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Jazz Consumer Guide Index
#27: No Respect: Untitled, Unpublished
Links: Archive
| Picks | - Dan Raphael/Rich Halley/Carson Halley: Children of the Blue Supermarket (Pine Eagle) A
- David S. Ware: Onecept (AUM Fidelity) A-
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| A | - Muhal Richard Abrams: SoundDance (Pi) A-
- Rodrigo Amado: Searching for Adam (Not Two) A-
- Mathias Eick: Skala (ECM) A-
- Ellery Eskelin/Gerry Hemingway: Inbetween Spaces (Auricle) A-
- Terrence McManus/Gerry Hemingway: Below the Surface Of (Auricle)
- Avram Fefer/Eric Revis/Chad Taylor: Eliyahu (Not Two) A-
- Free Fall: Gray Scale (Smalltown Superjazz) A-
- Humanization 4tet: Electricity (Ayler) A-
- Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya: Sotho Blue (Sunnyside) A-
- Inzinzac: Inzinzac (High Two) A-
- Jon Irabagon: Foxy (Hot Cup) A-
- Steve Swell's Slammin' the Infinite: 5000 Poems (Not Two) A-
- Tarbaby: The End of Fear (Posi-Tone) A-
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[A-] | - Eero Koivistoinen & Co.: 3rd Version (Porter)
- David S. Ware/Cooper-Moore/William Parker/Muhammad Ali: Planetary Unknown (AUM Fidelity)
- Honey Ear Trio: Steampunk Serenade (Foxhaven)
- Jerry Bergonzi: Convergence (Savant)
- Conference Call: What About . . . . ? (Not Two)
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[***] | - Mostly Other People Do the Killing: The Coimbra Concert (Clean Feed)
- Matthew Shipp: Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear)
- Harriet Tubman: Ascension (Sunnyside)
- I Compani: Mangiare! (Icdisc)
- Terrence McManus: Transcendental Numbers (NoBusiness)
- E.J. Antonio: Rituals in the Marrow (Blue Zygo)
- Rakalam Bob Moses/Greg Burk: Ecstatic Weanderings (Jazzwerkstatt)
- Jaruzelski's Dream: Jazz Gawronski (Clean Feed)
- Sonic Liberation Front: Meets Sunny Murray (High Two)
- Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: Stories and Negotiations (482 Music)
- Ken Filiano & Quantum Entanglements: Dreams From a Clown Car (Clean Feed)
- Stephen Gauci/Kris Davis/Michael Bisio: Three (Clean Feed)
- Trygve Seim/Andreas Utnem: Purcor (ECM)
- Júlio Resende: Assim Falava Jazzatustra (Clean Feed)
- The Ullmann/Swell 4: News? No News! (Jazzwerkstatt)
- Decoy & Joe McPhee: Oto (Bo Weavil)
- Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore: Three Kinds of Happiness (Not Two)
- Andrew Lamb Trio: New Orleans Suite (Engine)
- Scenes: Rinnova (Origin)
- Brian Landrus: Foward (Cadence Jazz)
- The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band: Gypsy Rendezvous, Vol. One (Origin)
- Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Accomplish Jazz (Hot Cup)
- Correction: Two Nights in April (Ayler)
- Barb Jungr: The Men I Love: The New American Songbook (Naim)
- François Carrier/Alexey Lapin/Michel Lambert: Inner Spire (Leo)
- Todd DelGiudice: Pencil Sketches (OA2)
- William Hooker: Crossing Points (NoBusiness)
- The Jazz Passengers: Reunited (Justin Time)
- Jamaladeen Tacuma: For the Love of Ornette (Jazzwerkstatt)
- Premier Roeles: Ka Da Ver (Vindu)
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#26: Pure Joy and Hard Work
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Benjamin Herman: Hypochristmastreefuzz [Special Edition] (Dox) A
- Ivo Perelman/Dominic Duval/Brian Willson: Mind Games (Leo) A-
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| A | - Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra: India & Africa: A Tribute to John Coltrane (Water Baby) A-
- Commitment: The Complete Recordings 1981/1983 (1981-83, NoBusiness) A-
- Marilyn Crispell/David Rothenberg: One Night I Left My Silent House (ECM) A-
- Stephan Crump: Reclamation (Sunnyside) A-
- Paquito D'Rivera: Tango Jazz: Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Sunnyside) A-
- Henry Grimes/Rashied Ali: Spirits Aloft (Porter) A-
- ICP Orchestra: ICP 049 (ICP) A-
- Lean Left: The Ex Guitars Meet Nilssen-Love/Vandermark Duo, Volume 1 (Smalltown Superjazz) A-
- Lisa Mezzacappa's Bait & Switch: What Is Known (Clean Feed) A-
- The Microscopic Septet: Friday the Thirteenth: The Micros Play Monk (Cuneiform) A-
- Wadada Leo Smith and Ed Blackwell: The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer (1986, Kabell) A-
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[A-] | - Anthony Braxton: 19 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Leo)
- Profound Sound Trio: Opus de Life (Porter)
- Rob Wagner/Hamid Drake/Nobu Ozaki: Trio (Valid)
- Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oles: Duo (Fenomedia)
- Ben Syversen: Cracked Vessel (self-released)
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[***] | - Billy Fox's Blackbirds & Bullets: Dulces (Clean Feed)
- Vijay Iyer: Tirtha (ACT)
- Ernestine Anderson: Nightlife (High Note)
- Sun Ra Arkestra, Under the Direction of Marshall Allen: Live at the Paradox (In+Out)
- Anat Fort: And If (ECM)
- John McNeil/Bill McHenry: Chill Morn He Climb Jenny (Sunnyside)
- Marshall Allen/Matthew Shipp/Joe Morris: Night Logic (RogueArt)
- World Saxophone Quartet: Yes We Can (Jazzwerkstatt)
- Stephan Crump/James Carney: Echo Run Pry (Clean Feed)
- Lean Left: The Ex Guitars Meet Nilssen-Love/Vandermark Duo, Volume 2 (Smalltown Superjazz)
- The Warren Vaché/John Allred Quintet: Top Shelf (Arbors)
- Hugo Antunes: Roll Call (Clean Feed)
- Harold O'Neal: Whirling Mantis (Smalls)
- Mike Mainieri: Crescent (NYC)
- Rich Halley Quartet: Live at the Penofin Jazz Festival (Pine Eagle)
- Chris Dahlgren & Lexicon: Mystic Maze (Jazzwerkstatt)
- David Smith Quintet: Anticipation (Bju'ecords)
- James Carney Group: Ways & Means (Songlines)
- Kenny Burrell: Be Yourself (High Note)
- Pablo Aslan: Tango Grill (Zoho)
- Rafi Malkiel: Water (Tzadik)
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#25: Low-End Theories
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: Ashcan Rantings (Clean Feed) A
- William Parker: I Plan to Stay a Believer (AUM Fidelity) A
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| A | - Angles: Epileptical West: Live in Coimbra (Clean Feed) A
- Tommy Babin's Benzene: Your Body Is Your Prison (Drip Audio) A-
- The Nels Cline Singers: Initiate (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Anat Cohen: Clarinetwork: Live at the Village Vanguard (Anzic) A-
- Freddy Cole: Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B (High Note) A-
- Bill Frisell: Beautiful Dreamers (Savoy Jazz) A-
- Fred Hersch Trio: Whirl (Palmetto) A-
- Oleg Kireyev/Keith Javors: Rhyme & Reason (Inarhyme) A-
- Myra Melford's Be Bread: The Whole Tree Gone (Firehouse 12) A-
- Sounds of Liberation: Sounds of Liberation (Porter) A-
- The Stryker/Slagle Band: Keeper (Panorama) A-
- Henry Threadgill Zooid: This Brings Us To: Volume II (Pi) A-
- Vandermark 5: Annular Gift (Not Two) A-
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[A-] | - Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Milwaukee Volume (Smalltown Supersound)
- Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Chicago Volume (Smalltown Supersound)
- 3ology: With Ron Miles (Tapestry)
- Allison Miller: Boom Tic Boom (Foxhaven)
- James Blood Ulmer: In and Out (In+Out)
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[***] | - Vijay Iyer: Solo (ACT)
- Bryan and the Haggards: Pretend It's the End of the World (Hot Cup)
- Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Llyrěa (ECM)
- Steve Turre: Delicious and Delightful (High Note)
- Ralph Alessi: Cognitive Dissonance (CAM Jazz)
- Rova & Nels Cline Singers: The Celestial Septet (New World)
- Peter Evans Quartet: Live in Lisbon (Clean Feed)
- David Murray Black Saint Quartet: Live in Berlin (Jazzwerkstatt)
- James Moody: 4B (IPO)
- Erica Lindsay/Sumi Tonooka: Initiation (ARC)
- Paul Motian/Chris Potter/Jason Moran: Lost in a Dream (ECM)
- Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet + 1: 3 Nights in Oslo (Smalltown Superjazz)
- Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton + Peter Evans: Scenes in the House of Music (Clean Feed)
- Curtis Fuller: I Will Tell Her (Capri)
- William Parker: At Somewhere There (Barnyard)
- Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory: Far Side (ECM)
- Nels Cline: Dirty Baby (Cryptogramophone)
- Gia Notte: Shades (Gnote)
- David Weiss & Point of Departure: Snuck In (Sunnyside)
- Nils Petter Molvaer: Hamada (Thirsty Ear)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green: Apex (Pi)
- Mort Weiss: Raising the Bar (SMS Jazz)
- Nilson Matta's Brazilian Voyage: Copacabana (Zoho)
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[**] | - Jason Robinson: The Two Faces of Janus (Cuneiform)
- Food: Quiet Inlet (ECM)
- Brad Mehldau: Highway Rider (Nonesuch)
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| Duds | - Jason Robinson and Anthony Davis: Cerulean Landscapes (Clean Feed) B
- Metropole Orkest: 54 (Emarcy) B-
- Puttin' On the Ritz: White Light/White Heat (Hot Cup) C+
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#24: Play Louder, and Pray for Peace
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Billy Bang: Prayer for Peace (TUM) A
- The Mark Lomax Trio: The State of Black America (Inarhyme) A
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| A | - Juhani Aaltonen Quartet: Conclusions (TUM) A-
- Borah Bergman Trio: Luminiscence (Tzadik) A-
- First Meeting: Cut the Rope (Libra) A-
- John Hicks & Frank Morgan: Twogether (High Note) A-
- New York Art Quartet: Old Stuff (Cuneiform) A-
- Ben Perowsky Quartet: Esopus Opus (Skirl) A-
- RED Trio: RED Trio (Clean Feed) A-
- Roberto Rodriguez: Timba Talmud (Tzadik) A-
- Tin Hat: Foreign Legion (BAG) A-
- Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Detroit (Mack Avenue) A-
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[A-] | - Nellie McKay: Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day (Verve)
- Andrea Fultz: The German Projekt: German Songs From the Twenties & Thirties (The German Projekt)
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[***] | - Abraham Inc: Tweet Tweet (Table Pounding)
- Dave Holland Octet: Pathways (Dare2)
- Jason Moran: Ten (Blue Note)
- The Claudia Quintet + Gary Versace: Royal Toast (Cuneiform)
- Brandon Wright: Boiling Point (Posi-Tone)
- Bernardo Sassetti Trio: Motion (Clean Feed)
- The Gordon Grdina Trio: . . . If Accident Will (Plunge)
- Arild Andersen: Green in Blue: Early Quartets (ECM)
- NYNDK: The Hunting of the Snark (Jazzheads)
- Scott DuBois: Black Hawk Dance (Sunnyside)
- Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown: Varmint (Cuneiform)
- Ben Goldberg: Go Home (BAG)
- Gabriel Johnson: Fra_ctured (Electrofone)
- Kirk Knuffke: Amnesia Brown (Clean Feed)
- Soren Moller & Dick Oatts: The Clouds Above (Audial)
- Wolter Wierbos: 3 Trombone Solos (Dolfjin)
- Tord Gustavsen Ensemble: Restored, Returned (ECM)
- Roberto Rodriguez: The First Basket (Tzadik)
- Babatunde Lea: Umbo Weti: A Tribute to Leon Thomas (Motéma)
- Satoko Fujii Ma-Do: Desert Ship (Not Two)
- Matt Lavelle and Morcilla: The Manifestation Drama (KMB Jazz)
- Dan Tepfer/Lee Konitz: Duos With Lee (Sunnyside)
- Rempis/Rosaly: Cyrillic (482 Music)
- Minamo: Kuroi Kawa - Black River (Tzadik)
- Luis Lopes/Adam Lane/Igal Foni: What Is When (Clean Feed)
- Edward Ratliff: Those Moments Before (Strudelmedia)
- Will Sellenraad: Balance (Beeswax)
- Gary Peacock/Marc Copland: Insight (Pirouet)
- David Crowell Ensemble: Spectrum (Innova)
- Dave Douglas: Spirit Moves (Greenleaf Music)
- John Hollenbeck: Rainbow Jimmies (GPE)
- Cynthia Sayer: Attractions (Plunk)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo: Zakopane (Libra)
- Fight the Big Bull: All Is Gladness in the Kingdom (Clean Feed)
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[**] | - John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension: To the One (Abstract Logix)
- Pat Metheny: Orchestrion (Nonesuch)
- Ralph Towner/Paolo Fresu: Chiaroscuro (ECM)
- Led Bib: Sensible Shoes (Cuneiform)
- Jones Jones: We All Feel the Same Way (SoLyd)
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| Duds | - Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project (Hancock) B
- Esperanza Spalding: Chamber Music Society (Heads Up) B-
- Jamie Cullum: The Pursuit (Verve) C
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#23: Mocking Traditions, or Joining Them
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Rudresh Mahanthappa & Steve Lehman: Dual Identity (Clean Feed) A
- Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Forty Fort (Hot Cup) A-
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| A | - Ben Allison: Think Free (Palmetto) A-
- Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra: Where or When (Owl Studios) A-
- Ralph Carney: Serious Jass Project (Akron Cracker) A-
- Bill Frisell: Disfarmer (Nonesuch) A-
- Jan Garbarek Group: Dresden (ECM) A-
- Darius Jones Trio: Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) (AUM Fidelity) A-
- PianoCircus Featuring Bill Bruford: Skin and Wire (Summerfold) A-
- Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron: Dream Dance (CAM Jazz) A-
- Radio I-Ching: No Wave Au Go Go (Resonant Music) A-
- Wadada Leo Smith: Spiritual Dimensions (Cuneiform) A-
- Tomasz Stanko Quintet: Dark Eyes (ECM) A-
- Matt Wilson Quartet: That's Gonna Leave a Mark (Palmetto) A-
- John Zorn: Alhambra Love Songs (Tzadik) A-
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[A-] | - Maria Muldaur & Her Garden of Joy (Stony Plain) A-
- The Godforgottens: Never Forgotten, Always Remembered (Clean Feed) A-
- Anders Nilsson: AORTA Ensemble (Kopasetic) A-
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[***] | - Anthony Braxton/Maral Yakshieva: Improvisations (Duo) 2008 (SoLyd)
- Randy Brecker: Nostalgic Journey: Tykocin Jazz Suite/The Music of Wlodek Pawlik (Summit)
- Timucin Sahin Quartet: Bafa (Between the Lines)
- Gebhard Ullman: Don't Touch My Music I (Not Two)
- Mose Allison: The Way of the World (Anti-)
- The Nice Guy Trio: Here Comes . . . the Nice Guy Trio (Porto Franco)
- Jeff Healey: Last Call (Stony Plain)
- Jon Irabagon: The Observer (Concord)
- Rodrigo Amado: Motion Trio (European Echoes)
- Quartet Offensive: Carnivore (Morphius)
- Abdullah Ibrahim & WDR Big Band Cologne: Bombella (Sunnyside)
- Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Seize the Time (Naim)
- Ehud Asherie: Modern Life (Posi-Tone)
- Greg Burk: Many Worlds (482 Music)
- Ben Stapp Trio: Ecstasis (Uqbar)
- Andrew Rathbun: Where We Are Now (SteepleChase)
- The New Jazz Composers Octet: The Turning Gate (Motema Music)
- Joey DeFrancesco: Snap Shot (High Note)
- Linda Oh Trio: Entry (Linda Oh Music)
- Blink: The Epidemic of Ideas (Thirsty Ear)
- Jerry Bergonzi: Three for All (Savant)
- David S. Ware: Saturnian (AUM Fidelity)
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[**] | - Gaucho: Deep Night (Gaucho)
- Fernando Benadon: Intuitivo (Innova)
- Dan Aran: Breathing (Smalls)
- Ben Neill: Night Science (Thirsty Ear)
- Tribecastan: Strange Cousin (Evergreene Music)
- Houston Person: Mellow (High Note)
- Ralph Bowen: Dedicated (Posi-Tone)
- Gebhard Ullman: Don't Touch My Music II (Not Two)
- Dom Minasi String Quartet: Dissonance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (Konnex)
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| Duds | - EEA: The Dark (Origin) C+
- Trombone Shorty: Backatown (Verve Forecast) C+
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#22: Adapt, Improvise, Party
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Digital Primitives: Hum Crackle & Pop (Hopscotch) A-
- The Fully Celebrated: Drunk on the Blood of the Holy Ones (AUM Fidelity) A
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| A | - Mulatu Astatke/The Heliocentrics: Inspiration Information (Strut) A-
- Jerry Bergonzi: Simply Put (Savant) A-
- James Carter: Heaven on Earth (Half Note) A-
- Freddy Cole: The Dreamer in Me (High Note) A-
- Lars Danielsson: Tarantella (ACT) A-
- Hal Galper/Reggie Workman/Rashied Ali: Art-Work (Origin) A-
- Dennis González Jnaana Septet: The Gift of Discernment (Not Two) A-
- Vijay Iyer Trio: Historicity (ACT) A-
- Adam Lane/Lou Grassi/Mark Whitecage: Drunk Butterfly (Clean Feed) A-
- Steve Lehman Octet: Travail, Transformation, and Flow (Pi) A-
- Chris Morrissey Quartet: The Morning World (Sunnyside) A-
- De Nazaten & James Carter: Skratyology (Strotbrock) A-
- Roswell Rudd: Trombone Tribe (Sunnyside) A-
- Tim Sparks: Little Princess (Tzadik) A-
- Ulf Wakenius: Love Is Real: A Tribute to Esbjörn Svensson (ACT) A-
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[A-] | - Arthur Kell Quartet: Victoria: Live in Germany (Bju'ecords) A-
- Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch) A-
- Mulatu Astatke: New York-Addis-London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 (Strut) A-
- Joe Morris: Wildlife (AUM Fidelity) A-
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[***] | - Paul Giallorenzo: Get In to Go Out (482 Music)
- The Second Approach Trio With Roswell Rudd: The Light (SoLyd)
- Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: About Us (482 Music)
- Henry Threadgill Zooid: This Brings Us To, Volume 1 (Pi)
- Chris Potter Underground: Ultrahang (ArtistShare)
- Chad Taylor: Circle Down (482 Music)
- The Aggregation: Groove's Mood (DBCD)
- The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Plays Music From South Pacific (Arbors)
- Avram Fefer Trio: Ritual (Clean Feed)
- Joe Morris Quartet: Today on Earth (AUM Fidelity)
- Louis Sclavis: Lost on the Way (ECM)
- Friedlander/Mike Sarin/Trevor Dunn: Broken Arm Trio (Skipstone)
- Jeff Johnson: Tall Stranger (Origin)
- John Patitucci Trio: Remembrance (Concord)
- Dave Holland/Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Chris Potter/Eric Harland: The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival)
- Peter Delano: For Dewey (Sunnyside)
- The Ron Hockett Quintet: Finally Ron (Arbors)
- Branford Marsalis Quartet: Metamorphosen (Marsalis Music)
- Lucky 7s: Pluto Junkyard (Clean Feed)
- Marty Grosz: Hot Winds, the Classic Sessions (Arbors)
- Oliver Jones/Hank Jones: Pleased to Meet You (Justin Time)
- Stacey Dillard: One (Smalls)
- Steve Shapiro/Pat Bergeson: Backward Compatible (Apria)
- Dennis González: A Matter of Blood (Furthermore)
- Miroslav Vitous Group w/Michel Portal: Remembering Weather Report (ECM)
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[**] | - Johnny Varro Featuring Ken Peplowski: Two Legends of Jazz (Arbors)
- Rez Abbasi: Things to Come (Sunnyside)
- Harry Allen: New York State of Mind (Challenge)
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| Duds | - Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Thin Air (Thirsty Ear) B-
- Robert Glasper: Double Booked (Blue Note) B-
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#21: Loosening (or Tightening) Up
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Rova: The Juke Box Suite (Not Two) A-
- Peter Brötzmann/Toshinori Kondo/Massimo Pupillo/Paal Nilssen-Love: Hairy Bones (Okka Disk) A-
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| A | - Curlew: 1st Album/Live at CBGB (DMG/ARC) A-
- Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity: Ancients Speak (Live Wired Music) A-
- Abdullah Ibrahim: Senzo (Sunnyside) A-
- Darren Johnston: The Edge of the Forest (Clean Feed) A-
- Jim McAuley: The Ultimate Frog (Drip Audio) A-
- Francisco Mela: Cirio: Live at the Blue Note (Half Note) A-
- Zaid Nasser: Escape From New York (Smalls) A-
- Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble: The Moment's Energy (ECM) A-
- Andy Sheppard: Movements in Colour (ECM) A-
- Lisa Sokolov: A Quiet Thing (Laughing Horse) A-
- Ken Vandermark: Collected Fiction (Okka Disk) A-
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[A-] | - Anthony Braxton/Milford Graves/William Parker: Beyond Quantum (Tzadik) A-
- Béla Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From the Acoustic Planet Vol. 3: Africa Sessions (Rounder) A-
- Larry Ochs/Sax & Drumming Core: Out Trios Volume Five: Up From Under (Atavistic) A-
- Anat Cohen: Notes From the Village (Anzic) A-
- Roy Nathanson: Subway Moon (Yellow Bird/Enja) A-
- Jim Snidero: Crossfire (Savant) A-
- Zaid Nasser: Off Minor (Smalls) A-
- Isotope: Golden Section (Cuneiform) A-
- Joe McPhee/Paal Nilssen-Love: Tomorrow Came Today (Smalltown Superjazz) A-
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[***] | - Darren Johnston/Fred Frith/Larry Ochs/Devin Hoff/Ches Smith: Reasons for Moving (Not Two)
- Adrian Iaies Trio + Michael Zisman: Vals de la 81st & Columbus (Sunnyside)
- Lajos Dudas: Jazz on Stage (Jazz Stick)
- Steven Bernstein/Marcus Rojas/Kresten Osgood: Tattoos and Mushrooms (ILK)
- Sun Ra & His Astro-Infinity Arkestra: Strange Strings (Atavistic)
- Joe Lovano Us Five: Folk Art (Blue Note)
- Denman Maroney Quintet: Udentity (Clean Feed)
- On Ka'a Davis: Seed of Djuke (Live Wired Music)
- Brötzmann/Pliakas/Wertmüller: Full Blast/Black Hole (Atavistic)
- Joe McPhee/Peter Brötzmann/Kent Kessler/Michael Zerang: Guts (Okka Disk)
- Maybe Monday: Unsquare (Intakt)
- Nathan Eklund: Trip to the Casbah (Jazz Excursion)
- Evan Parker/Ingebrigt Hĺker Flaten: The Brewery Tap (Smalltown Superjazz)
- Bruno Rĺberg: Lifelines (Orbis Music)
- Townhouse Orchestra: Belle Ville (Clean Feed)
- Vassilis Tsabropoulos/Anja Lechner/U.T. Gandhi: Melos (ECM)
- Chuck Bernstein: Delta Berimbau Blues (CMB)
- François Carrier/Michel Lambert: Nada (Creative Sources)
- Exploding Customer: At Your Service (Ayler)
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[**] | - Fat Cat Big Band: Meditations on the War for Whose Great God Is the Most High You Are God / Angels Praying for Freedom (Smalls)
- Rogério Bicudo/Sean Bergin: Mixing It (Pingo)
- Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra: Secrets of the Sun (Atavistic)
- Daniel Levin Trio: Fuhuffah (Clean Feed)
- Jon Irabagon: I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues (Loyal Label)
- The Thing: Now and Forever (Smalltown Superjazz)
- Michael Blake/Kresten Osgood: Control This (Clean Feed)
- Atomic/School Days: Distil (Okka Disk)
- Peter Brötzmann/Paal Nilssen-Love: Sweet Sweat (Smalltown Superjazz)
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| Duds | - Fire Room: Broken Music (Atavistic) B
- Christian McBride & Insight Straight: Kind of Brown (Mack Avenue) B
- Terri Lyne Carrington: More to Say . . . (Koch) C-
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#20: A Summer Suite of Harmonic Disorder
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York: Summer Suite (Libra) A
- The Matthew Shipp Trio: Harmonic Disorder (Thirsty Ear) A
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| A | - Arild Andersen: Live at Belleville (ECM) A-
- Patricia Barber: The Cole Porter Mix (Blue Note) A-
- Jorge Lima Barreto: Zul Zelub (Clean Feed) A-
- François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Jean-Jacques Avenel: Within (Leo) A-
- François Carrier: The Digital Box (Ayler) A-
- Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble: Proverbs for Sam (Boxholder) A-
- Satoko Fujii Trio: Trace a River (Libra) A-
- Oleg Kireyev: Mandala (Jazzheads) A-
- William Parker Quartet: Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Brad Shepik: Human Activity Suite (Songlines) A-
- Cedar Walton: Seasoned Wood (High Note) A-
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[A-] | - Count Basie Orchestra: Mustermesse Basel 1956 Part 1 (TCB) A-
- Jimmy Rushing: The Scene (High Note) A-
- Raoul Björkenheim/William Parker/Hamid Drake: DMG @ the Stone: Volume 2 (DMG/ARC) A-
- Diana Krall: Quiet Nights (Verve) A-
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[***] | - Bebo Valdes & Javier Colina: Live at the Village Vanguard (Calle 54/Norte)
- Ahmad Jamal: It's Magic (Dreyfus)
- Bridge Quartet: Night (Origin)
- Andy Middleton: The European Quartet Live (Q-rious Music)
- Michael Bates: Clockwise (Greenleaf Music)
- Evan Parker/The Transatlantic Art Ensemble: Boustrophedon (ECM)
- Gato Libre: Kuro (Libra)
- Luis Lopes: Humanization 4Tet (Clean Feed)
- Brad Leali-Claus Raible Quartet: D.A.'s Time (TCB)
- Todd Coolman: Perfect Strangers (ArtistShare)
- Donald Bailey: Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 3 (Talking House)
- Craig Enright: La Belleza . . . (CDBaby)
- Roger Davidson & Raúl Jaurena: Pasión por la Vida (Soundbrush)
- Burnt Sugar/The Arkestra Chamber: Making Love to the Dark Ages (Live Wired)
- Natsuki Tamura/Satoko Fujii: Chun (Libra)
- Satoko Fujii/Myra Melford: Under the Water (Libra)
- Scotty Barnhart: Say It Plain (Unity Music)
- John Ettinger/Pete Forbes: Inquatica (Ettinger Music)
- Steve Herberman Trio: Ideals (Reach Music)
- Wolfert Brederode: Currents (ECM)
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[**] | - Jamie Davis: Vibe Over Perfection (Unity Music)
- Michel Sajrawy: Writings on the Wall (Ozella)
- Bo's Art Trio: Live: Jazz Is Free and So Are We! (Icdisc)
- Billy Harper: Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 2 (Talking House)
- Junk Box: Sunny Then Cloudy (Libra)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya: Sanrei (Bamako)
- Anthony Braxton/Kyle Brenders: Toronto (Duets) 2007 (Barnyard)
|
| Duds | - Tim Ries: Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project II (Sunnyside) B
- The Blue Note 7: Mosaic (Blue Note) B
- East West Quintet: Vast (Native Language Music) C+
|
#19: Grand Arcs, Gratifying Climaxes
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Houston Person: The Art and Soul of Houston Person (High Note) A
- Randy Sandke: Unconventional Wisdom (Arbors) A
|
| A | - Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Rea (Ronin Rhythm) A
- Jerry Bergonzi: Tenor Talk (Savant) A-
- Kris Davis: Rye Eclipse (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Bill Frisell: History, Mystery (Nonesuch) A-
- Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD (Mack Avenue) A-
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Kinsmen (Pi) A-
- Donny McCaslin Trio: Recommended Tools (Greenleaf Music) A-
- Mostly Other People Do the Killing: This Is Our Moosic (Hot Cup) A-
- The Soprano Summit: In 1975 and More (Arbors) A-
- The Gust Spenos Quartet: Swing Theory (Swing Theory) A-
- David S. Ware: Shakti (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Cassandra Wilson: Loverly (Blue Note) A-
|
| HM
[A-] | - The Microscopic Septet: Lobster Leaps In (Cuneiform) A-
- Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: Proliferation (482 Music) A-
- Scott DuBois: Banshees (Sunnyside) A-
- Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition: Apti (Innova) A-
- Duke Robillard: A Swingin' Session With Duke Robillard (Stony Plain) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Maurice Horsthuis: Elastic Jargon (Data)
- Angles: Every Woman Is a Tree (Clean Feed)
- Bob Mover: It Amazes Me . . . (Zoho)
- Martial Solal Trio: Longitude (CAM Jazz)
- Mauger: The Beautiful Enabler (Clean Feed)
- Charles Lloyd Quartet: Rabo de Nube (ECM)
- Buffalo: Collision (Duck) (Screwgun)
- Mike Reed's Loose Assembly: The Speed of Change (482 Music)
- Corey Wilkes: Drop It (Delmark)
- Ryan Blotnick: Music Needs You (Songlines)
- Torben Waldorff: Afterburn (ArtistShare)
- Bill Easley: Business Man's Bounce (18th & Vine)
- Brazilian Trio: Forests (Zoho)
- Bobo Stenson Trio: Cantando (ECM)
- Steve Lehman Quartet: Manifold (Clean Feed)
- Júlio Resende: Da Alma (Clean Feed)
- Jerry Bergonzi: Tenorist (Savant)
- Harry Whitaker: One Who Sees All Things (Smalls)
- Bryan Beninghove: Organ Trio (CDBaby)
- Tobias Gebb & Trio West: An Upper West Side Story (Yummy House)
- Jim Hall & Bill Frisell: Hemispheres (ArtistShare)
- Grace Kelly/Lee Konitz: GraceFulLee (Pazz Productions)
- Kenny Davern/Ken Peplowski: Dialogues (Arbors)
|
| HM
[**] | - Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet: Tabligi (Cuneiform)
- Sheila Jordan: Winter Sunshine (Justin Time)
- Ernestine Anderson: A Song for You (High Note)
- Lee Konitz and Minsarah: Deep Lee (Enja)
|
| HM
[*] | |
| B | |
| Duds | - Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur (AUM Fidelity) B
- The Bad Plus: For All I Care (Heads Up) B-
- Jon Hassell: Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street (ECM) B-
|
#18: Little Innovations Run the World
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra: We Are MTO (Mowo!) A
- Vijay Iyer: Tragicomic (Sunnyside) A
|
| A | - Ben Allison & Man Size Safe: Little Things Run the World (Palmetto) A-
- Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Suite (Tzadik) A-
- Dave Douglas & Keystone: Moonshine (Greenleaf Music) A-
- Mike Ellis: Bahia Band (Alpha Pocket) A-
- Scott Fields Freetet: Bitter Love Songs (Clean Feed) A-
- Fieldwork: Door (Pi) A-
- David Murray/Mal Waldron: Silence (Justin Time) A-
- Sun Ra: Some Blues but Not the Kind That's Blue (Atavistic) A-
- Sonny Rollins: Road Shows Vol. 1 (Doxy/Emarcy) A-
- Vandermark 5: Beat Reader (Atavistic) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Steve Reid Ensemble: Daxaar (Domino) A-
- Maceo Parker: Roots & Grooves (Heads Up) A-
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. III: The Croydon Concert, May 14, 1981 (Widow's Taste) A-
- Peter Brötzmann/Peeter Uuskyla: Born Broke (Atavistic)
- Bobby Previte & the New Bump: Set the Alarm for Monday (Palmetto)
- Houston Person/Ron Carter: Just Between Friends (High Note)
- Jon Larsen: The Jimmy Carl Black Story (Zonic Entertainment/Hot Club, 2CD)
- Marcin Wasilewski Trio: January (ECM)
- ZMF Trio: Circle the Path (Drip Audio)
- Territory Band-6 With Fred Anderson: Collide (Okka Disk)
- Louie Bellson & Clark Terry: Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (Percussion Power)
- Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis: Two Men With the Blues (Blue Note)
|
| HM
[**] | - Esmée Althuis/Albert Van Veenendaal: The Mystery of Guests (Evil Rabbit)
- Mort Weiss/Ron Eschete: All Too Soon (SMS Jazz)
- The James Moody and Hank Jones Quartet: Our Delight (IPO)
- The Peter Brötzmann Octet: The Complete Machine Gun Sessions (Atavistic)
|
| Duds | - Rob Mosher's Storytime: The Tortoise (Old Mill) B-
- Lindha Kallerdahl: Gold (ESP-Disk) C+
- Kate McGarry: If Less Is More . . . Nothing Is Everything (Palmetto) C
|
#17: Festival Visions
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - William Parker: Double Sunrise Over Neptune (AUM Fidelity) A
- Rob Brown Ensemble: Crown Trunk Root Funk (AUM Fidelity) A-
|
| A | - Bloodcount: Seconds (Screwgun) A-
- The Roy Campbell Ensemble: Akhenaten Suite (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Ted Des Plantes' Washboard Wizards: Thumpin' and Bumpin' (Stomp Off) A-
- Brent Jensen: One More Mile (Origin) A-
- Alex Kontorovich: Deep Minor (Chamsa) A-
- Myra Melford/Mark Dresser/Matt Wilson: Big Picture (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Nublu Orchestra: Conducted by Butch Morris (Nublu) A-
- Slow Poke: At Home (Palmetto) A-
- Mike Walbridge's Chicago Footwarmers: Crazy Rhythm (Delmark) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Music From Guys and Dolls (Arbors) A-
- Grupo Los Santos: Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea (Deep Tone) A-
- Dick Hyman/Chris Hopkins: Teddy Wilson in 4 Hands (Victoria) A-
- Mary Lou Williams: A Grand Night for Swinging (High Note) A-
- Paul Shapiro's Ribs and Brisket Revue: Essen (Tzadik) A-
- Ari Roland: And So I Lived in Old New York . . . (Smalls) A-
- Marilyn Mazur/Jan Garbarek: Elixir (ECM)
- Steve Lehman Quintet: On Meaning (Pi)
- Giacomo Gates: Luminosity (Doubledave Music)
- Sal Mosca Quartet: You Go to My Head (Blue Jack Jazz)
- Adam Kolker: Flag Day (Sunnyside)
- Stacey Kent: Breakfast on the Morning Tram (Blue Note)
- James Carter: Present Tense (Emarcy)
- The Jack & Jim Show Presents: Hearing Is Believing (Boxholder)
- Harry Allen: Hits by Brits (Challenge)
- Jason Kao Hwang/Edge: Stories Before Within (Innova)
- Tom Teasley: Painting Time (T&T Music)
- Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra: Maria Juanez (TCB)
- The Joe Locke Quartet: Sticks and Strings (Jazz Eyes)
- Vince Seneri: The Prince's Groove (Prince V)
- Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: The Messenger: Live at the Original Velvet Lounge (Delmark)
|
| HM
[**] | - Rob Brown Trio: Sounds (Clean Feed)
- Marty Ehrlich & Myra Melford: Spark! (Palmetto)
- The Rocco John Group: Don't Wait Too Long (COCA Productions)
|
| Duds | - Maria Schneider Orchestra: Sky Blue (ArtistShare) B
- Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble: Black Unstoppable (Delmark) B-
- Christian Scott: Anthem (Concord) B-
|
#16: Funk Fusion, Bebop Terrorism in New Jazz Records (2008-05-13)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - MI3: Free Advice (Clean Feed) A
- Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Shamokin!!! (Hot Cup) A
|
| A | - Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Holon (ECM) A-
- Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia/Legacy) A-
- Jostein Gulbrandsen: Twelve (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette: My Foolish Heart: Live at Montreux (ECM) A-
- Rafi Malkiel: My Island (Raftone) A-
- William Parker/Raining on the Moon: Corn Meal Dance (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert (1981, Widow's Taste) A-
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert (1982, Widow's Taste) A-
- Alvin Queen: I Ain't Looking at You (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Louis Sclavis: L'Imparfait des Langues (ECM) A-
- Joan Stiles: Hurly-Burly (Oo-Bla-Dee) A-
- McCoy Tyner: Quartet (McCoy Tyner Music/Half Note) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Horace Silver: Live at Newport '58 (1958, Blue Note) A-
- Jimmy Blythe: Messin' Around Blues (Delmark)
- Nanette Natal: I Must Be Dreaming (Benyo Music)
- Ila Cantor: Mother Nebula (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Joe Temperley/Harry Allen: Cocktails for Two (Sackville)
- Alvin Fielder Trio: A Measure of Vision (Clean Feed)
- Enrico Rava: The Words and the Days (ECM)
- George Lewis: Sequel (For Lester Bowie) (Intakt)
|
| HM
[**] | - Wallace Roney: Jazz (High Note)
- Nicki Parrott/Rossano Sportiello: People Will Say We're in Love (Arbors)
- Anthony Braxton: Solo Willisau (Intakt)
|
| Duds | - Eric Alexander: Temple of Olympic Zeus (High Note) B-
- Kurt Elling: Nightmoves (Concord) C+
- Enrico Rava/Stefano Bollani: The Third Man (ECM) B
|
#15: Old Forms, Fresh Outlooks (2008-02-12)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Chris Byars: Photos in Black, White and Gray (Smalls) A-
- That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History [1895-1950] (WHRA) A
|
| A | - The Claudia Quintet: For (Cuneiform) A-
- The Neil Cowley Trio: Displaced (Hide Inside) A-
- Happy Apple: Happy Apple Back on Top (Sunnyside) A-
- Matt Lavelle Trio: Spiritual Power (Silkheart) A-
- Hugh Masekela: Live at the Market Theatre (Times Square/4Q) A-
- Chris Potter Underground: Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside) A-
- John Sheridan and His Dream Band: Swing Is Still the King (Arbors) A-
- Assif Tsahar/Cooper-Moore/Chad Taylor: Digital Primitives (Hopscotch) A-
- Fay Victor Ensemble: Cartwheels Through the Cosmos (ArtistShare) A-
- David S. Ware Quartet: Renunciation (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Yerba Buena Stompers: The Yama-Yama Man (Stomp Off) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - Von Freeman: The Best of Von Freeman on Premonition (Premonition)
- Adam Lane/Ken Vandermark/Magnus Broo/Paal Nilssen-Love: 4 Corners (Clean Feed)
- Josh Roseman: New Constellations: Live in Vienna (Accurate)
- Marcus Strickland Twi-Life Group: Open Reel Deck (Strick Muzik)
- The Blueprint Project: People I Like (Creative Nation Music)
- Amir ElSaffar: Two Rivers (Pi)
- Terence Blanchard: A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina) (Blue Note)
- Frank Morgan: A Night in the Life (High Note)
- Sonic Openings Under Pressure: Muhheankuntuk (Clean Feed)
- Matt Chamberlain/Bill Frisell/Tucker Martine/Lee Townsend: Floratone (Blue Note)
- Paul Zauners Blue Brass: Soil (PAO/BluJazz)
- Quadro Nuevo: Tango Bitter Sweet (Justin Time)
- Charlie Haden/Antonio Forcione: Heartplay (Naim)
|
| HM
[**] | - The Phil Woods Quintet: American Songbook II (Kind of Blue)
- Allen Lowe: Jews in Hell: Radical Jewish Acculturation (Spaceout)
|
| Duds | - Chris Potter 10: Song for Anyone (Sunnyside) B
- Satoko Fujii Quartet: Bacchus (Onoff)
- Herbie Hancock: River: The Joni Letters (Verve)
- Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations II (ECM)
|
#14: The Raw Power of a Fresh Start (2007-10-23)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Jewels and Binoculars: Ships With Tattooed Sails (Upshot) A
- Powerhouse Sound: Oslo/Chicago Breaks (Atavistic) A
|
| A | - Maria Anadon: A Jazzy Way (Arbors) A-
- Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake: From the River to the Ocean (Thrill Jockey) A-
- Pablo Aslan: Buenos Aires Tango Standards (Zoho) A-
- Billy Bang Quintet Featuring Frank Lowe: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Justin Time) A-
- Kahil El'Zabar's Infinity Orchestra: Transmigration (Delmark) A-
- David Murray Black Saint Quartet: Sacred Ground (Justin Time) A
- Joshua Redman: Back East (Nonesuch) A-
- Logan Richardson: Cerebral Flow (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Sonic Liberation Front: Change Over Time (High Two) A-
- The Tierney Sutton Band: On the Other Side (Telarc) A-
- Albert van Veenendaal/Meinrad Kneer/Yonga Sun: Predictable Point of Impact (Evil Rabbit) A-
|
| HM
[***] | - William Parker & Hamid Drake: First Communion + Piercing the Veil (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Joe Morris/Ken Vandermark/Luther Gray: Rebus (Clean Feed) A-
- Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: American Landscapes 1 (Okkadisk)
- Frank Carlberg: State of the Union (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Avishai Cohen: As Is . . . Live at the Blue Note (Razdaz/Half Note)
- Phil Bodner: Once More With Feeling (Arbors)
- Tord Gustavsen Trio: Being There (ECM)
- Jason Lindner: Ab Aeterno (Fresh Sound World Jazz)
- Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Hot 'N' Heavy (Delmark)
- Dave Liebman: Back on the Corner (Tone Center)
- Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid: Tongues (Domino)
- Nicole Mitchell/Harrison Bankhead/Hamid Drake: Indigo Trio: Live in Montreal (Paperback Series Vol. 3) (Greenleaf Music)
|
| HM
[**] | - Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: American Landscapes 2 (Okkadisk)
- Charles Mingus Sextet With Eric Dolphy: Cornell 1964 (Blue Note)
|
| Duds | - Soweto Kinch: A Life in the Day of B19: Tales of the Tower Block (Dune) B-
- Kenny Burrell: 75th Birthday Bash Live! (Blue Note) C+
- Kenny Garrett: Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch) B
- Mark Murphy: Love Is What Stays (Verve) D
|
#13: Muscling Up and Rocking Out (2007-06-26)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Wolfgang Muthspiel: Bright Side (Material) A-
- Anders Nilsson's Aorta: Blood (Kopasetic) A-
|
| A | - Club D'Elf: Now I Understand (Accurate) A-
- Satoko Fujii Four: When We Were There (Libra) A-
- Gato Libre: Nomad (No Man's Land) A-
- Vijay Iyer + Mike Ladd: Still Life With Commentator (Savoy Jazz) A-
- Steve Lacy Quintet: Esteem (1975, Atavistic) A-
- Joe Lovano & Hank Jones: Kids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Blue Note) A-
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Codebook (Pi) A-
- Bob Reynolds: Can't Wait for Perfect (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Sound in Action Trio: Gate (Atavistic) A-
- David Torn: Prezens (ECM) A-
- Frank Wright: Unity (1974, ESP-Disk) A-
|
| HM | - The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpático (ArtistShare) A-
- Vittor Santos: Renewed Impressions (Adventure Music) A-
- Carneyball Johnson: Carneyball Johnson (Akron Cracker) A-
- Anat Fort: A Long Story (ECM)
- Gordon Grdina's Box Cutter: Unlearn (Spool/Line)
- Joel Frahm: We Used to Dance (Anzic)
- Anat Cohen & the Anzic Orchestra: Noir (Anzic)
- BassDrumBone: The Line Up (Clean Feed)
- Bob French: Marsalis Music Honors Bob French (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
- Jerry Granelli/V16: The Sonic Temple: Monday and Tuesday (Songlines)
- Satoko Fujii/Natsuki Tamura: In Krakow in November (Not Two)
- Uri Caine Ensemble: Plays Mozart (Winter & Winter)
- Russell Malone: Live at Jazz Standard: Volume One (MaxJazz)
- Les DeMerle: Cookin' at the Corner, Vol. 1 (Origin)
|
| HM
[**] | - Michael Brecker: Pilgrimage (Heads Up)
- Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker: Get Ready (Mack Avenue)
|
| Duds | - Turtle Island String Quartet: A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane (Telarc) C+
- John Abercrombie: The Third Quartet (ECM) B
- Vijay Iyer & Rudresh Mahanthappa: Raw Materials (Savoy Jazz) B
- Wynton Marsalis: From the Plantation to the Penitentiary (Blue Note) B
|
#12: No Training Wheels Necessary (2007-03-20)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Nils Petter Molvaer: ER (Thirsty Ear) A
- The Vandermark 5: Free Jazz Classics Vols. 3 & 4 (Atavistic) A
|
| A | - Omer Avital: The Ancient Art of Giving (Smalls) A-
- Ignacio Berroa: Codes (Blue Note) A-
- Scott Hamilton: Nocturnes & Serenades (Concord) A-
- Hat: Hi Ha (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid: The Exchange Session Vol. 1 (Domino) A-
- Frank Hewitt: Fresh From the Cooler (1996, Smalls) A-
- Andrew Hill: Pax (1965, Blue Note) A-
- Maurice Hines: To Nat "King" Cole With Love (Arbors) A-
- Kidd Jordan/Hamid Drake/William Parker: Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Diana Krall: From This Moment On (Verve) A-
- Bucky Pizzarelli: 5 for Freddie: Bucky's Tribute to Freddie Green (Arbors) A-
|
| HM | - Maurice El Médioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez: Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions (Piranha) A-
- Billy Stein Trio: Hybrids (Barking Hoop)
- Sergi Sirvent & Xavi Maureta: Lines Over Rhythm (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Ellery Eskelin: Quiet Music (Prime Source)
- Regina Carter: I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey (Verve)
- Tomasz Stanko Quartet: Lontano (ECM)
- Von Freeman: Good Forever (Premonition)
- Mark Helias' Open Loose: Atomic Clock (Radio Legs Music)
- Samo Salamon Quartet: Two Hours (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Sathima Bea Benjamin: Song Spirit (Ekapa)
- Wayne Horvitz Gravitas Quartet: Way Out East (Songlines)
- Frank Morgan: Reflections (High Note)
- Dennis González Boston Project: No Photograph Available (Clean Feed)
- John Hicks: Sweet Love of Mine (High Note)
- Sonny Simmons: I'll See You When You Get There (Jazzaway)
- Kali Z. Fasteau/Kidd Jordan: People of the Ninth: New Orleans and the Hurricane 2005 (Flying Note)
|
| Duds | - Warren Vaché and the Scottish Ensemble: Don't Look Back (Arbors) B-
- Cheryl Bentyne: The Book of Love (Telarc) C-
- David 'Fathead' Newman: Life (High Note) C+
- Charles Tolliver Big Band: With Love (Blue Note/Mosaic) B
|
#11: Fractious Grammar (2006-12-13)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Ornette Coleman: Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar) A
- Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: New Magical Kingdom (Clean Feed) A-
|
| A | - Ben Allison: Cowboy Justice (Palmetto) A-
- François Carrier: Happening (Leo) A-
- Jeff Healey & the Jazz Wizards: It's Tight Like That (Stony Plain) A-
- Junk Box: Fragment (Libra) A-
- Charles Lloyd: Sangam (ECM) A-
- Paul Motian: On Broadway Vol. 4 (Winter & Winter) A-
- Sonny Rollins: Sonny, Please (Doxy) A-
- Thomas Strřnen: Pohlitz (Rune Grammofon) A-
- The Vandermark 5: A Discontinuous Line (Atavistic) A-
- Ulf Wakenius: Notes From the Heart (ACT) A-
|
| HM | - Nils Petter Molvaer: An American Compilation (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Anders Aarum Trio: First Communion (Jazzaway)
- Pete McCann: Most Folks (Omnitone)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya: Maru (Bakamo)
- Marcus Strickland: Quartets: Twi-Life (Strick Muzik)
- François Carrier/Dewey Redman: Open Spaces (Spool/Line)
- Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron: Ballads (CAM Jazz)
- Adam Lane Trio: Music Degree Zero (CIMP)
- Terra Hazelton: Anybody's Baby (HealeyOphonic)
- Shot x Shot: Shot x Shot (High Two)
- Avishai Cohen: Continuo (RazDaz/Sunnyside)
- The Gift: Live at Sangha: Nov 6, 2004 (Bmadish)
- Christian McBride: Live at Tonic (Ropeadope, 3CD)
- Kris Davis: The Slightest Shift (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Aaron Weinstein: A Handful of Stars (Arbors)
- Boxhead Ensemble: Nocturnes (Atavistic)
- Mike Boone: Yeah, I Said It . . . (Dreambox Media)
|
| Duds | - The Matt Savage Trio: Quantum Leap (Savage) C+
- Geri Allen: Timeless Portraits and Dreams (Telarc) B-
- The Chris Walden Big Band: No Bounds (Origin) C+
|
#10: Shine Balls (2006-08-29)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Jon Faddis: Teranga (Koch) A
- World Saxophone Quartet: Political Blues (Justin Time) A
|
| A | - Rabih Abou-Khalil/Joachim Kühn: Journey to the Centre of an Egg (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Bill Carrothers: Shine Ball (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Ramón Díaz: Diŕleg (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Erik Friedlander: Prowl (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Manu Katché: Neighbourhood (ECM) A-
- Adam Lane Trio: Zero Degree Music (CIMP) A-
- Joe Morris Quartet: Beautiful Existence (Clean Feed) A-
- Francis Wong: Legends & Legacies (Asian Improv) A-
- Zentralquartett: 11 Songs -- Aus Teutschen Landen (Intakt) A-
|
| HM | - Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille): Time Being (Intakt)
- NOW Orchestra & Marilyn Crispell: Pola (Victo)
- Batagraf: Statements (ECM)
- Johnnie Valentino: Stingy Brim (Omnitone)
- Dave Burrell/Billy Martin: Consequences (Amulet)
- Carl Maguire: Floriculture (Between the Lines)
- Michael Musillami's Dialect: Fragile Forms (Playscape)
- Helen Sung Trio: Helenistique (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Trio-X: Moods: Playing With the Elements (CIMP)
- Erik Truffaz: Saloua (Blue Note)
- Unexpected: Plays the Blues in Need (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Industrial Jazz Group: Industrial Jazz a Go Go! (Evander Music)
- Dave Frishberg: Retromania: At the Jazz Bakery (Arbors)
- Randy Sandke and the Metatonal Big Band: The Subway Ballet (Evening Star)
- Buck Hill: Relax (Severn)
- Dom Minasi: The Vampire's Revenge (CDM)
|
| Duds | - Kenny G: The Essential Kenny G (1986-2004, Arista/Legacy) C
- Randy Brecker w/Michael Brecker: Some Skunk Funk (Telarc) C
- Larry Goldings: Quartet (Palmetto) B-
- The Ed Palermo Big Band: Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Cuneiform) C-
|
#9: Second Term Blues (2006-05-30)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Bernardo Sassetti Trio˛: Ascent (Clean Feed) A
- Irčne Schweizer: Portrait (1984-2004, Intakt) A
|
| A | - The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Hey, Look Me Over (Arbors) A-
- Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Stoa (ECM) A-
- The Claudia Quintet: Semi-Formal (Cuneiform) A-
- Garage A Trois: Outre Mer (Telarc) A-
- Moncef Genoud: Aqua (Savoy Jazz) A-
- Steve Lehman: Demian as Posthuman (Pi) A-
- Mario Pavone Sextet: Deez to Blues (Playscape) A-
- Bob Rockwell: Bob's Ben: A Salute to Ben Webster (Stunt) A-
- Alexander von Schlippenbach: Monk's Casino (Intakt) A-
- Sonny Simmons: The Traveller (Jazzaway) A-
- Miguel Zenón: Jíbaro (Marsalis Music/Rounder) A-
|
| HM | - Sonny Simmons: The Complete ESP-Disk' Recordings (1966, ESP-Disk)
- Marc Johnson: Shades of Jade (ECM)
- Gianluca Petrella: Indigo 4 (Blue Note)
- Ben Goldberg Quintet: The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact (Cryptogramophone)
- Exploding Customer: Live at Tampere Jazz Happening (Ayler)
- Jamie Davis: It's a Good Thing (Unity Music)
- Jason Kao Hwang: Graphic Evidence (Asian Improv)
- Antonio Arnedo: Colombia (Adventure Music)
- Ray Barretto: Time Was - Time Is (O+ Music)
- Bob Belden: Three Days of Rain (Original Soundtrack) (Sunnyside)
- Brent Jensen: Trios (Origin)
- String Trio of New York With Oliver Lake: Frozen Ropes (Barking Hoop)
- Ray Russell: Goodbye Svengali (Cuneiform)
- Jimmy Amadie Trio: Let's Groove! A Tribute to Mel Tormé (TP)
- Kenny Wheeler: What Now? (Cam Jazz)
- Andrew Lamb/Warren Smith: The Dogon Duo (Engine)
|
| Duds | - Taylor Eigsti: Lucky to Be Me (Concord) B-
- James Carter/Cyrus Chestnut/Ali Jackson/Reginald Veal: Gold Sounds (Brown Brothers)
- Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra With Arturo O'Farrill: Noche Inolvidable (Palmetto)
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#8: Fungible Insights (2006-02-21)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - FME: Cuts (Okka Disk) A
- Sheila Jordan + Cameron Brown: Celebration (High Note) A-
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| A | - Uri Caine/Bedrock: Shelf-Life (Winter & Winter) A-
- Peter Epstein/Brad Shepik/Matt Kilmer: Lingua Franca (Songlines) A-
- Rich Halley Trio: Mountains and Plains (Louie) A-
- Arthur Kell Quartet: Traveller (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Steve Lacy/Joëlle Léandre: One More Time (Leo) A-
- Hilary Noble & Rebecca Cline: Enclave (Zoho) A-
- Triptych Myth: The Beautiful (AUM Fidelity) A-
- Assif Tsahar/Cooper-Moore/Hamid Drake: Lost Brother (Hopscotch) A-
- Mark Whitecage & the Bi-Coastal Orchestra: BushWacked: A Spoken Opera (Acoustics) A-
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| HM | - Dominic Duval/Mark Whitecage: Rules of Engagement, Vol. 1 (Drimala)
- Randy Reinhart: At the Mill Hill Playhouse: As Long as I Live (Arbors)
- Sam Rivers/Ben Street/Kresten Osgood: Violet Violets (Stunt)
- Bayashi: Rock (Jazzaway)
- Joe Fielder Trio: Plays the Music of Albert Mangelsdorff (Clean Feed)
- Billy Jenkins: When the Crowds Have Gone (Babel)
- Dominic Frasca: Deviations (Cantaloupe/Serious Music)
- Joel Futterman/Alvin Fielder/Ike Levin Trio: Resolving Doors (Charles Lester Music)
- The Onus: Triphony (Hipnotic)
- Trygve Seim: Sangam (ECM)
- Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano: I Have the Room Above Her (ECM)
- Joe Giardullo: No Work Today: Nine for Steve Lacy (Drimala)
- Hamid Drake & Assif Tsahar: Live at Glenn Miller Café (Ayler)
- George Colligan's Mad Science: Realization (Sirocco Jazz)
- Julius Tolentino: Just the Beginning (Sharp Nine)
- Mark Weinstein: Algo Mas (Jazzheads)
- Rake-Star: Some Ra (Spool/Line)
- The Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: Be Music, Night (Okka Disk)
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| Duds | - Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra: Don't Be Afraid . . . The Music of Charles Mingus (Palmetto) B-
- Jamie Cullum: Catching Tales (Verve/Forecast)
- Nnenna Freelon: Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday (Concord)
- David Murray 4tet & Strings: Waltz Again (Justin Time)
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#7: Low Rent (2005-12-14)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Anthony Braxton: 20 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Leo) A
- Paraphrase: Pre-Emptive Denial (Screwgun) A
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| - Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake/William Parker: Blue Winter (Eremite) A-
- Tom Christensen: New York School (Playscape) A-
- Anat Cohen: Place & Time (Anzic) A-
- Gerry Hemingway Quartet: The Whimbler (Clean Feed) A-
- George Russell and the Living Time Orchestra: The 80th Birthday Concert (Concept Publishing) A-
- Jenny Scheinman: 12 Songs (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Mary Stallings: Remember Love (Half Note) A-
- Ralph Sutton & Dick Cary: Rendezvous at Sunnie's 1969 (1969, Arbors) A-
- The Vandermark 5: Alchemia (Not Two) A-
- The Vandermark 5: The Color of Memory (Atavistic) A-
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| HM | - Diane Reeves: Good Night, and Good Luck (Concord)
- David Hazeltine: Modern Standards (Sharp Nine)
- Mike Ladd: Negrophilia [The Album] (Thirsty Ear)
- Will Calhoun: Native Lands (Half Note)
- Enrico Rava: Full of Life (CAM Jazz)
- Marc Copland/John Abercrombie/Kenny Wheeler: Brand New (Challenge)
- Ernest Dawkins' Chicago 12: Misconceptions of a Delusion Shades of a Charace (Dawk)
- Hank Jones: For My Father (Justin Time)
- Joe Lovano: Joyous Encounter (Blue Note)
- The Dave Brubeck Quartet: London Flat London Sharp (Telarc)
- Gerry Hemingway Quintet: Double Blues Crossing (Between the Lines)
- Sunny Murray: Perles Noires, Vol. I (Eremite)
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| Duds | - Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (Hear Music) C
- Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Heiroglyphics: It Is Written (ACT)
- Bill Charlap/Sandy Stewart: Love Is Here to Stay (Blue Note)
- Marian McPartland & Friends: 85 Candles -- Live in New York (Concord)
- Mizell: The Mizell Brothers at Blue Note (Blue Note)
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| Drops | - Art Pepper: Mosaic Select (1956-57, Mosaic) A
- Larry Young: Of Love and Peace (1966, Blue Note) A-
- Andrew Hill: Mosaic Select (1967-70, Mosaic) B+
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#6: Bush Medicine (2005-08-24)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Fieldwork: Simulated Progress (Pi) A-
- Dennis González Spirit Meridian: Idle Wild (Clean Feed) A-
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| - Eric Alexander: Dead Center (HighNote) A-
- Scott Amendola Band: Believe (Cryptogramophone) A-
- Pierre Dřrge & New Jungle Orchestra: Dancing Cheek to Cheek (Stunt) A-
- Jerry Granelli: Sandhills Reunion (Songlines) A-
- Jim Hall: Magic Meeting (ArtistShare) A-
- Happy Apple: The Peace Between Our Companies (Sunnyside) A-
- Ari Hoenig: The Painter (Smalls) A-
- Ibrahim Electric: Meets Ray Anderson (Stunt) A-
- Russ Lossing: Phrase 6 (Fresh Sound New Talent) A-
- Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana: Climbing the Banyan Tree (Clean Feed) A-
- One More: Music of Thad Jones (IPO) A-
- Greg Osby: Channel Three (Blue Note) A-
- Houston Person: To Etta With Love (High Note) A-
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| HM | - Triot With John Tchicai: Sudden Happiness (TUM)
- The Nels Cline Singers: The Giant Pin (Cryptogramophone)
- Benoît Delbecq Unit: Phonetics (Songlines)
- Fred Lonberg-Holm Trio: Other Valentines (Atavistic)
- Steve Turre: The Spirits Up Above (High Note)
- James Finn Trio: Plaza de Toros (Clean Feed)
- Eugene Chadbourne: The Hills Have Jazz (Boxholder)
- Sherman Irby: Faith (Black Warrior)
- Duo Nueva Finlandia: Short Stories (TUM)
- Keely Smith: Vegas '58--Today (Concord)
- Rosenberg/Baker/Hatwich/Daisy: New Folk, New Blues (482 Music)
- Tord Gustavsen Trio: The Ground (ECM)
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| Duds | - Javon Jackson: Have You Heard (Palmetto) C+
- Bill Frisell: Richter 858 (Songlines)
- Doug Wamble: Bluestate (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
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#5: Odd Tangents (2005-06-27)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - William Parker Quartet: Sound Unity (AUM Fidelity) A
- Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock: Symbiosis (Spartacus) A
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| - Rez Abbasi: Snake Charmer (Earth Sounds) A-
- The Blueprint Project (Creative Nation Music) A-
- Brötzmann/Friis Nielsen/Uuskyla: Medicina (Atavistic) A-
- Avishai Cohen Trio & Ensemble: At Home (RazDaz/Sunnyside) A-
- Dave Douglas/Louis Sclavis/Peggy Lee/Dylan van der Schyff: Bow River Falls (Premonition) A-
- Gerd Dudek/Buschi Niebergall/Edward Vesala: Open (1977, Atavistic) A-
- FME: Underground (Okka Disk) A-
- The Frank and Joe Show: 33 1/3 (Hyena) A-
- Scott Hamilton: Back in New York (Concord) A-
- Raphe Malik Quartet: Last Set: Live at the 1369 Club (1984, Boxholder) A-
- William Parker: Luc's Lantern (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Steve Shapiro and Pat Bergeson: Low Standards (Sons of Sound) A-
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| HM | - Tony Malaby: Adobe (Sunnyside)
- Per Henrik Wallin: Burning in Stockholm (1981, Atavistic)
- Willie Nelson: Nacogdoches (1997, Pedernales)
- Raphe Malik/Joe McPhee/Donald Robinson: Sympathy (Boxholder)
- John Hagen: Segments (Cadence Jazz)
- Gian Tornatore: Sink or Swim (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Jeff Parker: The Relatives (Thrill Jockey)
- Michiel Scheen Quartet: Dance, My Dear? (Data)
- John Ellis: One Foot in the Swamp (Hyena)
- Brötzmann Clarinet Project: Berlin Djungle (1984, Atavistic)
- Ricardo Silveira/Luiz Avellar: Live: Play the Music of Milton Nascimento (Adventure Music)
- Sonore: No One Ever Works Alone (Okka Disk)
- Noël Akchoté: Sonny II: The Music of Sonny Sharrock (Winter & Winter)
- Bobby Watson & Horizon: Horizon Reassembled (Palmetto)
- Cosmosamatics: Three (Boxholder)
- Fred Hess Quartet: Crossed Paths (Tapestry)
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| Duds | - Chris Botti: When I Fall in Love (Columbia) B-
- Steve Cole: Spin (Narada Jazz)
- The Frank and Joe Show: 66 2/3 (Hyena)
- Sun Ra: Spaceship Lullaby (1954-60, Atavistic)
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#4: Rituals of Getting Acquainted (2005-04-04)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Amalgam: Prayer for Peace (1969, FMR) A
- Triage: American Mythology (Okka Disk) A
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| - Raoul Björkenheim/Lukas Ligeti: Shadowglow (TUM) A-
- Anthony Braxton: 23 Standards (Quartet) (Leo) A-
- Claudia Quintet: I, Claudia (Cuneiform) A-
- Dennis González Inspiration Band: Nile River Suite (Daagnim) A-
- Frank Hewitt: We Loved You (Smalls) A-
- Jewels & Binoculars: Floater (Ramboy) A-
- Mylab (Terminus) A-
- Chris Potter Quartet: Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside) A-
- Steve Reid: Rhythmatism (1976, Universal Sound) A-
- Lisa Sokolov: Presence (Laughing Horse) A-
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| HM | - E.S.T.: Seven Days of Falling (215 Records)
- Scott Hamilton Quartet: Live in London (Concord)
- Yeah No: Swell Henry (Squealer)
- Patricia Barber: A Fortnight in Paris (Blue Note)
- Nils Petter Molvaer: Live: Steamer (Sula)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa: Mother Tongue (Pi)
- Jacob Young: Evening Falls (ECM)
- Henry Grimes Trio: Live at the Kerava Jazz Festival (Ayler)
- Gorka Benítez: Sólo la Verdad Es Sexy (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Jessica Jones Quartet: Nod (New Artists)
- The Flip Phillips Quartet: Live at the Beowulf (1977-78, Arbors)
- Jim Black: Habyor (Winter & Winter)
- Evan Parker: The Snake Decides (1986, Psi)
- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Walking With Giants (Hyena)
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| Duds | - Branford Marsalis Quartet: Eternal (Marsalis Music/Rounder) B-
- Miles Davis: Birdland 1951 (Blue Note)
- Fred Hersch Ensemble: Leaves of Grass (Palmetto)
- Mount Analog: New Skin (Film Guerrero)
- Maria Schneider Orchestra: Concert in the Garden (ArtistShare)
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#3: Updates, Not Throwbacks (2005-01-04)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Matthew Shipp: Harmony and Abyss (Thirsty Ear) A
- Don Pullen: Mosaic Select (1986-90, Mosaic) A
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| - Rabih Abou-Khalil: Morton's Foot (Enja/Justin Time) A-
- Geri Allen/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette: The Life of a Song (Telarc) A-
- Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Hollywood (Tzadik) A-
- Big Satan: Souls Saved Hear (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Chicago Underground Trio: Slon (Thrill Jockey) A-
- Denis Colin Trio: Something in Common (Sunnyside) A-
- Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (NatSat) A-
- Jerry Gonzalez y los Piratas del Flamenco (Sunnyside) A-
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Blue Note) A-
- Septeto Rodriguez: Baila! Gitano Baila! (Tzadik) A-
- Tripleplay: Gambit (Clean Feed) A-
- Warren Vaché: Dream Dancing (Arbors) A-
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| HM | - Adam Pieronczyk: Amusos (PAO)
- Firehouse: Live at Glenn Miller Café (Ayler)
- Mats Gustafsson/Sonic Youth: Hidros 3 (to Patti Smith) (Smalltown Supersound)
- Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Dual Pleasure 2 (Smalltown Supersound)
- The Thing: Garage (Smalltown Superjazz)
- Jan Garbarek: In Praise of Dreams (ECM)
- Paradigm Shift: Shifting Times (Nagel Heyer)
- Satoko Fujii Trio: Illusion Suite (Libra)
- Eddie Gale: Afro-Fire (Black Beauty)
- The Great Jazz Trio: Someday My Prince Will Come (Eighty-Eights/Columbia)
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| Duds | - Chick Corea Elektrik Band: To the Stars (Stretch) C
- Helen Merrill: Lilac Wine (Sunnyside)
- Bob Mintzer Big Band: Live at MCG With Special Guest Kurt Elling (MCG Jazz)
- Steve Swallow/Ohad Talmor Sextet: L'Histoire du Clochard: The Bum's Tale (Palmetto)
- Kim Waters: In the Name of Love (Shanachie)
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#2: The Caribbean Tinge (2004-09-28)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - David Murray & the Gwo-Ka Masters: Gwotet (Justin Time) A
- Sonic Liberation Front: Ashé a Go-Go (High Two) A
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| - Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake: Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey) A-
- James Brown: Soul on Top (1969, Verve) A
- Marilyn Crispell Trio: Storyteller (ECM) A-
- Marty Ehrlich: Line on Love (Palmetto) A-
- El-P/The Blue Series Continuum: High Water (Thirsty Ear) A-
- Percy Heath: A Love Song (Daddy Jazz) A-
- Ian Hendrickson-Smith: Up in Smoke! (Sharp Nine) A-
- Michel Portal/Stephen Kent/Mino Cinelu: Burundi (PAO) A-
- Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Breeding Resistance (Delmark) A-
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| HM | - Fred Anderson: Back at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark)
- Joe Locke & 4 Walls of Freedom: Dear Life (Sirocco)
- Dave Burrell Full-Blown Trio: Expansion (High Two)
- Lafayette Gilchrist: The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist (Hyena/Shantytone)
- Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith: Yo Miles! Sky Garden (Cuneiform)
- Arild Andersen: The Triangle (ECM)
- Kris Davis: Lifespan (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Ken Vandermark/Brian Dibblee: Duets (Future Reference)
- Ignasi Terraza Trio: IT's Coming (TCB)
- Bill Bruford's Earthworks: Random Acts of Happiness (Summerfold)
- Hiromi: Brain (Telarc)
- Roy Haynes: Fountain of Youth (Dreyfus)
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| Duds | - Michael Brecker/Joe Lovano/Dave Liebman: Saxophone Summit: Gathering of Spirits (Telarc) C+
- George Benson: Irreplaceable (GRP)
- Wayne Escoffery: Intuition (Nagel Heyer)
- Fourplay: Journey (Bluebird)
- Antonio Hart: All We Need (Downtown Sound/Chiaroscuro)
- Keith Rowe/Axel Dörner/Franz Hautzinger: A View From the Window (Erstwhile)
- Spyro Gyra: The Deep End (Heads Up)
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#1: All True, More or Less (2004-07-01)
Links: Village Voice, Archive
| Picks | - Zu & Spaceways Inc.: Radiale (Atavistic) A
- Bennie Wallace: The Nearness of You (Enja/Justin Time) A-
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| - The Bad Plus: Give (Columbia) A-
- Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra: Monk's Moods (Water Baby) A-
- James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Warner Bros.) A-
- Sir Roland Hanna/Carrie Smith: I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues: The Songs of Harold Arlen (IPO) A-
- Lyambiko: Shades of Delight (Nagel Heyer) A-
- Michiko Ogawa Trio: . . . It's All About Love! (Arbors) A-
- Quartet B: Crystal Mountain (Fono) A-
- Jenny Scheinman: Shalagaster (Tzadik) A-
- Tomasz Stanko: Suspended Night (ECM) A-
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| R&R | - Duke Ellington: The Bubber Miley Era (1924-29, Jazz Legends)
- Duke Ellington: Ellington Uptown (1947-52, Columbia/Legacy)
- Benny Carter: Sax ŕ la Carter (1960, Capitol Jazz)
- Charles Lloyd/Billy Higgins: Which Way Is East (ECM)
- Sir Roland Hanna: Tributaries: Reflections on Tommy Flanagan (IPO)
- Tomasz Stanko: Rarum Vol. 17: Selected Recordings (1975-98, ECM)
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| HM | - Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine)
- Allan Vaché and Friends: Ballads, Burners and Blues (Arbors)
- The Yoko Miwa Trio: Fadeless Flower (PJL)
- Cooper-Moore/Assif Tsahar: America (Hopscotch)
- The New Archie Shepp Quartet: Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day (PAO)
- Randy Sandke: Cliffhanger (Nagel Heyer)
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| Duds | - James Carter: Gardenias for Lady Day (Columbia) B-
- Monty Alexander/Ernest Ranglin: Rocksteady (Telarc)
- John Pizzarelli: Bossa Nova (Telarc)
- Spring Heel Jack: The Sweetness of the Water (Thirsty Ear)
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"R&R" stands for Reissues and Redundancies. The idea was to
second some items, all A- or better, that other Voice writers had
already reviewed, and throw in some quick votes for obvious reissues.
Wasn't my name for the section, and I never returned to it.
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