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  11. Black Top: #Two (2014 [2015], Babel) B+(***)
  12. Carate Urio Orchestra: Ljubljana (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(*)
  13. Teri Lyne Carrington: The Mosaic Project: Love and Soul (2015, Concord) B+(**)
  14. George Coleman: A Master Speaks (2015 [2016], Smoke Sessions) A-
  15. Cortex: Live in New York (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  16. Larry Coryell: Heavy Feel (2014 [2015], Wide Hive) B+(*)
  17. Stephan Crump: Stephan Crump's Rhombal (2016, Papillon) A-
  18. Barbara Dane with Tammy Hall: Throw It Away . . . (2016, Dreadnaught Music) A-
  19. Kris Davis: Duopoly (2015 [2016], Pyroclastic) B+(***)
  20. Whit Dickey/Kirk Knuffke: Fierce Silence (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  21. Paquito D'Rivera: Jazz Meets the Classics (2012 [2014], Paquito/Sunnyside) B
  22. Paquito D'Rivera & Quinteto Cimarron: Aires Tropicales (2012 [2015], Paquito/Sunnyside) B-
  23. Paquito D'Rivera/Armando Manzanero: Paquito & Manzanero (2016, Paquito/Sunnyside) B+(*)
  24. Paul Dunmall/Matthew Bourne/Steve Davis/Dave Kane: Mandalas in the Sky (2013 [2015], Babel) A-
  25. Oran Etkin: What's New? Reimagining Benny Goodman (2015, Motéma) B+(***)
  26. Sullivan Fortner: Aria (2014 [2015], Impulse!) B+(***)
  27. Kenny Garrett: Do Your Dance! (2016, Mack Avenue) B+(*)
  28. Wycliffe Gordon: Somebody New (2015, Blues Back) B+(**)
  29. Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet: Family First (2015, Beat Music Productions) B+(**)
  30. Joel Harrison 5: Spirit House (2013 [2015], Whirlwind) B+(*)
  31. Cory Henry: The Revival (2016, Ground Up) B-
  32. Hieroglyphic Being: The Disco's of Imhotep (2016, Technicolour) B+(***)
  33. Charlie Hunter: Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth (2016, Ground Up/Decca) B+(***)
  34. Grace Kelly: Trying To Figure It Out (2016, Pazz Productions) B+(*)
  35. Stacey Kent: Tenderly (2015 [2016], OKeh) B+(***)
  36. Masabumi Kikuchi: Black Orpheus (2012 [2016], ECM) B+(*)
  37. Kirk Knuffke: Lamplighter (2014 [2015], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
  38. Konono No. 1/Batida: Konono No. 1 Meets Batida (2016, Crammed Discs) A-
  39. The Kropotkins: Portents of Love (2015, Mulatta) B+(**)
  40. Steffen Kuehn: Leap of Faith (2015-16 [2016], Stefrecords) B+(*)
  41. Zach Larmer Elektrik Band: Inner Circle (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  42. Le Boeuf Brothers + JACK Quartet: Imaginist (2014 [2016], Panoramic/New Focus) B-
  43. Steve Lehman: Sélébéyone (2016, Pi) A-
  44. Leland Sundries: Music for Outcasts (2016, L'Echiquier) B+(***)
  45. Joey Locascio: Meets the Legend (2016, Blujazz) B+(*)
  46. Mack Avenue Superband: Live From the 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival (2015 [2016], Mack Avenue) B
  47. Christian McBride Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (2014 [2015], Mack Avenue) B+(**)
  48. Lori McKenna: The Bird & the Rifle (2016, CN/Thirty Tigers) A-
  49. Merzbow/Keiji Haino/Balasz Pandi: An Untroublesome Defencelessness (2016, RareNoise) B+(**)
  50. Camila Meza: Traces (2016, Sunnyside) B
  51. Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom: Otis Was a Polar Bear (2016, Royal Potato Family) B+(**)
  52. Modular String Trio: Ants, Bees and Butterflies (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  53. Murray, Allen & Carrington Power Trio: Perfection (2015 [2016], Motéma) A-
  54. Quinsin Nachoff: Flux (2012 [2016], Mythology) B+(**)
  55. Aaron Neville: Apache (2016, Tell It) B+(**)
  56. Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit: Ana (2015 [2016], PNL) A-
  57. Nine Live: Sonus Inenarribilis: Nine Live Plays the Music of John Clark (2016, Mulatta) B
  58. Northern Winds and Voices: Inside/Outside (Sisällä/Ulkona) (2016, Edgetone) B+(*)
  59. Dawn Oberg: Bring (2015, Blossom Theory) B+(***)
  60. Adam O'Farrill: Stranger Days (2016, Sunnyside) B+(**)
  61. Arturo O'Farrill Sextet: Boss Level (2013 [2016], Zoho) B+(*)
  62. Nils Økland Band: Kjølvatn (2012 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  63. Francisco Pais Lotus Project: Verde (2016, Product of Imagination) B+(*)
  64. Aaron Parks/Thomas Fonnesbaek/Karsten Bagge: Groovements (2014 [2016], Stunt) B+(**)
  65. Sergio Pereira: Swingando (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  66. Gregory Porter: Take Me to the Alley (2016, Blue Note) B-
  67. Herlin Riley: New Direction (2016, Mack Avenue) B+(*)
  68. Jason Roebke Octet: Cinema Spiral (2014 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(***)
  69. Roji: The Hundred Headed Woman (2016, Shhpuma/Clean Feed) B+(***)
  70. Jim Rotondi: Dark Blue (2015 [2016], Smoke Sessions) B+(*)
  71. Jerome Sabbagh/Simon Jermyn/Allison Miller: Lean (2014 [2016], Music Wizards) B+(**)
  72. Walter Salas-Humara: Work: Part One (2015, Sonic Pyramid) B+(**)
  73. Walter Salas-Humara: Explodes and Disappears (2016, Sonic Pyramid) B+(***)
  74. Susana Santos Silva/Lotte Anker/Sten Sandell/Torbjörn Zetterberg/Jon Fält: Life and Other Transient Storms (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  75. Ches Smith: The Bell (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(*)
  76. Luciana Souza: Speaking in Tongues (2015, Sunnyside) B
  77. Bill Stewart: Space Squid (2014 [2016], Pirouet) B+(*)
  78. Stirrup: Cut (2016, Clean Feed) A-
  79. Markus Stockhausen/Florian Weber: Alba (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  80. John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet: Basement Blues (2012-15 [2016], Origin) B+(**)
  81. Marcus Strickland's Twi-Life: Nihil Novi (2016, Blue Note) B-
  82. Sundae + Mr. Goessl: Makes My Heart Sway (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  83. Chucho Valdés: Tribute to Irakere (Live in Marciac) (2015, Jazz Village) B+(**)
  84. Marlene VerPlanck: The Mood I'm In (2015, Audiophile) B+(***)
  85. Miroslav Vitous: Music of Weather Report (2010-11 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  86. Charenée Wade: Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson (2015, Motéma) B+(***)
  87. Joe Castro: Lush Life: A Musical Journey (1954-66 [2015], Sunnyside, 6CD) B+(**)
  88. Don Cherry/John Tchicai/Irène Schweizer/Léon Francioli/Pierre Favre: Musical Monsters (1980 [2016], Intakt) A-
  89. Close to the Noise Floor: Formative UK Electronica 1975-1984 (1975-84 [2016], Cherry Red, 4CD) B+(*)
  90. Mestre Cupijó E Seu Ritmo: Siriá (1973-78 [2014], Analog Africa) A-
  91. Joi: Joi Sound System (1999-2007 [2016], RealWorld, 2CD) A-
  92. Daunik Lazro/Joëlle Léandre/George Lewis: Enfances 8 Janv. 1984 (1984 [2016], Fou) B+(*)
  93. Joe Lovano Quartet: Classic! Live at Newport (2005 [2016], Blue Note) B+(***)
  94. Joe McPhee/Paal Nilssen-Love: Candy (2007-14 [2015], PNL, 7CD) B+(***)
  95. Penny Penny: Shaka Bundu (1994 [2013], Awesome Tapes From Africa) B+(**)
  96. Pylon: Live (1983 [2016], Chunklet) B+(***)
  97. Senegambia Rebel (2016, Voodoo Rebel) A-
  98. Sunburst: Ave Africa: The Complete Recordings 1973-1976 (1973-76 [2016], Strut) B+(*)
  99. The Chambers Brothers: Time Has Come: The Best of the Chamber Brothers (1966-71 [1996], Columbia/Legacy) B+(**)
  100. Barbara Dane: Trouble in Mind (1957 [2011], Stardust) B+(*)
  101. Barbara Dane/Earl 'Fatha' Hines and His Orchestra: Livin' With the Blues (1959 [2013], Fresh Sound) B+(**)
  102. Barbara Dane: On My Way (1962 [2013, Fresh Sound) B+(***)
  103. Barbara Dane & Lightning Hopkins: Sometimes I Believe She Loves Me (1961-65 [1996], Arhoolie) B+(**)
  104. Barbara Dane/The Chambers Brothers: Barbara Dane and the Chambers Brothers (1966, Folkways) B+(*)
  105. Barbara Dane: FTA! Songs of the GI Resistance (1970, Paredon) B+(***)
  106. Barbara Dane: I Hate the Capitalist System (1973, Paredon) B+(*)
  107. Ellery Eskelin/Andrea Parkins/Jim Black: Arcanum Moderne (2002 [2003], Hatology) A-
  108. Don Ewell Quartet: Man Here Plays Fine Piano (1957, Good Time Jazz) B+(**)
  109. Don Ewell: Denver Concert (1966 [2004], Storyville) B+(**)
  110. Irakere: The Best of Irakere (1978-79 [1994], Columbia/Legacy) B+(***)
  111. Peter Kuhn Quartet: The Kill (1981 [1982], Soul Note) A-
  112. Leland Sundries: The Foundry EP (2012, L'Echiquier, EP) B+(**)
  113. Lori McKenna: Paper Wings and Halo (2000, Orchard) B+(**)
  114. Lori McKenna: The Kitchen Tapes (2001 [2004], Gyrox) B+(*)
  115. Lori McKenna: Pieces of Me (2001, Signature Sounds) B+(***)
  116. Lori McKenna: Bittertown (2004, Signature Sounds) B+(**)
  117. Lori McKenna: Massachusetts (2013, Liz Rose Music) B+(***)
  118. Chucho Valdés: Live at the Village Vanguard (1999 [2000], Blue Note) A-
  119. Dawn Oberg: Rye (2012, Blossom Theory) B+(***)

July 30

  1. The 1975: I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It (2016, Dirty Hit/Interscope) B+(*)
  2. Anohni: Hopelessness (2016, Secretly Canadian) B+(*)
  3. The Avalanches: Wildflower (2016, Astralwerks) B
  4. Ricardo Bacelar: Concerto Para Moviola: Ao Vivo (2015 [2016], Bacelar) B+(*)
  5. Jon Balke: Warp (2014 [2016], ECM) B+(*)
  6. Aaron Bennett/Darren Johnston/Lisa Mezzacappa/Tim Rosaly: Shipwreck 4 (2015 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(*)
  7. James Blake: The Colour in Anything (2016, Polydor) B-
  8. Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow: Andando el Tiempo (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  9. Blood Orange: Freetown Sound (2016, Domino) A-
  10. The Michael Blum Quartet: Chasin' Oscar: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  11. Bobby Bradford/Hafez Modirzadeh: Live at the Open Gate (2013 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(**)
  12. Brazzamerica: Brazzamerica (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  13. Brothers Osborne: Pawn Shop (2016, EMI Nashville) B+(*)
  14. Toronzo Cannon: The Chicago Way (2016, Alligator) B+(*)
  15. Car Seat Headrest: Teens of Denial (2016, Matador) B+(***)
  16. Cavanaugh: Time and Materials (2015 [2016], Mello Music) B+(**)
  17. Corey Christensen: Factory Girl (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(**)
  18. Brandy Clark: Big Day in a Small Town (2016, Warner Brothers) A-
  19. Frankie Cosmos: Next Thing (2016, Bayonnet) B+(***)
  20. Sylvie Courvoisier/Mark Feldman/Ikue Mori/Evan Parker: Miller's Tale (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  21. Dan Cray: Outside In (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(**)
  22. Theo Croker: Escape Velocity (2015 [2016], Okeh) B+(*)
  23. Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble: Havana Blue (2013 [2016], 3Sixteen) B+(**)
  24. Suzanne Dean: Come to Paradise (2016, Ship's Bell Music) B
  25. Debo Band: Ere Gobez (2016, FPE) B+(*)
  26. The Diva Jazz Orchestra: Special Kay! (2013 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  27. Drake: Views (2016, Cash Money) B+(*)
  28. The Evenfall Quartet: Evenfall (2015 [2016], Blue Duchess) A-
  29. Fail Better!: Owt (2014 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(**)
  30. Alan Ferber: Roots & Transitions (2016, Sunnyside) B
  31. Cheryl Fisher: Quietly There (2015 [2016], OA2) B+(**)
  32. Anat Fort Trio/Gianluigi Trovesi: Birdwatching (2013 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  33. Dori Freeman: Dori Freeman (2015 [2016], Free Dirt) A-
  34. Fresh Cut Orchestra: Mind Behind Closed Eyes (2016, Ropeadope) B+(***)
  35. Fresh Cut Orchestra: From the Vine (2015, self-released) B+(*)
  36. Fred Frith Trio: Another Day in Fucking Paradise (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  37. Fruit Bats: Absolute Loser (2016, Easy Sound) B+(**)
  38. Gaudi: EP (2016, RareNoise, EP) B+(**)
  39. Sara Gazarek/Josh Nelson: Dream in the Blue (2015 [2016], Steel Bird) B
  40. Domo Genesis: Genesis (2016, Odd Future) B+(***)
  41. Robert Glasper: Everything's Beautiful (2016, Legacy) B+(**)
  42. André Gonçalves: Currents & Riptides (2016, Shhpuma) B+(***)
  43. The Goon Sax: Up to Anything (2016, Chapter Music) B+(***)
  44. Ariana Grande: Dangerous Woman (2016, Republic) B+(*)
  45. David Greenberger, Keith Spring, and Dinty Child: Take Me Where I Don't Know I Am (2016, Pel Pel) A-
  46. Tord Gustavsen: What Was Said (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  47. Rich Halley 5: The Outlier (2015 [2016], Pine Eagle) A-
  48. Hard Working Americans: Rest in Chaos (2016, Melvin) B+(**)
  49. Tim Hecker: Love Streams (2016, 4AD/Paper Bag) B
  50. Fred Hersch: Solo (2014 [2015], Palmetto) A-
  51. The Fred Hersch Trio: Sunday Night at the Vanguard (2016, Palmetto) A-
  52. Marquis Hill: The Way We Play (2016, Concord Jazz) B+(***)
  53. Hinds: Leave Me Alone (2016, Mom + Pop) B
  54. Mike Jones Trio: Roaring (2015 [2016], Capri) B+(**)
  55. Joonsam: A Door (2014 [2016], Origin) B+(*)
  56. The Julie Ruin: Hit Reset (2016, Hardly Art) A-
  57. Kaytranada: 99.9% (2016, XL) A-
  58. The Corey Kendrick Trio: Rootless (2016, self-released) B+(*)
  59. King: We Are King (2016, King Creative) B+(*)
  60. Ron King: Triumph (2016, self-released) B
  61. Lefteris Kordis: Mediterrana (Goddess of Light) (2013-15 [2016], Inner Circle Music) B+(*)
  62. Peter Kuhn Trio: The Other Shore (2015 [2016], NoBusiness) A-
  63. Peter Kuhn/Dave Sewelson/Gerald Cleaver/Larry Roland: Our Earth/Our World (2015 [2016], pfMentum) A-
  64. Elektra Kurtis & Ensemble Elektra: Bridges From the East (2016, Elektra Sound Works/Milo) B+(***)
  65. Mathias Landaeus: From the Piano (2016, Moserobie) B+(***)
  66. Jessy Lanza: Oh No (2016, Hyperdub) A-
  67. Låpsley: Long Way Home (2016, XL) B+(*)
  68. Alison Lewis: Seven (2016, self-released) B-
  69. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Play All the Notes (2016, Hot Cup, EP) A-
  70. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016, Macklemore) B+(*)
  71. Magnet Animals: Butterfly Killer (2016, Rare Noise) B+(**)
  72. René Marie: Sound of Red (2015 [2016], Motéma Music) B+(*)
  73. Tina Marx: Shades of Love (2007 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  74. Vic Mensa: There's Alot Going On (2016, Roc Nation) B+(***)
  75. Michete: Cool Tricks (2015, self-released, EP) B+(***)
  76. Michete: Cool Tricks 2 (2016, self-released, EP) B+(**)
  77. Joel Miller With Sienna Dahlen: Dream Cassette (2014 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  78. Russ Miller and the Jazz Orchestra: You and the Night and the Music (2015 [2016], Doctheory) B+(*)
  79. Bob Mintzer: All L.A. Band (2016, Fuzzy Music) B+(*)
  80. Mitski: Puberty 2 (2016, Dead Oceans) B+(*)
  81. Modern Baseball: The Nameless Ranger (2011, Lame-O, EP) B+(*)
  82. Modern Baseball: Holy Ghost (2016, Run for Cover) B+(**)
  83. Maren Morris: Hero (2016, Columbia Nashville) B
  84. Anthony E. Nelson Jr.: Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak (2016, Music Stand) B+(*)
  85. Bryan Nichols: Looking North (2016, Shifting Paradigm) B+(**)
  86. Os Clavelitos: Arriving (2016, self-released) B-
  87. The Paranoid Style: Rolling Disclosure (2016, Bar/None) A-
  88. Jeff Parker: The New Breed (2015 [2016], International Anthem) B
  89. William Parker: Stan's Hat Flapping in the Wind (2015 [2016], Centering/AUM Fidelity) B+(**)
  90. Joey Purp: iiiDrops (2016, self-released) B+(***)
  91. Marc Ribot/The Young Philadelphians: Live in Tokyo (2014 [2016], Yellowbird) B+(**)
  92. Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble: Rising Colossus (2015 [2016], Edgetone) A-
  93. Daniel Schmitz/Johannes Schmitz/Jörg Fischer: Botanic Mob (2016, Sporeprint) B+(**)
  94. Sheer Mag: II 7" (2015, Wilsuns RC/Katorga Works, EP) B
  95. Sheer Mag: III 7" (2016, Wilsuns RC/Static Shock, EP) B+(*)
  96. Skepta: Konnichiwa (2016, Boy Better Know) B+(***)
  97. Slavic Soul Party: Plays Duke Ellington's Far East Suite (2014 [2016], Ropeadope) A-
  98. Tommy Smith: Modern Jacobite (2015 [2016], Spartacus) B-
  99. Jim Snidero: MD66 (2016, Savant) B+(**)
  100. Sound Underground: Quiet Spaces (2016, Tiny Music) B+(*)
  101. Peggy Stern: Z Octet (2015 [2016], Estrella Productions) B+(*)
  102. Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death (2016, Vapor) A-
  103. Todd Terje/The Olsens: The Big Cover-Up (2016, Olsen) B+(**)
  104. Thumbscrew: Convallaria (2015 [2016], Cuneiform) B+(***)
  105. Tweet: Charlene (2016, eOne) B+(**)
  106. Two Fresh: Torch (2015, self-released, EP) B+(*)
  107. Carrie Underwood: Storyteller (2015, 19/Arista Nashville) B-
  108. Leon Vynehall: Rojus (Designed to Dance) (2016, Running Back) A-
  109. Brahja Waldman: Wisdomatic (2016, Fast Speaking Music) A-
  110. Wet: Don't You (2016, Columbia) B
  111. Wire: Nocturnal Koreans (2016, Pink Flag, EP) A-
  112. Nate Wooley/Hugo Antunes/Jorge Queijo/Mario Costa/Chris Corsano: Purple Patio (2012 [2016], NoBusiness) B
  113. Young Thug: I'm Up (2016, 300 Entertainment/Atlantic) A-
  114. Young Thug: Slime Season 3 (2016, 300 Entertainment/Atlantic, EP) B+(**)
  115. Angry Angles: Angry Angles (2005 [2016], Goner) B+(**)
  116. The Cucumbers: The Fake Doom Years (1983-1986) (1983-86 [2016], Lifeforce) A-
  117. God Don't Ever Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson (2016, Alligator) A-
  118. Peter Kuhn: No Coming, No Going: The Music of Peter Kuhn, 1978-1979 (1978-79 [2016], NoBusiness, 2CD) A-
  119. Hailu Mergia: Wede Harer Guzo (1978 [2016], Awesome Tapes From Africa) A-
  120. Putumayo Presents: Blues Party (1968-2013 [2016], Putumayo World Music) B+(**)
  121. The Rough Guide to South African Jazz [Second Edition] ([2016], World Music Network) A-
  122. Carrie Underwood: Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (2005-14 [2015], Arista Nashville, 2CD) C-
  123. Arthur Williams: Forgiveness Suite (1979 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(**)
  124. Jürgen Wuchner/Rudi Mahall/Jörg Fischer: In Memoriam: Buschi Niebergall (1997 [2016], Sporeprint) B+(***)
  125. Clay Harper: Old Airport Road (2013, Terminus) A-
  126. Fred Hersch/Charlie Haden/Joey Baron: Sarabande (1986 [1987], Sunnyside) A-
  127. Fred Hersch/Steve LaSpina/Jeff Hirshfield: ETC (1988, RED) B+(***)
  128. The Fred Hersch Trio: Dancing in the Dark (1992 [1993], Chesky) B+(**)
  129. Fred Hersch: The Fred Hersch Trio Plays . . . (1994, Chesky) B+(**)
  130. Fred Hersch: Point in Time (1995, Enja) B+(*)
  131. The Fred Hersch Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (2002 [2003], Palmetto) B+(***)
  132. Fred Hersch/Norma Winstone: Songs & Lullabies (2002 [2003], Sunnyside) B+(**)
  133. Fred Hersch Trio: Everybody's Song but My Own (2011, Venus) B+(***)
  134. Michael Moore/Fred Hersch: This We Know (2008, Palmetto) B+(**)
  135. Red Fox Chasers: I'm Going Down to North Carolina: The Complete Recordings of the Red Fox Chasers (1928-31) (1928-31 [2009], Tompkins Square, 2CD) B+(**)
  136. Todd Snider: Live: The Storyteller (2010 [2011], Aimless, 2CD) A

June 30

  1. Adele: 25 (2015, XL) B
  2. Ben Adkins: Salmagundi (2016, Ben Adkins Music) B+(**)
  3. Aesop Rock: The Impossible Kid (2016, Rhymesayers) A-
  4. Alchemy Sound Project: Further Explorations (2014 [2016], ARC) B+(*)
  5. Kris Allen: Beloved (2015 [2016], Truth Revolution) B+(**)
  6. Jonas Cambien Trio: A Zoology of the Future (2016, Clean Feed) B+(***)
  7. Lou Caputo Not So Big Band: Uh Oh! (2015 [2016], JazzCat 47) B+(*)
  8. Chance the Rapper: Coloring Book (2016, self-released) A-
  9. Chat Noir: Nine Thoughts for One Word (2016, Rare Noise) B+(*)
  10. Elizabeth Cook: Exodus of Love (2016, Agent Love) A-
  11. Jack DeJohnette: In Movement (2015 [2016], ECM) A-
  12. Jeff Denson Quartet: Concentric Circles (2016, Ridgeway) B-
  13. DJ Shadow: The Mountain Will Fall (2016, Mass Appeal) B+(*)
  14. Kali Z. Fasteau: Intuit (2012-13 [2016], Flying Note) B+(***)
  15. Romulo Fróes: Por Elas Sem Elas (2015, YB Music, EP) B+(*)
  16. Robbie Fulks: Upland Stories (2016, Bloodshot) A-
  17. Brian Groder Trio: R Train on the D Line (2014 [2016], Latham) B+(**)
  18. Elektro Hafiz: Elektro Hafiz (2016, Guerssen) B+(***)
  19. Heartsrevolution: Ride or Die (2013, Owsla, EP) B+(*)
  20. Heartsrevolution: Ride or Die (2014, Owsla) A-
  21. The Hot Sardines: French Fries + Champagne (2016, Decca) B+(*)
  22. Kel Assouf: Tikounen (2016, Igloo) B+(**)
  23. LUME: Xabregas 10 (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  24. Branford Marsalis Quartet: Upward Spiral (2016, Okeh) B-
  25. Andrew McAnsh: Illustrations (2014-15 [2016], self-released) B-
  26. Sei Miguel: (Five) Stories Untold (2014-15 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  27. Mr. Lif: Don't Look Down (2016, Mello Music) B+(***)
  28. Nacka Forum: We Are the World (2016, Moserobie) B+(***)
  29. New Standard Jazz Orchestra: Waltz About Nothing (2015 [2016], OA2) B-
  30. Pascal Niggenkemper: Le 7ème Continent: Talking Trash (2014-16 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  31. Sebastian Noelle: Shelter (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B
  32. Jason Palmer/Cedric Hanriot: City of Poets (2014 [2016], Whirlwind) B+(**)
  33. Bruno Parrinha/Luis Lopes/Ricardo Jacinto: Garden (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  34. Pinegrove: Cardinal (2016, Run for Cover) B+(*)
  35. Plus Sized Dan: Plus Sized Dan With Marshall Ruffin (2015, Plus Sized Dan, EP) B+(***)
  36. Eric Prydz: Opus (2016, Astralwerks, 2CD) A-
  37. Pup: The Dream Is Over (2016, Side One Dummy) C+
  38. Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool (2016, XL) B
  39. RED Trio/John Butcher: Summer Skyshift (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  40. Samo Salamon/Stefano Battaglia: Winds (2015 [2016], Sazas/Klopotec) B+(**)
  41. Jim Self and the Tricky Lix Latin Jazz Band: ¡Yo! (2016, Basset Hound) B
  42. Paul Simon: Stranger to Stranger (2016, Concord) B+(*)
  43. Tyshawn Sorey: The Inner Spectrum of Variables (2015 [2016], Pi, 2CD) B+(***)
  44. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down: A Man Alive (2016, Ribbon Music) B+(*)
  45. Allen Toussaint: American Tunes (2013-15 [2016], Nonesuch) B+(**)
  46. Ukandanz: Awo (2016, Buda Musique) B+(*)
  47. Underworld: Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future (2016, Astralwerks) B+(**)
  48. Harvey Valdes: Point Counter Point (2016, self-released) B+(***)
  49. Waxwing: A Bowl of Sixty Taxidermists (2015, Songlines) B+(**)
  50. White Lung: Paradise (2016, Domino) B+(**)
  51. Can't You Hear Me? 70's African Nuggets & Garage Rock From Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (1970s [2016], Now-Again) A-
  52. Van Morrison: It's Too Late to Stop Now: Volumes II, III, IV & DVD (1973 [2016], Legacy, 3CD+DVD) A-
  53. Van Morrison: Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (1983, Warner Brothers) B
  54. Van Morrison: Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast (1983 [1984], Mercury) B+(**)
  55. Van Morrison: A Sense of Wonder (1985, Mercury) B-
  56. Van Morrison: No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986, Mercury) B+(**)
  57. Van Morrison: Poetic Champions Compose (1987, Mercury) B+(*)
  58. Van Morrison & the Chieftains: Irish Heartbeat (1988, Mercury) B-
  59. Van Morrison: Enlightenment (1990, Mercury) B+(***)
  60. Van Morrison: Hymns to the Silence (1991, Mercury, 2CD) B+(***)
  61. Van Morrison: A Night in San Francisco (1993 [1994], Polydor, 2CD) A-
  62. Van Morrison With Georgie Fame & Friends: How Long Has This Been Going On? (1995, Verve) B+(**)
  63. Van Morrison/Georgie Fame/Mose Allison/Ben Sidran: Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison (1996, Verve) B+(*)
  64. Van Morrison: Back on Top (1999, Point Blank) B+(***)
  65. Van Morrison: Magic Time (2005, Geffen) B+(**)
  66. Van Morrison: Too Long in Exile (1993, Polydor) A-

May 36

  1. Adult Books: Running From the Blows (2016, Lolipop) B+(*)
  2. Bobby Avey: Inhuman Wilderness (2015 [2016], Inner Voice Jazz) B+(***)
  3. The Bill Belasco Trio: Three Musicians (2016, Summit) B+(*)
  4. Ran Blake: Ghost Tones: Portraits of George Russell (2010 [2015], A-Side) B+(***)
  5. Jane Ira Bloom: Early Americans (2015 [2016], Outline) A-
  6. Mike Bogle Trio: Live at Stoney's (2015 [2016], MBP/Groove) B
  7. Charles Bradley: Changes (2016, Daptone) B+(*)
  8. Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions (EEMHM) 2011 (2011 [2016], Firehouse 12) B+(**)
  9. Marialuisa Capurso/Jean-Marc Foussat: En Respirant (2016, Fou) B
  10. Etienne Charles: San Jose Suite (2015 [2016], Culture Shock) B+(**)
  11. Rhys Chatham: Pythagorean Dream (2016, Foom) B+(***)
  12. Claudia Quintet: Super Petite (2015 [2016], Cuneiform) B+(**)
  13. Jeremy Cunningham Quartet: Re: Dawn (From Far) (2016, Ears & Eyes) B+(*)
  14. Lucy Dacus: No Burden (2016, Egghunt) B+(***)
  15. Dälek: Asphalt for Eden (2016, Profound Lore) B+(*)
  16. Open Mike Eagle + Paul White: Hella Personal Film Festival (2016, Mello Music Group) B+(***)
  17. Empirical: Connection (2015 [2016], Cuneiform) B+(***)
  18. Brian Eno: The Ship (2016, Warp) B+(*)
  19. Orrin Evans: The Evolution of Oneself (2014 [2015], Smoke Sessions) B+(***)
  20. Festen: Festen (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  21. Field Music: Commontime (2016, Memphis Industries) B
  22. Erik Friedlander: Rings (2016, Skipstone) B+(***)
  23. The Funky Organics: The Funky Organics (2016, Chicken Coup/Summit) B
  24. Kevin Gates: Islah (2016, Atlantic) B+(*)
  25. Trevor Giancola Trio: Fundamental (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  26. Glitterbust: Glitterbust (2016, Burger) B+(*)
  27. Will Goble: Consider the Blues (2015 [2016], OA2) B+(*)
  28. Gunwale: Polynya (2016, Aerophonic) B+(***)
  29. Barry Guy: The Blue Shroud (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  30. Cory Healey's Beautiful Sunshine Band: Beautiful Sunshine (2016, Shifting Paradigm) B+(*)
  31. Homeboy Sandman: Kindness for Weakness (2016, Stones Throw) B+(***)
  32. Mimi Jones: Feet in the Mud (2015 [2016], Hot Tone Music) B+(*)
  33. The Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra: Storming Through the South (2016, Summit) B+(*)
  34. Linda Gail Lewis: Heartache Highway (2015 [2016], Ball and Chain) B+(***)
  35. Linda Gail Lewis: Hard Rockin' Woman! (2015, Lanark) B+(**)
  36. Lok 03+1: Signals (2016, Trost) B+(**)
  37. Tony Malaby Paloma Recio: Incantations (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  38. Mexrrissey: No Manchester (2016, Cooking Vinyl) B+(*)
  39. Nick Millevoi: Desertion (2015 [2016], Shhpuma) B+(**)
  40. Myriad 3: Moons (2016, ALMA) B+(*)
  41. Naftule's Dream: Blood (2013 [2016], self-released) B+(***)
  42. Oddisee: The Odd Tape (2016, Mello Music Group) B+(*)
  43. Luis Perdomo: Montage (2015 [2016], Hot Tone Music) B+(*)
  44. Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp: Corpo (2016, Leo) B+(*)
  45. Ivo Perelman: Soul (2015 [2016], Leo) A-
  46. Ivo Perelman/Karl Berger: The Hitchhiker (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(**)
  47. Ivo Perelman/Joe Morris: Blue (2016, Leo) A-
  48. Ivo Perelman: Breaking Point (2015 [2016], Leo) B+(***)
  49. ResAUnance: Migration (2014 [2016], FMR) B+(**)
  50. Dave Rempis/Joshua Abrams/Avreeayl Ra + Jim Baker: Periheleon (2015 [2016], Aerophonic, 2CD) A-
  51. Snarky Puppy: Family Dinner Volume Two (2015 [2016], Decca) B-
  52. Snarky Puppy: Culcha Vulcha (2016, Decca) C+
  53. Ron Stabinsky: Free for One (2015 [2016], Hot Cup) B+(*)
  54. Tyla Gang: Stereo Tactics (2013 [2015], Cherry Red) B+(*)
  55. Tyla Gang: Live in Stockholm (2014 [2015], Cherry Red) B+(*)
  56. Greg Ward: Touch My Beloved's Thought (2016, Greenleaf Music) A-
  57. Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family: Beginning of a Memory (2015 [2016], Palmetto) B+(***)
  58. Fame: Jon Savage's Secret History of Post-Punk 78-81 (1978-81 [2012], Caroline True) B+(**)
  59. Merle Haggard: Best of the Capitol Years (1966-76 [2016], Capitol) A
  60. Coleman Hawkins: Intimate: Duo, Trio, Quartet & Quintet Recordings 1934-38 (1934-38 [2016], Acrobat) A-
  61. Allen Lowe: Julius Hemphill Plays the Music of Allen Lowe (1989-91 [2016], Constant Sorrow) B+(**)
  62. Allen Lowe: Louis Armstrong: An Avant Garde Portrait (1992 [2016], Constant Sorrow) B+(***)
  63. Lyrics Born: Now Look What You've Done, Lyrics Born! Greatest Hits (1997-2015 [2016], Mobile Home) A-
  64. Joey Negro: Remixed With Love by Joey Negro: Vol. Two (2016, Z, 2CD) B+(*)
  65. Professor Longhair: Live in Chicago (1976 [2016], Orleans, EP) B+(**)
  66. Blind Alfred Reed: Appalachian Visionary (1927-29 [2016], Dust-to-Digital) A-
  67. Jane Ira Bloom: Mighty Lights (1982 [1983], Enja) B+(***)
  68. Jane Ira Bloom: Sometimes the Magic (2000 [2001], Arabesque) B+(**)
  69. Jane Ira Bloom: Chasing Paint: Meets Jackson Pollock (2002 [2003], Arabesque) A-
  70. Jane Ira Bloom: Like Silver, Like Song (2004 [2005], ArtistShare) B+(***)
  71. Merle Haggard: Strangers (1965, Capitol) B+(***)
  72. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down (1966, Capitol) A-
  73. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: I'm a Lonesome Fugitive (1967, Capitol) A-
  74. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Branded Man (1967, Capitol) B+(**)
  75. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde (1968, Capitol) B
  76. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Mama Tried (1968, Capitol) B+(**)
  77. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Okie From Muskogee (1969, Capitol) B
  78. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Pride in What I Am (1969, Capitol) A-
  79. Merle Haggard: A Portrait of Merle Haggard (1969, Capitol) B+(*)
  80. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: The Fightin' Side of Me (1970, Capitol) B+(**)
  81. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Hag (1971, Capitol) B+(***)
  82. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Someday We'll Look Back (1971, Capitol) B+(***)
  83. Merle Haggard: The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard (1968-71 [1972], Capitol) B+(***)
  84. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Let Me Tell You About a Song (1972, Capitol) B+(***)
  85. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) (1972, Capitol) B+(**)
  86. Merle Haggard: Vintage Collections (1965-72 [1996], Capitol) B+(**)
  87. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: If We Make It Through December (1974, Capitol) B+(**)
  88. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album (1974, Capitol) A-
  89. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Keep Movin' On (1975, Capitol) B
  90. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: It's All in the Movies (1976, Capitol) B+(*)
  91. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: My Love Affair With Trains (1976, Capitol) B
  92. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: The Roots of My Raising (1976, Capitol) B+(***)
  93. Merle Haggard and the Strangers: A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today (1975-76 [1977], Capitol) A-
  94. Merle Haggard: 20 Greatest Hits (1966-76 [2002], Capitol) A-
  95. Merle Haggard: Ramblin' Fever (1977, MCA) B+(*)
  96. Merle Haggard: My Farewell to Elvis (1977, MCA) B-
  97. Merle Haggard: The Way I Am (1980, MCA) B+(**)
  98. Merle Haggard: Back to the Barrooms (1980, MCA) B+(*)
  99. Merle Haggard: Rainbow Stew: Live at Anaheim Stadium (1980 [1981], MCA) B+(***)
  100. Merle Haggard: Big City (1981, Epic) B+(**)
  101. Merle Haggard and George Jones: A Taste of Yesterday's Wine (1982, Epic) B
  102. Merle Haggard: Going Where the Lonely Go (1982, Epic) B+(*)
  103. Merle Haggard: That's the Way Love Goes (1983, Epic) B+(*)
  104. Merle Haggard: It's All in the Game (1984, Epic) B+(*)
  105. Merle Haggard: Kern River (1985, Epic) B+(*)
  106. Merle Haggard: Amber Waves of Grain (1985, Epic) B-
  107. Merle Haggard: A Friend in California (1986, Epic) B+(**)
  108. Merle Haggard: Out Among the Stars (1986, Epic) B
  109. Merle Haggard/George Jones/Willie Nelson: Walking the Line (1987, Epic) B-
  110. Merle Haggard: 5:01 Blues (1989, Epic) B
  111. Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry: Tenor Giants (1938-43 [2000], Polygram) B+(***)
  112. Joint Venture: Ways (1989 [1990], Enja) B+(***)
  113. Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard With the Strangers: Just Between the Two of Us (1966 [2015], Capitol) B+(**)
  114. Blind Alfred Reed: Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order (1927-1929) (1927-29 [2012], Document) A-
  115. Matt Wilson: As Wave Follows Wave (1996, Palmetto) B+(**)
  116. Matt Wilson Quaret: Smile (1999, Palmetto) B+(***)
  117. Matt Wilson: Arts and Crafts (2000 [2001], Palmetto) B+(***)
  118. Matt Wilson Quartet: Humidity (2002 [2003], Palmetto) A-

April 28

  1. Antonio Adolfo: Tropical Infinito (2016, AAM) B+(***)
  2. Africaine 808: Basar (2016, Golf Channel) B+(***)
  3. Cyrille Aimée: Let's Get Lost (2016, Mack Avenue) B+(*)
  4. Ralph Alessi: Quiver (2014 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  5. Katy B: Honey (2016, Virgin EMI) B+(**)
  6. Nik Bärtsch's Mobile: Continuum (2015 [2016], ECM) A-
  7. Beauty School: Residual Ugly (2015, Humbler) B+(*)
  8. Bibio: A Mineral Love (2016, Warp) B
  9. Big Ups: Before a Million Universes (2016, Exploding/Tough Love) B+(***)
  10. Bombino: Azel (2016, Partisan) B+(***)
  11. Jaimeo Brown Transcendence: Work Songs (2016, Motéma) B+(***)
  12. The Ian Carey Quintet + 1: Interview Music (2015 [2016], Kabocha) B+(***)
  13. Hayes Carll: Lovers and Leavers (2016, Highway 87) B+(***)
  14. Cavern of Anti-Matter: Void Beats/Invocation Trex (2016, Duophonic) B+(***)
  15. Bill Charlap Trio: Notes From New York (2015 [2016], Impulse) B+(*)
  16. Charli XCX: Vroom Vroom (2016, Vroom Vroom, EP) B+(*)
  17. Chimurenga Renaissance: Rize Vadzimu Rize (2014, Brick Lane) B+(*)
  18. Chimurenga Renaissance: Girlz With Gunz (2016, Glitterbeat, EP) B+(*)
  19. Rob Clearfield: Islands (2016, Ears & Eyes) B+(*)
  20. The Coathangers: Nosebleed Weekend (2016, Suicide Squeeze) A-
  21. Shemekia Copeland: Outskirts of Love (2015, Alligator) B+(*)
  22. Matt Criscuolo: The Dialogue (2016, Jazzeria) B+(**)
  23. Daria: Strawberry Fields Forever: Songs by the Beatles (2016, OA2) B+(*)
  24. Stephen Davis/Ralph Alessi/Kris Davis: Sugar Blade (2015, Babel) B+(**)
  25. Eli Degibri: Cliff Hangin' (2014 [2016], Blujazz) B+(*)
  26. The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band: Comin' Home Baby (2014 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  27. Dressy Bessy: Kingsized (2016, Yep Roc) B+(**)
  28. Flatbush Zombies: 3001: A Laced Odyssey (2016, Glorious Dead) B+(**)
  29. Gary Lucas' Fleischerei: Music From Max Fleischer Cartoons (2005 [2016], Cuneiform) A-
  30. Michael Formanek/Ensemble Kolossus: The Distance (2014 [2016], ECM) B+(***)
  31. Nick Fraser Quartet: Starer (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  32. James Freeman: Echoes of Nature III (2016, Edgetone) B-
  33. Matthew Fries: Parallel States (2015 [2016], Xcappa) B+(*)
  34. Gambari Band: Kokuma (2016, Membran Media) A-
  35. Jean-Brice Godet Quartet: Mujô (2013 [2016], Fou) B+(***)
  36. GoGo Penguin: Man Made Object (2015 [2016], Blue Note) B+(***)
  37. Alex Goodman: Border Crossing (2016, OA2) B-
  38. PJ Harvey: The Hope Six Demolition Project (2015 [2016], Vagrant) B+(**)
  39. Alexander Hawkins/Evan Parker: Leaps in Leicester (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  40. Mayer Hawthorne: Man About Town (2016, Vagrant) B+(**)
  41. The Heliocentrics: From the Deep (2016, Now-Again) B+(***)
  42. Louis Heriveaux: Triadic Episode (2014 [2016], Hot Shoe) B+(**)
  43. Keefe Jackson/Jason Adasiewicz: Rows and Rows (2015 [2016], Delmark) B+(*)
  44. Russ Johnson: Meeting Point (2014, Relay) B+(**)
  45. Kamaiyah: A Good Night in the Ghetto (2016, self-released) B+(**)
  46. Sari Kessler: Do Right (2016, Ruby Street Music) B+(*)
  47. Julie Kjaer 3: Dobbeltgaenger (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  48. La Sera: Music for Listening to Music To (2016, Polyvinyl) B+(**)
  49. Matt Lavelle's 12 Houses: Solidarity (2014 [2016], Unseen Rain) B+(**)
  50. Steven Lugerner: Jacknife: The Music of Jackie McLean (2015 [2016], Primary) B+(***)
  51. The Tony Lustig Quintet: Taking Flight (2016, Bimperl) B+(**)
  52. Roberto Magris: Need to Bring Out Love (2016, JMood) B+(**)
  53. The Del McCoury Band: Del and Woody (2016, McCoury Music) A-
  54. Adam Meckler Quintet: Wonder (2015 [2016], Shifting Paradigm) B+(**)
  55. Daniel Meron: Sky Begins (2015 [2016], Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit) B
  56. Jane Monheit: The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald (2015 [2016], Emerald City) B+(*)
  57. Moodymann: DJ-Kicks (2016, !K7) B+(**)
  58. Roy Nathanson: Nearness and You (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(*)
  59. Scott Neumann/Tom Christensen: Spin Cycle (2015 [2016], Sound Footing) B+(*)
  60. New Zion w. Cyro: Sunshine Seas (2016, Rare Noise) B+(**)
  61. Noertker's Moxie & the Melancholics: Curious Worlds: The Art & Imagination of David Beck (2016, Edgetone) B+(*)
  62. The Oatmeal Jazz Combo: Instant Oats (2016, LGY) B+(*)
  63. Phil Palombi: Detroit Lean (2015 [2016], Xcappa) B+(***)
  64. Parquet Courts: Human Performance (2016, Rough Trade) A-
  65. Pet Shop Boys: Super (2016, X2) A-
  66. Pierette Ensemble: Akrostik (2014, Gateway Music) B+(***)
  67. Noah Preminger: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  68. Margo Price: Midwest Farmer's Daughter (2016, Third Man) A-
  69. Restroy: Saturn Return (2016, Milk Factory) B+(*)
  70. Eric Revis Trio: Crowded Solitudes (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) A-
  71. Rocco John Quartet: Embrace the Change (2015 [2016], Unseen Rain) B+(**)
  72. Rent Romus/Teddy Rankin-Parker/Daniel Pearce: LiR (2014 [2016], Edgetone) B+(***)
  73. Renee Rosnes: Written in the Rocks (2015 [2016], Smoke Sessions) B
  74. Carol Saboya: Carolina (2016, AAM) B+(*)
  75. Kendrick Scott Oracle: We Are the Drum (2015, Blue Note) B
  76. Mikael Seifu: Zelalem (2016, RVNG Intl, EP) B+(*)
  77. Nana Simopoulos: Skins (2016, Na) B+(**)
  78. Sturgill Simpson: A Sailor's Guide to Earth (2016, Atlantic) B+(***)
  79. Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution (2016, Concord) B
  80. Mavis Staples: Livin' on a High Note (2016, Anti-) B+(**)
  81. Starlite Motel: Awosting Falls (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(*)
  82. Steel Bridge Trio: Different Clocks (2015, Relay) B+(*)
  83. Tacocat: Lost Time (2016, Hardly Art) A-
  84. Yves Theiler Trio: Dance in a Triangle (2015 [2016], Musique Suisses) B+(***)
  85. Trio Da Paz: 30 (2011 [2016], Zoho Music) B+(**)
  86. Twenty One 4tet: Live at Zaal 100 (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  87. Ernie Watts Quartet: Wheel of Time (2016, Flying Dolphin) B+(**)
  88. Kanye West: The Life of Pablo (2016, Def Jam/GOOD Music) B+(***)
  89. Steve Wiest and Phröntrange: The High Road (2016, Blujazz) B-
  90. WorldService Project: For King and Country (2015 [2016], Rare Noise) D+
  91. Christopher Zuar Orchestra: Musings (2014 [2016], Sunnyside) B+(**)
  92. John Abercrombie: The First Quartet (1978-80 [2015], ECM, 3CD) B+(**)
  93. Cyrille Aimée: Cyrille Aimée and the Surreal Band (2008 [2015], Harmonic Reaction) B+(*)
  94. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band/William Warfield: George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Live (1992 [2016], Riverwalk Jazz, 2CD) B+(***)
  95. The Ex: The Ex at Bimhuis (1991-2015) (1991-2015 [2015], Ex, 2CD) B+(***)
  96. Ella Fitzgerald: Jazz at the Philharmonic: The Ella Fitzgerald Set (1949-54 [2016], Verve) B+(*)
  97. Awalom Gebremariam: Desdes (2007 [2016], Awesome Tapes From Africa) B+(***)
  98. Punk 45: Chaos in the City of Angels and Devils: Hollywood From X to Zero & Hardcore on the Beaches: Punk in Los Angeles 1977-81 (1977-81 [2016], Soul Jazz) B+(***)
  99. Sonny Rollins: Holding the Stage: Road Shows Vol. 4 (1979-2012 [2016], Okeh) A-
  100. The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues [Second Edition] (1926-40 [2016], World Music Network) B+(***)
  101. The Rough Guide to the Blues Songsters: Reborn and Remastered (1926-35 [2015], World Music Network) A-
  102. Soul Sok Sega: Sega Sounds From Mauritius 1973-1979 (1973-79 [2016], Strut) B+(***)
  103. The Ex: Disturbing Domestic Peace (1980 [1994], Ex) B+(**)
  104. The Ex: History Is What's Happening (1982, Ex) A-
  105. The Ex: Tumult (1983 [1993], Ex) B+(***)
  106. The Ex: Blueprints for a Blackout (1984 [1992], Ex) B+(*)
  107. The Ex: Pokkeherrie (1985 [1995], Ex) B+(***)
  108. The Ex: 1936, the Spanish Revolution (1986, Ex, EP) B+(**)
  109. The Ex: Too Many Cowboys (1986 [1987], Ex) B+(***)
  110. The Ex: Hands Up! You're Free (1983-86 [1988], Ex) A-
  111. The Ex: Joggers & Smoggers (1989, Ex, 2CD) B+(*)
  112. The Ex: Dead Fish (1989 [2004], Ex, EP) B+(*)
  113. The Ex + Tom Cora: Scrabbling at the Lock (1991, Ex) B+(***)
  114. The Ex + Tom Cora: And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993, Ex) B+(**)
  115. The Ex: Mudbird Shivers (1995, Ex) B+(***)
  116. The Ex: Starters Alternators (1998, Touch & Go) B+(**)
  117. Ex Orkest: Een Rondje Holland (2000 [2001], Ex) B+(*)
  118. The Ex: Dizzy Spells (2000 [2001], Touch & Go) A-
  119. The Ex: 30 (1980-2006 [2009], Ex, 2CD) B+(***)
  120. The Ex: Catch My Shoe (2010, Ex) B+(**)
  121. Taana Gardner: Taana Gardner (1979, West End) B+(***)
  122. Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals: Classic Bluegrass (1974-84 [1991], Rebel) B+(***)
  123. Gétatchèw Mèrkurya: Éthiopiques 14: Negus of Ethiopian Sax (1972 [2003], Buda Musique) A-
  124. Getatchew Merkuria/The Ex & Guests: Moa Anbessa (2006, Terp) A-
  125. Getatchew Mekuria/The Ex & Friends: Y'Anbessaw Tezeta (1960-2012 [2012], Terp, 2CD) B+(***)

March 30

  1. Raul Agraz: Between Brothers (2013-15 [2016], OA2) B
  2. Melissa Aldana: Back Home (2015 [2016], Wommusic) B+(***)
  3. Anderson .Paak: Malibu (2016, OBE/Steel Wool/ArtClub/Empire) A-
  4. Ehud Asherie: Shuffle Along (2015 [2016], Blue Heron) B+(***)
  5. Audio One: What Thomas Bernhard Saw (2014 [2015], Audiographic) A-
  6. Kenny Barron Trio: Book of Intuition (2015 [2016], Impulse) B+(**)
  7. Steve Barta: Symphonic Arrangement: Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio (2015 [2016], Steve Barta Music) B
  8. B.J. the Chicago Kid: In My Mind (2016, Motown) A-
  9. Michael Blake: Fulfillment (2016, Songlines) B+(*)
  10. Cristina Braga & Brandenburger Symphoniker: Whisper (2015 [2016], Enja) B-
  11. Renato Braz: Saudade (2005-15 [2016], Living Music) C
  12. Andy Brown Quartet: Direct Call (2015 [2016], Delmark) B+(*)
  13. Rich Brown: Abeng (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  14. Oguz Buyukberber/Tobias Klein: Reverse Camouflage (2015 [2016], TryTone) B+(**)
  15. Rex Cadwallader/Mike Aseta/Arti Dixson/Tiffany Jackson: A Balm in Gilead (2015 [2016], Stanza USA) B-
  16. Taylor Cook: The Cook Book (2015 [2016], self-released) B
  17. Patrick Cornelius: While We're Still Young (2014 [2016], Whirlwind) B+(*)
  18. Cowboys & Frenchmen: Rodeo (2015, Outside In Music) B+(*)
  19. Tim Daisy: Relucent: Music for Marimba, Radios and Turntables (2016, Relay) B
  20. Dawes: All Your Favorite Bands (2015, Hub) B-
  21. Daveed Diggs: Small Things to a Giant (2012 [2015], Deathbomb Arc) A-
  22. The Dominican Jazz Project: The Dominican Jazz Project (2015 [2016], Summit) B+(*)
  23. Drive-By Truckers: It's Great to Be Alive! (2014 [2015], ATO, 3CD) A-
  24. Florian Egli Weird Beard: Everything Moves (2014 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  25. Marty Elkins: Walkin' by the River (2014 [2016], Nagel Heyer) B+(***)
  26. Moppa Elliott: Still Up in the Air (2015 [2016], Hot Cup) B+(**)
  27. Darren English: Imagine Nation (2014 [2016], Hot Shoe) B+(*)
  28. Piere Favre: DrumSights NOW (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  29. David Fiuczynski: Flam! Blam! Pan-Asian MicroJam (2015 [2016], Rare Noise) B
  30. Socrates Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra: Back Home (2015 [2016], Summit) B
  31. Danny Green Trio: Altered Narratives (2015 [2016], OA2) B+(***)
  32. Jeff Guthery: Black Paintings (2015 [2016], self-released) B-
  33. Hanami: The Only Way to Float Free (2015 [2016], Ears & Eyes) B+(***)
  34. Lafayette Harris Jr.: Hangin' With the Big Boys (2013 [2016], Airmen) B+(**)
  35. Julian Hartwell: The Julian Hartwell Project (2015, self-released) B+(**)
  36. Joseph Howell: Time Made to Swing (2015 [2016], Summit) B+(***)
  37. The James Hughes/Jimmy Smith Quintet: Ever Up & Onward (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  38. Vijay Iyer/Wadada Leo Smith: A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  39. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis: The Abyssinian Mass (2013 [2016], Blue Engine, 2CD) C-
  40. Krakauer's Ancestral Groove: Checkpoint (2015 [2016], Table Pounding) B+(***)
  41. Kyle: Smyle (2015, Indie Pop) B+(***)
  42. Julian Lage: Arclight (2015 [2016], Mack Avenue) B+(*)
  43. Kendrick Lamar: Untitled Unmastered (2013-16 [2016], Top Dawg Entertainment) B+(***)
  44. Tom Lellis: The Flow (2015 [2016], Beamtime) C-
  45. Charles Lloyd & the Marvels: I Long to See You (20B-15 [2016], Blue Note) B+(**)
  46. Los Bonsáis: Nordeste (2015, Elefant, EP) B+(*)
  47. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Make the Magic Happen (2015 [2016], Hot Cup, EP) B+(***)
  48. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Bring Their 'A' Game (2015 [2016], Hot Cup, EP) B+(***)
  49. Loretta Lynn: Full Circle (2016, Legacy) B+(**)
  50. Kirk MacDonald: Symmetry (2013 [2016], Addo) B+(*)
  51. Gabriela Martina: No White Shoes (2015 [2016], self-released) B
  52. Meridian Brothers: Los Suicidas (2015, Soundway, EP) B+(**)
  53. Hendrik Meurkens: Harmonicus Rex (2010 [2016], Height Advantage) B+(*)
  54. Dave Miller: Old Door Phantoms (2015 [2016], Ears & Eyes) B-
  55. Naked Truth: Avian Thug (2013 [2016], Rare Noise) B+(*)
  56. Willie Nelson: Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin (2016, Legacy) B
  57. Angelika Niescier/Florian Weber: NYC Five (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  58. Kat Parra: Songbook of the Americas (2016, JazzMa) B
  59. Christian Perez: Anima Mundi (2015 [2016], CPM) B
  60. Roberta Piket: One for Marian: Celebrating Marian McPartland (2015 [2016], Thirteenth Note) B+(*)
  61. Leslie Pintchik: True North (2015 [2016], Pintch Hard) B+(***)
  62. Alberto Pinton Noi Siamo: Resiliency (2015 [2016], Moserobie) A-
  63. Richard Poole/Marilyn Crispell/Gary Peacock: In Motion (2014 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  64. Iggy Pop: Post Pop Depression (2016, Loma Vista) B+(*)
  65. Pram Trio: Saga Thirteen (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  66. Quantic: The Western Transient: A New Constellation (2015, Tru Thoughts) B
  67. Quttinirpaaq: Dead September (2015, Rural Isolation Project) C+
  68. Bonnie Raitt: Dig In Deep (2016, Redwing) A-
  69. Ratatet: Arctic (2015 [2016], Ridgeway) B
  70. Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra: Portraits and Places (2015 [2016], Origin) B-
  71. Logan Richardson: Shift (2013 [2016], Blue Note) B+(*)
  72. Rihanna: Anti (2016, Roc Nation) A-
  73. Alfredo Rodriguez: Tocororo (2015 [2016], Mack Avenue/Qwest) B+(**)
  74. Sidestepper: Supernatural Love (2016, Real World) B+(*)
  75. Sirius Quartet: Paths Become Lines (2015 [2016], Autentico) B+(*)
  76. Gwen Stefani: This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016, Interscope) A-
  77. Zhenya Strigalev: Never Group (2015 [2016], Whirlwind) B+(**)
  78. Henry Threadgill Ensemble Double Up: Old Locks and Irregular Verbs (2015 [2016], Pi) A-
  79. The U.S. Army Blues: Live at Blues Alley (2015 [2016], self-released) C
  80. Marcos Varela: San Ygnacio (2012 [2016], Origin) B
  81. Vox Arcana: Caro's Song (2014 [2015], Relay) B+(*)
  82. Wildhoney: Sleep Through It (2015, Deranged) B+(*)
  83. Wildhoney: Your Face Sideways (2015, Topshelf, EP) B+(*)
  84. Jeff Williams: Outlier (2015 [2016], Whirlwind) B+(***)
  85. Wussy: Forever Sounds (2016, Shake It) A-
  86. Michiyo Yagi/Joe McPhee/Paal Nilssen-Love/Lasse Marhaug: Soul Stream (2013 [2015], PNL) B+(*)
  87. Michiyo Yagi/Lasse Marhaug/Paal Nilssen-Love: Angular Mass ((2011 [2015], PNL) B
  88. La Yegros: Magnetismo (2016, Soundway) B+(***)
  89. Youth Worship: LP1 (2015, Self Harm) B+(***)
  90. Tom Zé: Vira Lata Na Via Láctea (2014, self-released) A-
  91. Omri Ziegele Noisy Minority: Wrong Is Right (2015 [2016], Intakt) A-
  92. Cheryl Bentyne: Lost Love Songs (2003-11 [2016], Summit) B+(***)
  93. Borah Bergman/Peter Brötzmann/Frode Gjerstad: Left (1996 [2016], Not Two) B+(**)
  94. DJ Katapila: Trotro (2009 [2016], Awesome Tapes From Africa) B+(***)
  95. William Hooker: Light: The Early Years 1975-1989 (1975-89 [2016], NoBusiness, 4CD) A-
  96. Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra: All My Yesterdays (1966 [2016], Resonance, 2CD) A-
  97. Meridian Brothers: Devoción (Works 2005-2011) (2005-11 [2013], Staubgold) A-
  98. The Rough Guide to Cumbia [Second Edition] (1975-2012 [2013], World Music Network, 2CD) B+(***)
  99. The Rough Guide to Latin Disco (1975-2014 [2015], World Music Network) B+(*)
  100. The Rough Guide to Merengue Dance ([2009], World Music Network, 2CD) A-
  101. The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia (1969-2014 [2015], World Music Network) B+(***)
  102. The Rough Guide to the Best Arabic Music You've Never Heard (2008-14 [2015], World Music Network) B
  103. Larry Young: In Paris: The ORTF Recordings (1964-65 [2016], Resonance, 2CD) B+(***)
  104. Anderson .Paak: Venice (2014, OBE/Steel Wool) B+(**)
  105. Nathan Davis: Happy Girl (1965 [2006], MPS) B+(*)
  106. Drive-By Truckers: Gangstabilly (1998, Soul Dump) B+(***)
  107. Drive-By Truckers: Alabama Ass Whuppin' (1999 [2000], Second Heaven) B+(***)
  108. Drive-By Truckers: Ugly Buildings, Whores, and Politicians: Greatest Hits 1998-2009 (1998-2009 [2011], New West) A-
  109. Kendrick Lamar: Overly Dedicated (2010, Top Dawg Entertainment) A-
  110. Horace Parlan: Movin' & Groovin' (1960, Blue Note) B+(**)
  111. Horace Parlan: Up & Down (1961 [2009], Blue Note) B+(***)
  112. Bonnie Raitt: Bonnie Raitt (1971, Warner Brothers) B+(***)
  113. Bonnie Raitt: Streetlights (1974, Warner Brothers) B
  114. Bonnie Raitt: The Glow (1979, Warner Brothers) B
  115. Bonnie Raitt: Green Light (1982, Warner Brothers) B+(**)
  116. Bonnie Raitt: Nine Lives (1986, Warner Brothers) B-
  117. Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested (1995, Capitol, 2CD) B+(**)
  118. Bonnie Raitt: The Best of Bonnie Raitt on Capitol 1989-2003 (1989-2003 [2003], Capitol) A-
  119. The Larry Young Trio: Testifying (1960 [1992], New Jazz/OJC) B+(***)
  120. Larry Young: Groove Street (1962 [1995], Prestige/OJC) B+(**)

February 25

  1. The 3.5.7 Ensemble: Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples (2014 [2016], Milk Factory Productions, 2CD) B
  2. Andy Adamson Quartet: A Cry for Peace (2015 [2016], Andros) B+(*)
  3. Africans With Mainframes: Commission Number 3 (2015, Bio Rhythm, EP) B+(*)
  4. The Alchemist and Oh No: Welcome to Los Santos (2015, Mass Appeal) B+(*)
  5. Ancient Methods: Turn Ice Realities Into Fire Dreams (2015, Hands, EP) B+(*)
  6. Dave Anderson: Blue Innuendo (2015 [2016], Label 1) B+(*)
  7. Thomas Anderson: Heaven (2016, Out There) B+(***)
  8. Annie Girl and the Flight: Bodies (2015, United for Opportunity, EP) B+(**)
  9. Arca: Mutant (2015, Mute) A-
  10. Allison Au Quartet: Forest Grove (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(*)
  11. Adam Baldych & Helge Lien Trio: Bridges (2015, ACT) B+(***)
  12. Eszter Balint: Airless Midnight (2015, Red Herring) A-
  13. Beans on Toast: The Grand Scheme of Things (2015, Xtra Mile) A-
  14. Debashish Bhattacharya: Slide Guitar Ragas From Dusk Till Dawn (2015, Riverboat) B+(***)
  15. Blue Muse: Blue Muse Live (2015, Dolphinium) B
  16. Thomas Borgmann Trio: One for Cisco (2015 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(***)
  17. Brooklyn Blowhards: Brooklyn Blowhards (2015 [2016], Little (i) Music) B+(***)
  18. Jean-Luc Cappozzo/Didier Lasserre: Ceremony's a Name for the Rich Horn (2014 [2016], NoBusiness, EP) B-
  19. Brandi Carlile: The Firewatcher's Daughter (2015, ATO) B+(***)
  20. Chaise Lounge: Gin Fizz Fandango (2015 [2016], Modern Songbook) B+(***)
  21. Christine and the Queens: Christine and the Queens (2014 [2015], Atlantic/Because/Neon Gold) B+(**)
  22. Benjamin Clementine: At Least for Now (2015, Virgin EMI) B+(**)
  23. Avishai Cohen: Into the Silence (2015 [2016], ECM) B+(**)
  24. Colleen: Captain of None (2015, Thrill Jockey) B+(**)
  25. Jonah Considine: Golden Flu (2015, Nein, EP) B+(*)
  26. Roxy Coss: Restless Idealism (2014 [2016], Origin) B+(**)
  27. Czarface: Every Hero Needs a Villain (2015, Brick) B+(**)
  28. Diet Cig: Over Easy (2015, Father/Daughter, EP) B+(*)
  29. DJ Sandji: 100% Balani Show (2015, Sahel Sounds) B+(***)
  30. DMX Krew: There Is No Enduring Self (2015, Breakin) B+(***)
  31. Dog Party: Vol. 4 (2015, Asian Man) B+(**)
  32. Anderson East: Delilah (2015, Low Country Sound/Elektra) B+(***)
  33. Harris Eisenstadt: Old Growth Forest (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  34. Ari Erev: Flow (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  35. Father: Who's Gonna Get F***** First? (2015, Awful) B+(**)
  36. Mike Freeman ZonaVibe: Blue Tjade (2014 [2016], VOF) B+(**)
  37. Bill Frisell: When You Wish Upon a Star (2015 [2016], Okeh) B
  38. Fred Frith/Darren Johnston: Everybody Is Somebody Is Nobody (2013-14 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  39. Donnie Fritts: Oh My Goodness (2015, Single Lock) B+(***)
  40. Abba Gargando: Abba Gargando (2015, Sahel Sounds) B+(***)
  41. Charles Gayle/William Parker/Hamid Drake: Live at Jazzwerkstatt Peitz (2014 [2015], Jazzwerkstatt) B+(***)
  42. Ginkgoa: EP Ginkgoa (self-released, EP) B+(**)
  43. Michael Monroe Goodman: The Flag, the Bible, & Bill Monroe (2015, MammerJam) B+(***)
  44. Grandpa's Cough Medicine: 180 Proof (2015, self-released) B+(*)
  45. William Clark Green: Ringling Road (2015, Bill Grease) B+(*)
  46. Haiku Salut: Etch and Etch Deep (2015, How Does It Feel to Be Loved) B+(**)
  47. Nigel Hall: Ladies & Gentlemen . . . Nigel Hall (2015, Feel Music Group) B+(***)
  48. Ross Hammond and Sameer Gupta: Upward (2015 [2016], Prescott) B+(***)
  49. Anna von Hausswolff: The Miraculous (2015, Other Music) B
  50. Heads of State: Search for Peace (2015, Smoke Sessions) B+(**)
  51. Don Henley: Cass County (2015, Capitol) B+(*)
  52. Heroes Are Gang Leaders: Highest Engines Near/Near Higher Engineers (2015 [2016], Flat Langton's Arkeyes) B+(***)
  53. Dre Hocevar: Collective Effervescence (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(**)
  54. Inventions: Maze of Woods (2015, Temporary Residence) B+(*)
  55. Jason James: Jason James (2015, New West) B+(***)
  56. Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet: Acknowledgement (2014 [2016], Bounce-Step) B
  57. Knife Pleats: Hat Bark Beach (2015, Jigsaw) B+(*)
  58. Lame Drivers: Chosen Era (2015, Jigsaw) B+(*)
  59. Left Lane Cruiser: Dirty Spliff Blues (2015, Alive Naturalsound) B+(*)
  60. Urs Leimgruber/Alex Huber: Lightnings (2014 [2015], Wide Ear) B+(**)
  61. Marilyn Lerner/Ken Filiano/Lou Grassi: Live at Edgefest (2013 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(***)
  62. Mark Lyken/Emma Dove: Mirror Lands (2015, Time Released Sound) B
  63. Made to Break: Before the Code (2014 [2015], Trost) B+(***)
  64. J Mancera: Mancera #5 (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  65. Will Mason Ensemble: Beams of the Huge Night (2014 [2015], New Amsterdam) B+(*)
  66. Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra: Galactic Parables: Volume 1 (2013 [2015], Cuneiform, 2CD) B+(***)
  67. Mekons/Robbie Fulks: Jura (2015, Bloodshot) B+(***)
  68. Buddy Miller & Friends: Cayamo: Sessions at Sea (2016, New West) B+(*)
  69. Whitey Morgan & the 78s: Born, Raised & Live From Flint (2011 [2014], Bloodshot) B+(**)
  70. Whitey Morgan & the 78s: Sonic Ranch (2015, Whitey Morgan Music) B+(***)
  71. Gilligan Moss: Ceremonial (2015, EMI, EP) B+(*)
  72. Takami Nakamoto: Opacity (2014, HIM Media, EP) B+(**)
  73. Marius Neset: Pinball (2014 [2015], ACT) B+(*)
  74. No Fun: How I Spent My Bummer Vacation (2014 [2015], Concrete Jungle) B+(***)
  75. Nonch Harpin': Native Sons (2015 [2016], self-released) B-
  76. Novelist x Mumdance: 1 Sec EP (2015, XL, EP) B+(*)
  77. Eva Novoa: Butterflies and Zebras by Ditmas Quartet (2015 [2016], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(***)
  78. ObLik: Order Disorder (2014 [2015], Ormo) B+(***)
  79. Matt Parker Trio: Present Time (2015 [2016], BYNK) B+(**)
  80. Ken Peplowski: Enrapture (2015 [2016], Capri) B+(***)
  81. Danilo Pérez/John Pattitucci/Brian Blade: Children of the Light (2015, Mack Avenue) B+(**)
  82. Physical Therapy: Hit the Breaks (2015, Liberation Technologies, EP) B+(**)
  83. PINS: Wild Nights (2015, Bella Union) B+(**)
  84. Pixel: Golden Years (2015, Cuneiform) B
  85. Valery Ponomarev Jazz Big Band: Our Father Who Art Blakey (2014 [2016], Zoho Music) B+(***)
  86. Protean Reality: Protean Reality (2015 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  87. Radical Dads: Universal Coolers (2015, Old Flame) A-
  88. Jemal Ramirez: Pomponio (2015 [2016], First Orbit Sounds Music) B+(*)
  89. Renku: Live in Greenwich Village (2014 [2016], Clean Feed) B+(***)
  90. Rhythm Future Quartet: Travels (2015 [2016], Magic Fiddle Music) B+(*)
  91. Pete Rock: PeteStrumentals 2 (2015, Mello Music Group) B+(**)
  92. Roswell Rudd/Jamie Saft/Trevor Dunn/Balasz Pandi: Strength & Power (2015 [2016], Rare Noise) A-
  93. Samo Salamon Bassless Trio: Unity (2014 [2016], Samo) A-
  94. J. Peter Schwalm: The Beauty of Disaster (2015 [2016], Rare Noise) B+(**)
  95. Travis Scott: Rodeo (2015, Grand Hustle/Epic) B
  96. Seinabo Sey: Pretend (2015, Virgin) B+(*)
  97. Shatner's Bassoon: The Self Titled Album Shansa Barsnaan (2015, Wasp Millionaire) B+(*)
  98. Shopping: Consumer Complaints (2014 [2015], FatCat) B+(***)
  99. Shopping: Why Choose (2015, FatCat) A-
  100. Shopping: Urge Surfing (2015, self-released) B+(*)
  101. Shopping: Gizzard Shingles (2015, self-released) B
  102. SK Simeon & Yaw Faso: Maskya (2015, Big Dada, EP) B+(**)
  103. Dr. Lonnie Smith: Evolution (2016, Blue Note) B
  104. Mike Sopko/Simon Lott: The Golden Measure (2015 [2016], self-released) B+(***)
  105. The Souljazz Orchestra: Resistance (2015, Strut) B+(***)
  106. Vladimir Tarasov/Eugenius Kanevicius/Ludas Mockunas: Intuitus (2014 [2016], NoBusiness) B+(**)
  107. Bruce Torff: Down the Line (2014-15 [2016], Summit) B
  108. Tribu Baharú: Pa'l Más Exigente Bailador (2015, self-released) A-
  109. Turnpike Troubadours: Turnpike Troubadours (2015, Bossier City) B
  110. Twin Talk: Twin Talk (2014 [2016], Ears & Eyes) B+(*)
  111. Ursula 1000: Voyeur (2015, Insect Queen) A-
  112. Carlos Vega: Bird's Ticket (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(*)
  113. Ward Thomas: From Where We Stand (2015, WTW Music) B+(*)
  114. Dan Weiss: Sixteen: Drummers Suite (2014 [2016], Pi) B
  115. White Reaper: White Reaper Does It Again (2015, Polyvinyl) B+(***)
  116. Saul Williams: Martyr Loser King (2016, Fader) B+(***)
  117. Worriers: Imaginary Life (2015, Don Giovanni) B+(**)
  118. The Yawpers: American Man (2015, Bloodshot) A-
  119. Yelawolf: Love Story (2015, Shady) B+(**)
  120. Young Thug: Slime Season 2 (2015, self-released) B+(***)
  121. The Great American Music Ensemble: It's All in the Game (2001 [2016], Jazzed Media) A-
  122. Sheila Jordan: Better Than Anything: Live (1991 [2015], There) B+(***)
  123. Joëlle Léandre: No Comment (1994-95 [2016], Fou) B
  124. Nouakchott Wedding Songs (2015, Sahel Sounds) B+(**)
  125. Soft Machine: Switzerland 1974 (1974 [2015], Cuneiform) B+(*)
  126. The Catheters: Static Delusions and Stone-Still Days (2002, Sub Pop) B+(***)
  127. The Catheters: Howling . . . It Grows and Grows!!! (2004, Sub Pop) B+(**)
  128. Sheila Jordan: Confirmation (1975 [2005], Test of Time) B+(***)
  129. Sheila Jordan: Believe in Jazz (2003 [2004], Ella Productions) A-
  130. Sheila Jordan & E.S.P. Trio: Straight Ahead (2004 [2005], Splasc(H)) A-
  131. Eva Novoa: Eva Novoa Trio (2010 [2012], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(**)
  132. Eva Novoa: Eva Novoa Quartet (2010 [2013], Fresh Sound New Talent) B+(***)
  133. PINS: Girls Like Us (2013, Bella Union) B+(*)
  134. Saul Williams: Saul Williams (2004, Fader) B+(*)
  135. Saul Williams: The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! (2007 [2008], Fader) B+(**)

January 31

  1. Brian Andres and the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel: This Could Be That (2015 [2016], Bacalao) B+(*)
  2. The Arcs: Yours, Dreamily (2015, Nonesuch) B
  3. Julian Argüelles: Let It Be Told (2012 [2015], Basho) B+(***)
  4. Julian Argüelles: Tetra (2014 [2015], Whirlwind) B+(***)
  5. Aram Bajakian: There Were Flowers Also in Hell (2014, Sanasar) B+(**)
  6. Aram Bajakian: Music Inspired by the Color of Pomegranates (2015, Sanasar) B+(**)
  7. Julien Baker: Sprained Ankle (2015, 6131 Records) B+(*)
  8. Michael Bates: Northern Spy (2015, Stereoscopic) B+(***)
  9. Battles: La Di Da Di (2015, Warp) A-
  10. Nicholas Bearde: Invitation (2015 [2016], Right Groove) B+(*)
  11. The Bellfuries: Workingman's Bellfuries (2015, Hi-Style) B
  12. Big Boi + Phantogram: Big Grams (2015, Epic, EP) B+(*)
  13. David Bowie: Darkstar (2016, Columbia) B+(***)
  14. Bully: Feels Like (2015, Startime International/Columbia) A-
  15. Kenny Carr: Exit Moon (2015, Zoozazz Music) B+(*)
  16. Carter Tutti Void: f(x) (2015, Industrial) B+(***)
  17. Mary Foster Conklin: Photographs (2014 [2016], MockTurtle Music) B+(**)
  18. Elysia Crampton: American Drift (2015, Blueberry) A-
  19. Joseph Daley/Warren Smith/Scott Robinson: The Tuba Trio Chronicles (2015 [2016], JoDa Locust Street Music) B+(**)
  20. Dâm-Funk: Invite the Light (2015, Stones Throw) B
  21. Damily: Very Aomby (2015, Helico) B+(***)
  22. Deafheaven: New Bermuda (2015, Anti) B+(*)
  23. Dilly Dally: Sore (2015, Partisan) B+(**)
  24. DJ Paypal: Sold Out (2015, Brainfeeder) B+(**)
  25. C Duncan: Architect (2015, Fat Cat) B-
  26. Elephant9 With Reine Fiske: Silver Mountain (2015, Rune Grammofon) B+(*)
  27. FKA Twigs: M3LL155X (2015, Young Turks, EP) C+
  28. Foals: What Went Down (2015, Warner Brothers) B
  29. The Foxymorons: Fake Yoga (2015, Foxyphoton) B+(***)
  30. Bob Gluck/Billy Hart/Eddie Henderson/Christopher Dean Sullivan: Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band (2015 [2016], FMR) B+(***)
  31. John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure (2015, Partisan) B+(*)
  32. Gutbucket: Dance (2014 [2016], Gut) B+(**)
  33. Helena Hauff: Discreet Desires (2015, Ninja Tune/Werkdiscs) B+(***)
  34. Steve Hauschildt: Where All Is Fled (2015, Kranky) A-
  35. Stephen Haynes: Pomegranate (2015, New Atlantis) B+(**)
  36. Health: Death Magic (2015, Loma Vista) B+(*)
  37. Helen: The Original Faces (2015, Kranky) B+(*)
  38. Mette Henriette: Mette Henriette (2014 [2015], ECM, 2CD) B+(*)
  39. Ira Hill: Tomorrow (2015, self-released) C
  40. Florian Hoefner: Luminosity (2015 [2016], Origin) B+(***)
  41. Hot Chip: Why Make Sense? (2015, Domino) B
  42. Jason Kao Hwang: Voice (2014 [2016], Innova) B+(*)
  43. Abdullah Ibrahim: The Song Is My Story (2014 [2015], Sunnyside) B
  44. Christine Jensen and Maggi Olin: Transatlantic Conversations: 11 Piece Band Live (2013 [2016], Linedown) B+(*)
  45. Ryan Keberle & Catharsis: Azui Infinito (2015 [2016], Greenleaf Music) B+(**)
  46. Kehlani: You Should Be Here (2015, self-released) B-
  47. Aly Keïta/Jan Galega Brönnimann/Lucas Niggli: Kalo-Yele (2015 [2016], Intakt) A
  48. Knxwledge: Hud Dreams (2015, Stones Throw) B+(*)
  49. Sam Lee & Friends: The Fade in Time (2015, The Nest Collective) B+(*)
  50. The Libertines: Anthems for Doomed Youth (2015, Virgin EMI) B+(*)
  51. Lil Dicky: Professional Rapper (2015, self-released, 2CD) A-
  52. Lions: Lions EP (2014 [2015], self-released, EP) B+(**)
  53. Lizzo: Big Grrrl Small World (2015, BGSW) B+(*)
  54. Los Lobos: Gates of Gold (2015, 429/Savoy Jazz) B+(**)
  55. Marina and the Diamonds: Froot (2015, Atlantic) B+(*)
  56. Archy Marshall: A New Place 2 Drown (2015, True Panther Sounds) A-
  57. Jenny Maybee/Nick Phillips: Haiku (2015 [2016], self-released) B
  58. Pete McCann: Range (2014 [2015], Whirlwind) B+(*)
  59. Terrence McManus and John Hébert: Saints and Sinners (2015, Rowhouse Music) B+(*)
  60. Gabriel Mervine: People (2015 [2016], Synergy Music) B
  61. Hudson Mohawke: Lantern (2015, Warp) B
  62. Róisin Murphy: Hairless Toys (2015, PIAS) B+(**)
  63. Nero: Between II Worlds (2015, Cherrytree/Interscope) B
  64. New York Gypsy All Stars: Dromomania (2015, self-released) B+(**)
  65. Dick Oatts/Mats Holmquist/New York Jazz Orchestra: A Tribute to Herbie +1 (2015 [2016], Summit) B+(*)
  66. Aruán Ortiz Trio: Hidden Voices (2015 [2016], Intakt) B+(***)
  67. Kresten Osgood, Masabumi Kikuchi, Ben Street & Thomas Morgan: Kikuchi/Street/Morgan/Osgood (2008 [2015], ILK Music) B+(***)
  68. Laura Perlman: Precious Moments (2015 [2016], Miles High) B+(*)
  69. Chris Pitsiokos Trio: Gordian Twine (2015, New Atlantis) B+(***)
  70. Plastician: All the Right Moves (2015, self-released) A-
  71. Protomartyr: The Agent Intellect (2015, Hardly Art) B+(**)
  72. Nathaniel Rateliff: Nathaniel Raleliff & the Night Sweats (Stax) B+(*)
  73. John Raymond: John Raymond & Real Feels (2014 [2016], Shifting Paradigm) B+(***)
  74. Roswell Rudd & Heather Masse: August Love Song (2015 [2016], Red House) A-
  75. Adam Rudolph/Go: Organic Guitar Orchestra: Turning Towards the Light (2015, Cuneiform) B+(**)
  76. Joan Shelley: Over and Even (2015, No Quarter) B+(*)
  77. Julian Shore: Which Way Now (2015 [2016], Tone Rogue) B
  78. Deborah Shulman: My Heart's in the Wind (2015 [2016], Summit) B+(*)
  79. Skyzoo & Antman Wonder: An Ode to Reasonable Doubt (2013, self-released, EP) B+(**)
  80. Skyzoo: Music for My Friends (2015, First Generation Rich) B+(**)
  81. Snarky Puppy/Metropole Orkest: Sylva (2014 [2015], Impulse!) B+(***)
  82. Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace/La Orquesta Sonfonietta: Canto América (2015 [2016], Patois) B-
  83. The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded: Routes (2015 [2016], Strikezone) B+(***)
  84. Lew Tabackin Trio: Soundscapes (2014-15 [2016], self-released) B+(**)
  85. Taraf de Haïdouks: Of Lovers, Gamblers and Parachute Skirts (2015, Crammed Discs) B+(**)
  86. James Taylor: Before This World (2015, Concord) C+
  87. Tenement: Predatory Headlights (2015, Don Giovanni) B+(*)
  88. Thundercat: The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam (2015, Brainfeeder, EP) B
  89. Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott: Return of the East West Trumpet Summit (2014 [2016], Origin) B+(**)
  90. Brian Wilson: No Pier Pressure (2015, Capitol) B+(*)
  91. Chelsea Wolfe: Abyss (2015, Sargent House) B+(*)
  92. Zomba Prison Project: I Have No Everything Here (2015, Six Degrees) B+(**)
  93. Zs: XE (2015, Northern Spy) B+(**)
  94. Buena Vista Social Club: Lost and Found (1996-2000 [2015], World Circuit) B
  95. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Live in San Francisco 1971 (1971 [2015], Sundazed) B+(**)
  96. Patrick Cowley: Muscle Up (1973-81 [2015], Dark Entries) A-
  97. Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll (1960s-75 [2015], Dust-to-Digital) A-
  98. Tubby Hayes Quartet: The Syndicate: Live at the Hopbine 1968 Vol. 1 (1968 [2015], Gearbox) B+(**)
  99. Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics (1981-87 [2015], On-U Sound, 2CD) B+(**)
  100. Karin Krog: Don't Just Sing: An Anthology: 1963-1999 (1963-99 [2015], Light in the Attic) B+(**)
  101. Lost in Mali: Off the Beaten Track From Bamako to Timbuktu ([2015], Riverboat) A-
  102. Mariah: Utakata No Hibi (1983 [2015], Shan-Shan) B+(**)
  103. Mike Osborne: Dawn (1966-70 [2015], Cuneiform) A-
  104. The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Salsa (2008-13 [2015], World Music Network) B+(**)
  105. The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Samba (2009-14 [2015], World Music Network) B+(***)
  106. Bobby Rush: Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush (1964-2014 [2015], Omnivore, 4CD) A-
  107. Arthur Russell: Corn (1982-83 [2015], Audika) B+(**)
  108. Savant: Artificial Dance (1981-83 [2015], RVNG Intl) A-
  109. Schlippenbach Trio: First Recordings (1972 [2014], Trost) B+(**)
  110. Gloria Ann Taylor: Love Is a Hurtin' Thing (1971-77 [2015], Luv N' Haight) B+(*)
  111. The Velvet Underground: The Complete Matrix Tapes (1969 [2015], Polydor, 4CD) B+(***)
  112. David Bowie: Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72 (1968-72 [2000], Virgin, 2CD) B+(**)
  113. David Bowie: David Live (1974 [2005], Virgin EMI, 2CD) B
  114. David Bowie: Stage (1978 [2005], Virgin EMI) B+(**)
  115. David Bowie: Tonight (1984, EMI America) B-
  116. David Bowie: Never Let Me Down (1987, EMI America) B-
  117. David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise (1993, Virgin) B
  118. David Bowie: The Buddha of Suburbia (1993 [2007], Virgin) B
  119. David Bowie: Outside (1995, Virgin) B-
  120. David Bowie: Earthling (1997, Virgin) B
  121. David Bowie: Hours . . . (1999, Virgin) B-
  122. David Bowie: Heathen (2002, ISO/Columbia) B
  123. David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed (1995-2014 [2014], Columbia/Legacy) B+(*)
  124. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas (1973 [1974], MCA) B+(***)
  125. Sue Foley: Change (2004, Ruf) B+(***)
  126. Stephen Haynes: Parrhesia (2010, Engine Studios) B+(**)
  127. Peter Karp/Sue Foley: Beyond the Crossroads (2012, Blind Pig) B+(*)
  128. New York Gypsy All Stars: Romantech (2011, Traditional Crossroads) B+(***)
  129. Throbbing Gristle: The First Annual Report of Throbbing Gristle (1975 [2001], Thirsty Ear) B
  130. Tin Machine: Tin Machine (1989, EMI) C+
  131. Carly Rae Jepsen: E-MO-TION (2015, Interscope/Schoolboy/Silent) A-
  132. Lord Huron: Strange Trails (2015, Iamsound) B+(***)

January 8

  1. Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman: Lice (2015, Stones Throw, EP) A-
  2. Scott Amendola: Fade to Orange (2014 [2015], Sazi) B+(*)
  3. Ray Anderson's Organic Quartet: Being the Point (2015, Intuition) A-
  4. Lotte Anker: What River Is This (2012 [2014], ILK Music) B+(*)
  5. Babyface: Return of the Tender Lover (2015, Def Jam) B+(***)
  6. Beauty Pill: Beauty Pill Describes Things as They Are (2015, Butterscotch) B
  7. Blanck Mass: Dumb Flesh (2015, Sacred Bones) B+(***)
  8. Samuel Blaser: Spring Rain (2014-15 [2015], Whirlwind) B+(**)
  9. Peter Brötzmann/Steve Swell/Paal Nilssen-Love: Krakow Nights (2015, Not Two) B+(***)
  10. Cam: Welcome to Cam Country (2015, Arista Nashville, EP) B
  11. Cam: Untamed (2015, Arista Nashville) B+(**)
  12. Cécile & Jean-Luc Cappozzo: Soul Eyes (2015, Fou) B+(**)
  13. Car Seat Headrest: Teens of Style (2015, Matador) B
  14. François Carrier/Steve Beresford/John Edwards/Michel Lambert: Outgoing (2014 [2015], FMR) A-
  15. Brian Charette/Will Bernard/Rudy Royston: Alphabet City (2014 [2015], Posi-Tone) B+(*)
  16. Container: LP (2015, Spectrum Spools) B+(**)
  17. Chick Corea & Béla Fleck: Two (2015, Concord, 2CD) B
  18. Stanley Cowell: Juneteenth (2014 [2015], Vision Fugitive) B+(*)
  19. Crack Ignaz: Kirsch (2015, Melting Pot) B+(*)
  20. Adrian Cunningham: Ain't That Right! The Music of Neal Hefti (2014 [2015], Arbors) B+(**)
  21. Dej Loaf: #AndSeeThatsTheThing (2015, Columbia, EP) B
  22. Lana Del Rey: Honeymoon (2015, Interscope) B+(***)
  23. Deradoorian: The Expanding Flower Planet (2015, Anticon) B
  24. The Deslondes: The Deslondes (2015, New West) B
  25. Downtown Boys: Full Communism (2015, Don Giovanni) A-
  26. Dr. Dre: Compton (2015, Aftermath/Interscope) B-
  27. Dr. Yen Lo: Days With Dr. Yen Lo (2015, Pavlov Institute) A-
  28. Dungen: Allas Sak (2015, Mexican Summer) B
  29. Dyke Drama: Tender Resignation (2015, Salinas, EP) B
  30. Open Mike Eagle: A Special Episode Of (2015, Mello Music Group, EP) B+(**)
  31. Kevin Eubanks Quintet: Things of That Particular Nature (2014 [2015], Sunnyside) B+(**)
  32. The Greg Foat Group: The Dancers at the Edge of Time (2015, Jazzman) B+(*)
  33. Jean-Marc Foussat & Jean-Luc Petit: . . . D'Où Vient La Lumière! (2015, Fou) B
  34. Nils Frahm: Solo (2015, Erased Tapes) B+(**)
  35. Future: 56 Nights (2015, Freebandz, EP) B+(*)
  36. Michael Gibbs/The NDR Bigband: In My View (2013-15 [2015], Cuneiform) B+(***)
  37. Michael Gibbs & the NDR Bigband: Play a Bill Frisell Set List (2013 [2015], Cuneiform) A-
  38. Patty Griffin: Servant of Love (2015, PGM) B+(**)
  39. Halsey: Badlands (2015, Astralwerks) A-
  40. Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording] (2015, Atlantic, 2CD) B+(**)
  41. Have Moicy 2: The Hoodoo Bash (2015, Red Newt) A-
  42. Ted Hearne: The Source (2015, New Amsterdam) B+(*)
  43. Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott: Wisdom, Laughter and Lines (2015, Virgin EMI) B+(***)
  44. John Hébert: Rambling Confessionss (2011 [2015], Sunnyside) B+(*)
  45. Amy Helm: Didn't It Rain (2015, E1) B+(**)
  46. Hieroglyphic Being & J.I.T.U. Ahn-Sahm-Buhl: We Are Not the First (2015, RVNG Intl) A-
  47. Hieroglyphic Being: The Acid Documents (2013 [2015], Soul Jazz) A-
  48. Wayne Horvitz: Some Places Are Forever Afternoon (2015, Songlines) B+(***)
  49. Jenny Hval: Apocalypse, Girl (2015, Sacred Bones) B+(*)
  50. I Love Makonnen: I Love Makonnen 2 (2015, OVO Sound, EP) B+(*)
  51. The Internet: Ego Death (2015, Odd Future/Columbia) B+(**)
  52. Andrew Jamieson: Heard the Voice (2015, Edgetone) A-
  53. Jlin: Dark Energy (2015, Planet Mu) B+(***)
  54. Henry Kaiser & Ray Russell: The Celestial Squid (2014 [2015], Cuneiform) B+(***)
  55. Kanaku y El Tigre: Quema Quema Quema (2015, Strut/Tigers Milk) B+(*)
  56. Toby Keith: 35 MPH Town (2015, Show Dog Nashville) B
  57. Kelela: Hallucinogen (2015, Warp/Cherry Coffee, EP) B+(*)
  58. Becky Kilgore/Nicki Parrott: Two Songbirds of a Feather (2015, Arbors) B+(***)
  59. Kneebody + Daedelus: Kneedelus (2015, Brainfeeder) B+(***)
  60. Kode9: Nothing (2015, Hyperdub) B+(**)
  61. Julian Lage: World's Fair (2014 [2015], Modern Lore) B+(*)
  62. Jeffrey Lewis: Jeffrey Lewis & the Jrams (2014, self-released) B+(***)
  63. Lifted: 1 (2015, PAN) B+(***)
  64. Lightning Bolt: Fantasy Empire (2015, Thrill Jockey) B+(**)
  65. Liturgy: The Ark Work (2015, Thrill Jockey) C-
  66. Lnrdcroy: Much Less Normal (2014 [2015], Firecracker) B+(***)
  67. Amy London/Darmon Meader/Dylan Pramuk/Holli Ross: Royal Bopsters Project (2015, Motéma) B
  68. Lionel Loueke: Gaia (2015, Blue Note) B+(**)
  69. Low: Ones and Sixes (2015, Sub Pop) B
  70. Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: Where a Cigarette Is Smoked by Ten Men (2015, Constant Sorrow) A-
  71. Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: We Will Gather When We Gather (2015, Constant Sorrow) A-
  72. Allen Lowe/Matthew Shipp/Kevin Ray/Jake Millett: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: Ballad for Albert (2015, Constant Sorrow) B+(***)
  73. Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: Man With Guitar: Where's Robert Johnson? (2013 [2015], Constant Sorrow) A-
  74. Old Man Luedecke: Domestic Eccentric (2015, True North) B+(***)
  75. ¡Mayday!: Future/Vintage (2015, Strange Music) A-
  76. Meek Mill: Dreams Worth More Than Money (2015, Atlantic/MMG) B+(*)
  77. Mika: No Place in Heaven (2015, Casablanca) B+(**)
  78. Milo: So the Flies Don't Come (2015, Ruby Yacht) B+(**)
  79. Møster!: When You Cut Into the Present (2015, Hubro) B+(***)
  80. The Necks: Vertigo (2015, Northern Spy) B+(*)
  81. Neon Indian: Vega Intl. Night School (2015, Mom + Pop Music) B+(*)
  82. Noertker's Moxie: Simultaneous Windows (2015, Edgetone) B+(**)
  83. Noonday Underground: Body Parts for Modern Art (2015, Stubbie) B+(***)
  84. Larry Novak: Invitation (2014 [2015], Delmark) B+(***)
  85. Nozinja: Nozinja Lodge (2015, Warp) A-
  86. The Nu Band: The Cosmological Constant (2014 [2015], Not Two) B+(**)
  87. Evan Parker/Peter Jacquemyn: Marsyas Suite (2012 [2015], El Negocito) B+(***)
  88. John Patitucci Electric Guitar Quartet: Brooklyn (2015, Three Faces) B
  89. Bucky Pizzarelli: Renaissance: A Journey From Classical to Jazz (2015, Arbors) B
  90. Pusha T: King Push -- Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015, Def Jam) B+(***)
  91. Raury: All We Need (2015, Columbia) B+(*)
  92. Dave Rawlings Machine: Nashville Obsolete (2015, Acony) B+(*)
  93. Tomeka Reid: Tomeka Reid Quartet (2015, Thirsty Ear) A-
  94. Max Richter: From Sleep (2015, Deutsche Grammophon) A-
  95. Rival Consoles: Howl (2015, Erased Tapes) B+(**)
  96. RJD2/STS: STS X RJD2 (2015, RJ's Electrical Connections) B+(***)
  97. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen: Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 (2015, Lil' Buddy Toons) B+(***)
  98. Daniel Rosenboom: Astral Transference & Seven Dreams (2014 [2015], Orenda, 2CD) A-
  99. Royal Headache: High (2015, What's Your Rupture) B+(*)
  100. Todd Rundgren/Emil Nikolaisen/Hans-Peter Lindstrøm: Runddans (2015, Smalltown Supersound) B-
  101. Alejandro Sanz: Sirope (2015, Universal) B+(*)
  102. Schnellertollermeier: X (2013 [2015], Cuneiform) B+(**)
  103. John Scofield: Past Present (2015, Impulse!) B+(***)
  104. Christian Scott: Stretch Music (2015, Ropeadope) B+(*)
  105. Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp Plays the Music of Allen Lowe: I Alone: The Everlasting Beauty of Monotony (2015, Constant Sorrow) A-
  106. Troye Sivan: Blue Neighbourhood (2015, Capitol) B+(*)
  107. Sophie: Product (2013-15 [2015], Numbers, EP) B+(**)
  108. Skylar Spence: Prom King (2015, Carpark) A-
  109. Dexter Story: Wondem (2015, Soundway) B+(*)
  110. Susanne Sundfør: Ten Love Songs (2015, Sonnet Sound) B+(*)
  111. Steve Swell: Kanreki: Reflection & Renewal (2011-14 [2015], Not Two, 2CD) B+(***)
  112. Steve Swell: Steve Swell's Kende Dreams: Hommage à Bartók (2014 [2015], Silkheart) A-
  113. Steve Swell: The Loneliness of the Long Distasnce Improviser (2015, Swell) B+(***)
  114. They Might Be Giants: Glean (2015, Idlewild) B+(*)
  115. The Thing: Shake (2015, Thing) B+(***)
  116. Samba Touré: Gandadiko (2015, Glitterbeat) B+(***)
  117. Dale Watson: Call Me Insane (2015, Red House) B+(**)
  118. Kenny Werner: The Melody (2014 [2015], Pirouet) B+(**)
  119. Barrence Whitfield & the Savages: Under the Savage Sky (2015, Bloodshot) B+(*)
  120. Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool (2015, Dirty Hit/RCA) B+(*)
  121. Nate Wooley/Ken Vandermark: East by Northwest (2013 [2015], Audiographic) B+(**)
  122. Bobby Bradford & John Carter Quintet: No U Turn: Live in Pasadena 1975 (1975 [2015], Dark Tree) A-
  123. Billie Holiday: Banned From New York City: Live 1948-1957 (1948-57 [2015], Uptown, 2CD) B+(***)
  124. Kenny Knight: Crossroads (1980 [2015], Paradise of Bachelors) B+(***)
  125. Rastafari: The Dreads Enter Babylon 1955-83 (1955-83 [2015], Soul Jazz) A-
  126. Ed Sanders: Yiddish-Speaking Socialists of the Lower East Side (2006 [2015], Okraina, EP) B+(*)
  127. Ty Segall: Ty-Rex (2011-13 [2015], Goner, EP) B+(*)
  128. Sherwood at the Controls, Volume 1: 1979-1984 (1979-84 [2015], On-U Sound) B+(**)
  129. Sonny Simmons: Reincarnation (1991 [2015], Arhoolie) B+(**)
  130. Idrissa Soumaoro: Djitoumou (2010, Lusafrica) B+(***)
  131. The Staple Singers: Freedom Highway Complete: Recorded Live at Chicago's New Nazareth Church (1965 [2015], Epic/Legacy) B+(*)
  132. Sun Ra and His Arkestra: To Those of Earth . . . and Other Worlds (1956-83 [2015], Strut, 2CD) B+(***)
  133. Dale Watson: Truckin' Sessions, Vol. 3 (2014 [2015], Red River) B+(***)
  134. Michael Gibbs: Tanglewood 63 (1970, Deram) B+(*)
  135. Michael Gibbs With Joachim Kühn: Europeana: Jazzphony No. 1 (1994 [1995], ACT) B+(**)
  136. Henry Kaiser: Devil in the Drain (1987, SST) B+(*)
  137. Henry Kaiser & David Lindley: A World Out of Time, Vol. 2 (1993, Shanachie) B+(*)
  138. Negro Religious Field Recordings: From Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee (1934-1942: Vol. 1 (1934-42 [1994], Document) A-
  139. Team Hegdal: Vol 1 (2009 [2010], Øra Fonogram) B+(***)
  140. Team Hegdal: Vol 2 (2011, Øra Fonogram) B+(***)
  141. They Might Be Giants: Long Tall Weekend (1999, Idlewild) B+(***)
  142. Leonard Cohen: Can't Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour (2012-13 [2015], Columbia) A-
  143. Future: DS2 (2015, Epic) A-
  144. Grimes: Art Angels (2015, 4AD) A-