One of the joys of being a jazz fan, or a fan of anything (for that matter), is to compare what people consider their “TOP TEN” list of albums. Or pizzas. Or baseball players. Or hot dogs. Or chilli. Or US Presidents. Or preachers. Or…
OK, you get my point. The great thing about a list is that it doesn’t have to be objective. It’s top ten FAVORITE albums. That means, “what are the albums that you’re most often going to keep listening to as time goes by?” Therefore, while “Citizen Kane” may be one of the “greatest” movies ever, it’s not one of my favorites, as I can only take seeing it once every few years. On the other hand, “The Great Escape,” “Stalag 17,” “Bridge on the River Kwaii,” “Ben Hur,” or “Some Like It Hot” are always there in my top list as I can never see them enough times.
Same with jazz albums. Ornette Coleman’s “Free Jazz” is considered a classic, but once a lifetime is fine with me.
So it is with top ten albums. These albums are the ones I and my associates consider albums that we will keep as our friends, and return to them for continued inspiration.
In ancient times, before there was punctuation marks in writing, the way to emphasize something was to repeat it over and over. That is why in the Bible Jesus says, “Truly, Truly…” He is underlining a point.
Same here with top ten albums. Look for albums that keep popping up on peoples’ lists. Those are the ones you’ll most definitely want to check out. Then, if you like it, try out another album by a journalist/critic on the list. After awhile, these people will become your musical advisors. I got into jazz on the recommendations of Leonard Feather, Scott Yanow and John McDonough, and am a better person for it.
Have fun!
GEORGE HARRIS www.jazzweekly.com www.cadence.com
Lucky Thompson-Complete Parisian Small Group Sessions 1956-1959 (Fresh Sound)
Lizz Wright-Grace (Concord)
Jesus Rocked the Jukebox (Concord)
Bill Evans-Another Time; The Halversum Concert (Resonance)
Anat Cohen-Luminisa/Outra Coise (Anzic Records)
Oscar Pettiford: NYC 1955-58 (Uptown Records)
Miles Mosley: Uprising (Verve)
Dayna Stephens-Gratitude (self produced)
Jaco Pastorius-Liberty, Truth & Soul (Resonance)
Kurt Rosenwinkel-Caipi (self produced)
I. DAVID ADLER www.adlermusic.com
New Releases:
Miguel Zenón, Típico (Miel)
Kurt Rosenwinkel, Caipi (Heartcore/Razdaz)
Steve Coleman’s Natal Eclipse, Morphogenesis (Pi)
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue)
Vijay Iyer Sextet, Far From Over (ECM)
Matt Mitchell, A Pouting Grimace (Pi)
Peter Bernstein, Signs Live! (Smoke Sessions)
David Virelles, Gnosis (ECM)
JD Allen, Radio Flyer (Savant)
Matt Wilson, Honey and Salt: Music Inspired by the Poetry of Carl Sandburg (Palmetto)
Historical:
The Savory Collection, Vol. 3, Honeysuckle Rose: Fats Waller & Friends (National Jazz Museum in Harlem)
Jaco Pastorius, Truth, Liberty & Soul — Live in NYC: The Complete 1982 NPR Jazz Alive! Recording (Resonance)
Bill Evans, Another Time: The Hilversum Concert (Resonance)
II. THOMAS CONRAD All About Jazz, Stereophile
John Vanore Stolen Moments: Celebrating Oliver Nelson (Acoustical Concepts)
Tomasz Stanko December Avenue (ECM)
Stefano Battaglia Pelagos (ECM)
Vijay Iyer Sextet Far from Over (ECM)
Alan Broadbent with the London Metropolitan Orchestra Developing Story (Eden River)
Ambrose Akinmusire A Rift in Decorum: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note)
SFJAZZ Collective Music of Miles Davis & Original Compositions (SFJAZZ)
Bill Evans Another Time: The Hilversum Concert (Resonance))
Charles Lloyd New Quartet Passin’ Thru (Blue Note)
Frank Kimbrough Solstice (Pirouet)
III. SCOTT YANOW
Richie Cole – Latin Lover – Richie Cole Presents
The Cookers – The Call Of The Wild and Peaceful Heart – Smoke Sessions
Heads Of State – Four In One – Smoke Sessions
Eric Hofbauer Quintet – Reminiscing In Tempo – Creative Nation Music
Dick Hyman – Solo At The Sacramento Jazz Festivals – Arbors
Gary Meek – Originals – Self-Released
Hank Mobley – To One So Sweet Stay That Way – Nederlands Jazz Archief
One of the joys of being a jazz fan, or a fan of anything (for that matter), is to compare what people consider their “TOP TEN” list of albums. Or pizzas. Or baseball players. Or hot dogs. Or chilli. Or US Presidents. Or preachers. Or…
once every few years. On the other hand, “The Great Escape,” “Stalag 17,” “Bridge on the River Kwaii,” “Ben Hur,” or “Some Like It Hot” are always there in my top list as I can never see them enough times.
Lucky Thompson-Complete Parisian Small Group Sessions 1956-1959 (Fresh Sound)
Miguel Zenón, Típico (Miel)
The Savory Collection, Vol. 3, Honeysuckle Rose: Fats Waller & Friends (National Jazz Museum in Harlem)
Alan Broadbent with the London Metropolitan Orchestra Developing Story (Eden River)
Dick Hyman – Solo At The Sacramento Jazz Festivals – Arbors
IV DAVID KUNIAN
Christian Scott Adunde Adjuah – Ruler Rebel – Ropeadope
Best CD’s of 2017 (Top To Bottom Order)
Of Carl Sandburg (Palmetto)
Nate Smith – Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere (Ropeadope)
1. Brian Landrus Orchestra-Generations (BlueLand)
IX LARRY HOLLIS www.cadence
6. Pat Martino-Formidable (Highnote)
10. Ken Schaphorst Big Band-How to Say Goodbye (JCA)
6. Thelonious Monk-Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (SAGA)
4. Ella Fitzgerald at Zardis 1956 (Verve) [previously unreleased]