I suppose it's about the time of year to start making suggestions for the FOR3 messageboard jazz album of the year.
This year I've probably snapped up more re-issues than anything else and the best "new" albums I managed to lay my hands on all transpire to have actually been released late last year. If you work on a strict criteria , I would have to say that the stand out jazz album of 2012 has been Pat Metheny's "Unity" project which is well and truly within the comfortable, contempoary mainstream yet still manages to throw in a few "outside" moments. With a lineup that includes Chris Potter and Antonio Sanchez, this lives up to expectations. I thought it would be excellent and there were no real surprises. There are two CD's that I've bought as Christmas presents which may turn out to be pretty sensational. One of these is the big band led by Bobby Sanabria whose discs have the feel of a Latinised Mingus BB and other is by singer Cheryl Bentyne, the clips of which sound very impressive.
However, I would have to say that the four best albums that I acquired this year were actually issued in 2011. The most recent of these is Nicole Mitchell's "Awakening" which reflects the flautist's desire to produce a more swining , jazz album and somehow manages to produce an album which I feel will appeal to more traditionalists as well as anyone looking for something a bit more adventurous. At the same time, Mitchell probably represents the apogee of jazz on her instrument - a kind of more technically assured and more pleasingly - tone Eric Dolphy. I would also have to say that the latest Aldo Romano record "Inner Smile" is hugely agreable and has the kind of autumnal warmth about it. This is a stellar band with Enrico Rava being more unbooted away from ECM and also including Baptiste Tortignon's piano which very much impressed. The track has a defining version of "My funny valentine" that eschews the melody in exchange for some fascinating improvisation.
Of the newish disc, however, the nod has to go to David Binney's "Graylen Epicentre" which features a floating roster of musicians such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Chris Potter, Brian Blade, etc in a wide range of styles that push the boundaries of post-bop. I've been listening to alot of David Binney this year and he is something of a revelation. His music yields something new upon every listen and is writing music which redefines the way small groups play jazz. "Backfooted town" is a good album and offers the chance to hear the altoist within a more "traditional" context. "Gralyen Epicentre" is perhaps a little more challenging featuring line ups that often include two drummers. Binney is nothing less than a genius. Easily the best contempoary CD I've acquired this year. Here is the standout track for me:-
With regards to re-issues of older material, the winner by a country mile is the Miles Davis in Europe Bootleg Volume One. Three CD's and one DVD of the greatest small group in the history of jazz going through the paces in concert with such verge and originality it makes the more celebrated studio versions of these tunes seem like a warm up. This is an essential puchase. Volume Two with the quintet with Shorter, Corea, Holland and DeJohnette is released in 2013.
This year I've probably snapped up more re-issues than anything else and the best "new" albums I managed to lay my hands on all transpire to have actually been released late last year. If you work on a strict criteria , I would have to say that the stand out jazz album of 2012 has been Pat Metheny's "Unity" project which is well and truly within the comfortable, contempoary mainstream yet still manages to throw in a few "outside" moments. With a lineup that includes Chris Potter and Antonio Sanchez, this lives up to expectations. I thought it would be excellent and there were no real surprises. There are two CD's that I've bought as Christmas presents which may turn out to be pretty sensational. One of these is the big band led by Bobby Sanabria whose discs have the feel of a Latinised Mingus BB and other is by singer Cheryl Bentyne, the clips of which sound very impressive.
However, I would have to say that the four best albums that I acquired this year were actually issued in 2011. The most recent of these is Nicole Mitchell's "Awakening" which reflects the flautist's desire to produce a more swining , jazz album and somehow manages to produce an album which I feel will appeal to more traditionalists as well as anyone looking for something a bit more adventurous. At the same time, Mitchell probably represents the apogee of jazz on her instrument - a kind of more technically assured and more pleasingly - tone Eric Dolphy. I would also have to say that the latest Aldo Romano record "Inner Smile" is hugely agreable and has the kind of autumnal warmth about it. This is a stellar band with Enrico Rava being more unbooted away from ECM and also including Baptiste Tortignon's piano which very much impressed. The track has a defining version of "My funny valentine" that eschews the melody in exchange for some fascinating improvisation.
Of the newish disc, however, the nod has to go to David Binney's "Graylen Epicentre" which features a floating roster of musicians such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Chris Potter, Brian Blade, etc in a wide range of styles that push the boundaries of post-bop. I've been listening to alot of David Binney this year and he is something of a revelation. His music yields something new upon every listen and is writing music which redefines the way small groups play jazz. "Backfooted town" is a good album and offers the chance to hear the altoist within a more "traditional" context. "Gralyen Epicentre" is perhaps a little more challenging featuring line ups that often include two drummers. Binney is nothing less than a genius. Easily the best contempoary CD I've acquired this year. Here is the standout track for me:-
With regards to re-issues of older material, the winner by a country mile is the Miles Davis in Europe Bootleg Volume One. Three CD's and one DVD of the greatest small group in the history of jazz going through the paces in concert with such verge and originality it makes the more celebrated studio versions of these tunes seem like a warm up. This is an essential puchase. Volume Two with the quintet with Shorter, Corea, Holland and DeJohnette is released in 2013.
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