Festive 50
The obligatory holly sprig
Welcome to my 50 recommended CDs of 2008. Most were reviewed on this site or in The Birmingham Post, most are jazz, and they will be added between now and Christmas ten at a time. Where possible there is a link to the website where you can find out more and maybe even buy them. Most will be available from Amazon or similar, though it pleases all of us who still value the traditional record shop if you attempt to buy them from a real human being behind a real counter. As usual, thejazzbreakfast’s record shop of choice is Polar Bear in York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK (See IN THE SPEAKERS for more details). Oh, and look out for the odd non-jazz wild card…
50 The Tomorrow Band: 2 To Get Set (Rehab Records) Chris Bowden, Neil Bullock and Ben Markland, Birmingham favourites all, give Freddie The Freeloader and more a good going over. Red Baron is a bonus DVD track. More
49 Myriam Alter: Where is There (Enja) She’s a composer and gets Jacques Morelenbaum, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron and others to play her almost-jazz from the heart. Very Southern European in feel. More
48 Tom Richards Orchestra: Smoke and Mirrors (Candid) He might come across like a Maria Schneider imitator, but that’s no mean feat, especially when it’s his debut disc. Gwilym Simcock is on piano. More
47 Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le: Fragile Beauty (ACT) I suspect this mix of trad Vietnamese and jazz has displeased purists in both camps, but her voice, his guitar and the lovely arrangements have always floated my bamboo canoe. More
46 Sara Colman: Ready (Q-note) Birmingham singer of great class, able to do justice to the great American songbook and to modern rock songs. Try her Stuck In The Middle With You. More
45 Houston Person: The Art And Soul Of… (High Note) If music were a bearhug it would sound like this. Gentle giant tenor saxophone plays the great composers on this three-disc bargain compilation. More
44 Blink: (Loop Records) Bass-less trio with strengths in Alcyona Mick’s compositions, Paul Clarvis’s always sensitive drumming and Robin Fincker’s knotted saxophone improvs. Part of the Loop Collective. More
43 Devon Sproule: Keep Your Silver Shined (Tin Angel) The wild card in this ten. Solid silver songs, Americana-country atmosphere and some jazzy rhythms. And her record company is based in Coventry! More
42 John Taylor: Whirlpool (CamJazz) Possibly the finest pianist this country has produced, with Palle Danielsson fulsome on bass and Martin France busy on drums. Arise Sir John! More
41 Enrico Rava/Stefano Bollani: The Third Man (ECM) A joyous trumpet and piano duo who bring romance, great style and a little humour to all they do. And so very Italian. More
40 Was (Not Was): Boo! (Ryko) Tongue-in-cheek soul-funk is not an overpopulated area in popular music, but the Was Brothers and their silver-tongued singers would be classy in the most crowded genres. This ten’s wild card. More
39 Outhouse (Babel) Drummer Dave Smith’s quartet has the same instrumentation as the original Polar Bear, with Robin Fincker and Mark Hanslip as the two tenors. Some African influences, but a fresh and original sound. More
38 Matana Roberts Quartet: The Chicago Project (Central Control) The ’60s spirit of black power and free playing is alive and well in this fearless, young saxophonist from Chicago. She has Tortoise’s Jeff Parker on guitar. More
37 Trio Mediaeval: Folk Songs (ECM) More non-jazz, this one features three scholarly classical singers bringing their Scandinavian song heritage back to life with sublime harmonies and great atmospheric sense. More
36 Dianne Reeves: When You Know (Blue Note) Singing pop songs and jazz with equal aplomb, Reeves is a deserving 21st-century keeper of the Ella Fitzgerald flame. Sumptuous George Duke production. More
35 Melingo: Maldito Tango (Manana/Naïve) If Tom Waits had been born in Argentina and was slightly better looking, he would have been Daniel Melingo. Nuevo Tango from a man who could lead your loved ones astray. More
34 E.S.T.: Leucocyte (ACT) The highly improvised, jam session swansong from a band that changed the sound of the piano trio forever, and shows they were still pushing at the limits. More
33 Mike Walker: Madhouse and the Whole Thing There (Hidden Idiom) The Salford -born guitarist waited a long time to become a leader but has done it with great confidence and eclecticism. More
32 Markus Stockhausen: Electric Treasures: Live in Bonn (Aktivraum) A superb example of a modern, high-tech form of unscripted group jazz improv – a complete live concert by the trumpet-led quartet. More
31 Bobo Stenson Trio: Cantando (ECM) I was a bit piano-trio jaded when I first reviewed this – it’s a real grower and feeds all kinds of music into the mix, from Ornette and Don Cherry to Piazzolla and Alban Berg. More
30 Alec Dankworth: Spanish Accents (Basho) What it says on the tin with the bassist assisted by Julian Arguelles, Phil Robson, Marc Miralta and Christian Garrick, all in an Iberian state of mind. More
29 Steve Lehman Quintet: On Meaning (Pi Recordings) Vijay Iyer’s saxophonist pal leads a quintet with vibes in place of piano. Strenuous and exacting, with familiarity its discipline reveals a certain charm. More
28 Curios: Closer (Impure) Another piano trio but with catchy tunes, a certain wit, great interplay and that always attractive atmosphere created when musicians simply celebrate being alive together. More
27 Gabi Lunca: Sounds from a Bygone Age Vol 5 (Asphalt Tango Records) The wild and rather dangerously joyful music that would have been heard at wedding parties in the repressed Romania of Ceausescu makes for a truly wonderful wild card. More
26 Tcheka: Lonji (Lus Africa) It’s the old woman, Cesaria Evora, who brought Cape Verde’s morna sounds to international attention, but it’s this young man who is the island’s most talented new find. More
25 Polar Bear: Polar Bear (Tin Angel) Still the most creative and distinctive of the young indie-friendly British jazz groups. Seb Rochford’s writing gets even better and Leafcutter John’s laptop tweaks are even more integrated now. More
24 Brad Mehldau Trio: Live (Nonesuch) The first really substantial recording of the trio revitalised by new drummer Jeff Ballard. Two discs, a full evening, at the one-and-only Village Vanguard. More
23 Arild Andersen, Paolo Vinaccia, Tommy Smith: Live At Belleville (ECM) Norwegian bassist, Italian drummer and Scottish tenor showing how fiery playing is vital to combat the chill up north. More
22 Christine Tobin: Secret Life of a Girl (Babel) She finds a new way to sing jazz, a new way to arrange a band, and a new way to write fine songs. The two covers are no less original. More
21 Arve Henriksen: Cartography (ECM) The most mesmerizing new trumpet sound since Miles, and a much broader, richer, deeper landscape of sound and vision than we have previously heard for this ECM debut as leader. More
20 Marcin Wasilewski Trio: January (ECM) Polish piano trio who have collectively supported trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and individually Manu Katche, with the leader’s sure-footed piano voicings a deep joy. More
19 Fieldwork: Door (Pi Recordings) Pianist Vijay Iyer, drummer Tyshawn Sorey and saxophonist Steve Lehman fluent in a jazz language I don’t begin to understand but find fascinating nevertheless. Jazz for intergalactic visitors? More
18 Vinicius Cantuaria: Cymbals (Naïve) The New York Brazilian makes it sound so effortless but reforming bossa and other samba-inflected music so expertly for the 21st century takes a subtle touch and great intelligence. More
17 Phil Robson: Six Strings & The Beat (Babel) I have become exceedingly wary of jazz musicians mixing with classical string players, but the guitarist dispels all misgivings with excellent writing and arranging, plus a great range of moods including West African to Americana. More
16 Toumani Diabate: The Mande Variations (World Circuit) A master musician who transcends genre and has brought the always attractive sound of the kora to its widest audience yet. This is a solo disc but he conjures a whole orchestra from that calabash, wood and strings. More
15 Carla Bley Big Band: Appearing Nightly (Watt) Carla and crew always delight but this time the band’s nomenclature has even more resonance as her compositions quote from and comment on all kinds of big band classics. More
14 John Zorn/George Lewis/Bill Frisell: News For Lulu (Hatology) It’s a short step from Bley’s big band references to the deliriously wonderful re-workings of obscure ’60s Blue Note hard bop created spontaneously by three avant-gardists. A reissue that was new to me for the Festive 50. More
13 Pat Metheny: Day Trip (Nonesuch) The guitarist with Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez should please the purist jazz fans while maintaining the groove, accessibility and joyful sense of celebration his PMG audience values. More
12 Norma Winstone: Distances (ECM) A worldly-wise singer and a band young enough to be her sons – Betty Carter would be proud. Norma’s finest singing and lyric writing to date, the most sympathetic piano accompaniment and some sublime soprano saxophone. More
11 Dave Douglas & Keystone: Moonshine (Greenleaf) Inspired again by silent film, but these are no simple soundtracks. The trumpeter has DJ Olive at the decks, Adam Benjamin at the Fender Rhodes and others, plus some striking compositions to explore. Propulsive. More
10 Jenny Scheinmann: Crossing The Field (Koch) The final wild card – influenced by a terrific set at the Village Vanguard I witnessed from this talented violinist and composer. Jason Moran on piano, Bill Frisell on guitar, some great string writing and delightfully quirky Americana-tinged tunes. More
9 Jim Hall & Bill Frisell: Hemispheres (artistShare) Two master guitarists from two generations sitting down in a friends house in Brooklyn to swap tunes and ideas. A second disc adds Scott Coley on bass and Joey Baron on drums with a songbook of standards. More
8 Zoe & Idris Rahman: Where Rivers Meet (Manushi) A ground-breaking Indo-jazz sound from the pianist and clarinet siblings. Their father’s Bengali ballads collection inspired them and the results are inspired indeed. Some great singing too. More
7 Abdullah Ibrahim: Senzo (Intuition) A whole solo piano set with Abdullah wandering from old favourite to new tune and on, returning at last to where he started. The complete circular journey, just as he played when I first heard him live in Cape Town in 1970. More
6 Dave Holland Sextet: Pass It On (Emarcy) The bassist uses old methods – an acoustic line-up and all the conventional instrumental roles – but gets something new from them every time – it’s the result of painstaking work from all involved, as well as the highest creative standards. Group cohesion and great playing – one cannot ask for more. More
5 Evan Parker/Transatlantic Art Ensemble: Boustrophedon (ECM) Some may say it’s not jazz but contemporary composition, but this band, co-led by Parker and Roscoe Mitchell creates a sound world unlike any other I’ve heard, and with players like Craig Taborn and Barry Guy in the band, as well as the two leader/saxophonists, how could it not be jazz? Frightening but exhilarating, too. More
4 Django Bates: Spring is Here (shall we dance?) (Lost Marble) The ultimate student group, storRMChaser, working where jazz big band meets pop songs, and led by a seriously brilliant jazz musician. Witty lyrics, even wittier playing and jam-packed with ideas and whatever joie de vivre is in Danish. More
3 Bill Frisell: History, Mystery (Nonesuch) A double disc that explores all the guitarist’s eclecticism and makes it sound completely cohesive. Everything is here, from snippets that sound like soundtracks to films you wish you could see to a live version of Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come which makes you want to leap for joy. More
2 Joe Zawinul & the Zawinul Syndicate: 75th (Birdjam) Joe’s timing was always impeccable. This double disc is recorded on his birthday, he died just weeks later, and left us this final document, not only of one of the greatest live bands but also preserving a last duet with his old Weather Report co-leader, Wayne Shorter. More
1 Julian Siegel Trio: Live at the Vortex (Basho) The English saxophonist/clarinetist with Greg Cohen on bass and Joey Baron on drums from the US. I first heard them at the Cheltenham Festival, then up so close in Birmingham you could hear them breathe. This is a terrific recording from that tour – three-way modern jazz music making that seems to me to get to the heart of what it’s all about. Virtuosity is present in spades, but more important is the warmth and humanity, the delight in spontaneous and communal creation that oozes from these men and their music. More
Well, I thought I kept up to date but I haven’t got, heard or even heard of most of these. Liked the Houston Person but was disappointed in EST which seemed directionless.
EST at 34! We demand a recount. Good to see Was not Was wriggling in there though
Managed to hear just one of these latest – no 30 – which I like a lot. A list like this makes me realise how much we miss Ray’s (Record Centre) especially when Nic was there as he would have played a lot of the above.
I’ve always loved the Zorn – one of the first jazz cds ever, as I recall but your comment about it being the only reissue (actually it’s the second after Houston Person) makes me ask – why? Plenty of great stuff has come out on cd this year, some of it for the first time. Why ignore it? As to the others I thought the Metheny OK but not great and I hated the Douglas – messy and mannered.
Ah yes, Richard, I had forgotten the Houston Person, though that is more a compilation than a straight reissue. Why no more old stuff in the list? Well, I think it is important to concentrate on what is new and being released now. That could be construed as an over-reaction against the habit of always looking back and comparing what musicians are creating today against the recordings that are justly viewed as excellent because they have stood the test of time, and therefore to the detriment of the new stuff. Kind of Blue is being re-released but that doesn’t mean I want what was created in 1959 to edge out a recording of 2008. I’m celebrating the present, you might say. Delighted to have your comments and yes, as you say, there has been some fine “new” old stuff released this year. I must seek out the ones you have already recommended, and names of others would be gratefully received.
I’d rate the EST pretty highly. There are some great noises on that record. But to be fair, I’m out of the promo loop these days, so I haven’t heard nearly as many of those as I would like.
My list is elsewhere on the site so I’m reposting it here.
Bob Dylan Tell Tale Signs
Hal Singer Soul of Africa
Ornette Coleman Croydon Concert (used to have the lps)
Alan Skidmore 50 Journeys
Alec Dankworth Spanish Accents
Gavin Bryars Sinking of the Titanic (2008 version)
Lorez Alexandria For Swingers Only
Abdullah Ibrahim Senzo
Art Pepper Unreleased Art vol. 3
Sonny Rollins Road Shows vol.1
I’ve also enjoyed most of the Keepnews/RVG reissues being put out by Concorde and Blue Note. Favourite downloads were Into the Sun by Sleepwalker and the Ellington ‘Duke Box’ at a bargain price from Play.com
Dud of the year was Sketches of MD by Kenny Garrett.