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Okay there's at least five of us in here. Let's talk about any jazz albums you've listened to this year and what your favorites are. New releases, re-releases, remasters, lost recordings, whatever. I will be happy if this thread even makes it to a second page. Thanks to G and steveternal for the idea with their recent discussion.
So, here's my best original jazz album of the year so far:
Here's the best ECM style album so far (though not released on the ECM label):
Here's my favorite actual ECM album so far (alternating between slow and sexy to Miles Davis-like post bop):
And my favorite reissue so far in 2013 is (duh):
Please discuss, tell me I'm wrong, and give me suggestions for ones I haven't listened to yet.
Last Edit: Oct 15, 2013 21:00:59 GMT -5 by Pops - Back to Top
Great thread. While I haven't been posting as much, I assure you the jazz is abundant. These are a few of my favorites this year (I still have much to catch up on).
Great thread. While I haven't been posting as much, I assure you the jazz is abundant. These are a few of my favorites this year (I still have much to catch up on).
See, this is perfect. I've only heard of two of these and I've only actually listened to one. Thanks.
Post by steveternal on Oct 15, 2013 21:31:05 GMT -5
I really haven't kept up with new jazz releases this year, so I will appreciate all the recommendations from you all.
That said, there three that have really struck me. One is Shorter, and the other two are:
and
The Metheny especially is just incredible. He sounds as good as ever, even while pushing 60. I mean, this album is so clutch, Tzadik and Nonesuch agreed to each release it with their own packaging.
Dawn of Midi also deserves a mention, even if they aren't really jazz.
Lucien, Great thread! I wish I was able to contribute more to this but I am pretty green when it comes to new jazz. Looking forward to checking a bunch of this out. Thanks!
My top new albums of the year so far, in approximate order:
Lucien Dubuis Trio & The Spacetet | Design Your Future
The instrumentation of a reeds-bass-drum trio most often leaves me wishing there was another in the group. The addition of a string quartet to a jazz group would seem to take things in a chamber or classical direction that isn't really my thing, either. However, here, that combination of groups is breathtaking. This album offers everything in one package that I love about jazz, from magnificent beauty to quiet contemplation to copious amounts of all-out, full-throttle free jazz.
Mostly Other People Do The Killing | Slippery Rock!
MOPDTK have been getting better and better, and this release is my favorite yet. Every member is a standout (Peter Evans, Jon Irabagon, Moppa Elliott, and Kevin Shea) but Kevin Shea's drumming is what grabbed me about this one. If you are unfamiliar with this band, I recommend starting here.
Ches Smith & These Arches | Hammered
Andrea Parkins' accordions give this one a unique sound. Tim Berne and Tony Malaby are an all-star sax duo and the ever-prodigious Mary Halvorson on guitar round out the group.
Tim Berne's Snakeoil | Shadow Man
Snakeoil comes back after a strong debut last year and improve in every way: more diverse sounds, more energy, better compositions, better interactions, better solos, the list goes on.
Mazolewski González Quintet | Shaman
Lots of ethnic/tribal/world influences in this one, which alternates between long periods of quiet calm and freer, louder sections, all equally as enjoyable.
There are some old recordings just seeing the light of day this year that I will discuss at a later time.
Mostly Other People Do The Killing | Slippery Rock!
MOPDTK have been getting better and better, and this release is my favorite yet. Every member is a standout (Peter Evans, Jon Irabagon, Moppa Elliott, and Kevin Shea) but Kevin Shea's drumming is what grabbed me about this one. If you are unfamiliar with this band, I recommend starting here.
Nice! I didn't know they had a new release. And that cover wins.
Mostly Other People Do The Killing | Slippery Rock!
MOPDTK have been getting better and better, and this release is my favorite yet. Every member is a standout (Peter Evans, Jon Irabagon, Moppa Elliott, and Kevin Shea) but Kevin Shea's drumming is what grabbed me about this one. If you are unfamiliar with this band, I recommend starting here.
Nice! I didn't know they had a new release. And that cover wins.
They actually have a 2nd album out this year as well, Red Hot, with some additional personnel thrown in the mix -- Brandon Seabrook on banjo, Ron Stabinsky on piano and David Taylor on bass trombone -- and inspired by early jazz of the 20s/30s.
If the new Colin Stetson counts as jazz, which it might, then I think that's gotta be up there.
Absolutely counts - I have forgotten about this. I think it's his best one of the "trilogy" actually. Thanks for reminding me to revisit this one some more.
And Tom, IMO this is the Miles Davis release from 2013 that I enjoyed the most, but then I'm much more partial to his work pre-fusion than anything in the biznatches' Brew era.
Juggs - I am also a bigger fan of the pre-68 stuff. I just think everybody playing here in Europe '69 is on fire and I'm a sucker for Wayne Shorter on sax. Also putting it at top since this quintet has no album of original material that I've ever been able to find.
The new Robert Glasper is a pretty big step away from last year's release. The new album is good, it's just not really the sound I expected. I'll admit I was really quite disappointed in his selection of featured artists on Black Radio 2. Has anyone else gotten a chance to listen to it yet?
The new Robert Glasper is a pretty big step away from last year's release. The new album is good, it's just not really the sound I expected. I'll admit I was really quite disappointed in his selection of featured artists on Black Radio 2. Has anyone else gotten a chance to listen to it yet?
Nope. I've been in an O. Coleman mood lately when I'm listening to jazz. I'll check it out though, thanks.
The new Robert Glasper is a pretty big step away from last year's release. The new album is good, it's just not really the sound I expected. I'll admit I was really quite disappointed in his selection of featured artists on Black Radio 2. Has anyone else gotten a chance to listen to it yet?
Okay - gave it a listen last night - pretty meh. I mean, Malcolm Jamal Warner? I liked the ones with Emeli Sande and Norah Jones actually, but a little too R&B mellow for the most part. But I wasn't a huge fan of the first one - didn't like the Coltrane cover or the Nirvana thing through the vocoder.
The new Robert Glasper is a pretty big step away from last year's release. The new album is good, it's just not really the sound I expected. I'll admit I was really quite disappointed in his selection of featured artists on Black Radio 2. Has anyone else gotten a chance to listen to it yet?
Okay - gave it a listen last night - pretty meh. I mean, Malcolm Jamal Warner? I liked the ones with Emeli Sande and Norah Jones actually, but a little too R&B mellow for the most part. But I wasn't a huge fan of the first one - didn't like the Coltrane cover or the Nirvana thing through the vocoder.
I agree that it seems to be rooted more firmly in R&B. When he came I remember some big bold statement about needing to slap jazz on the ass to get it going again. I thought the first album had lots of interesting ideas, and while I wasn't a fan of a songs, I thought there was enough ingenuity for a follow up to be strong. There's tracks I like off of this, but I think this is sort of those situations like The Men - New Moon (thought not as good) where I was almost something else entirely when I put it on. I know it's certainly not the best, and hardly jazz, but I thought it could have been both before listening.
For your consideration in the best jazz albums of 2013. Don't worry about the fact that he's 83 or that this album (plus his last one from the La Buissonne sessions, Blue Moon) has him back in the melodies that inspired Monk and Miles.
Saw her on Jools Holland and thought she was great. The album, while a step down from the live performance, is still fantastic. There's times when you think Monk is somehow playing her vocal chords for her with all of these slightly dissonant jumps.
Post by monkybunney on Nov 15, 2013 11:09:06 GMT -5
OH man this is a fan-fucking-tastic thread I'd not seen! Much more useful IMO than the now playing thread as far as my interests go. This post contributes nothing but I'll be back.
Just saw this today. Loved the Jose Jones and Dawn Of Midi albums. Will be binging through the rest of this in the coming week(s). Much appreciated for taking the time to sift through everything.
Heaven on the Ground is really one of the better tracks I've heard all year.
Post by steveternal on Dec 31, 2013 11:28:10 GMT -5
I posted this in Now Playing a little while back, but it most certainly deserves a second mention here. Please, please, PLEASE don't sleep on this one:
Just saw this today. Loved the Jose Jones and Dawn Of Midi albums. Will be binging through the rest of this in the coming week(s). Much appreciated for taking the time to sift through everything.
Heaven on the Ground is really one of the better tracks I've heard all year.
Thanks, George. I value your opinion, so would be interested in anything you thought didn't belong or I left off.
Just saw this today. Loved the Jose Jones and Dawn Of Midi albums. Will be binging through the rest of this in the coming week(s). Much appreciated for taking the time to sift through everything.
Heaven on the Ground is really one of the better tracks I've heard all year.
Thanks, George. I value your opinion, so would be interested in anything you thought didn't belong or I left off.
I haven't quite got through everything yet, so I'll reserve judgement on what shouldn't belong until then. The only album I feel is missing is the Jonathan Finlayson debut. There's 3 things that really stand out to me from this.
First is just how impressive they are moving between time signatures every 10 seconds or so. It can feel a little forced at times like in "Circus" but at other times like "Ruy Lopez" you just find your foot suddenly tapping out of time without realizing when exactly you lost the beat. Secondly, despite the fact it's a trumpet album there is almost always a feature for whichever instrument you listen most for in each track. At least 3 of the 5 musicians (trumpet, piano, drums) are really other worldly good, and it's nice to not be drowned out by one featured player the whole album. Lastly the rhythm section just plays off each other so well for people that haven't recorded together before. All four play slowly evolving parts that are generally pretty small and seemingly independent of one another, but they fit together to keep things moving but not busy.