Tom Hull: The Best Jazz Albums of 2018

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The Best Jazz Albums of 2018

Initial draft collected on Nov. 19, 2018. The file will be updated as additional worthy records are found (although updating may lag behind the official 2018 list). Last year's list was never frozen (OK, let's say it was frozen on Nov. 19, 2018). There also exists a parallel list of The Best Non-Jazz of 2018.

Note: numbering of lists (aside from A/A-) is only temporary, to make it easier for me to tally up stats.

[*] indicates that I reviewed this on the basis of an advance, often a CDR copy (a good thing, I might add, for vinyl-only releases). [**] identifies a record that I've only heard via download or through a streaming service like Napster.

For all lists, I've included 2017 (and in rare cases earlier) records that I discovered after last year's freeze date, but I've only included such records if they were so little known that they received less than five points in the 2017 metacritic file. These are marked, e.g., -17, after the label.

New Music

1.		*Joakim Milder/Fredrik Ljungkvist/Mathias Landraeus/Filip Augustson/Fredrik Rundkvist: The Music of Anders Garstedt* (Moserobie)** Two tenor saxes (latter also credited with soprano and clarinet), plus piano-bass-drums. The composer was Swedish, played trumpet, died in 2000 at age 31, didn't leave any records under his own name, not many side credits either (one each with Fredrik Norén and Christian Falk). The musicians claim ties to him, and bring his music brilliantly to life.
2.		*Assif Tsahar/William Parker/Hamid Drake: In Between the Tumbling a Stillness* (Hopscotch)** Tenor sax trio, recorded at the leader's club in Tel Aviv with the best rhythm section one could hope for, as good as they get. The saxophonist is equally poised, opening long at 34:22, followed by shorter pieces (14:59, 4:29) that flow together.
3.		*Peter Kuhn Trio: Intention* (FMR)** Free jazz, the leader playing clarinet and bass clarinet, backed by bass (Kyle Motl) and drums (Nathan Hubbard).
4.		*Kira Kira: Bright Force* (Libra)** Part of Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's record-a-month celebration of turning sixty, resoundingly answering my complaint about last month's entry by returning her piano to center stage -- at least I assume it's her, as the quartet includes a second keyboardist, Alister Spence, on "Fender electric piano, effects pedals and preparations" (actually, pretty easy to keep them straight). With Natsuki Tamura on trumpet (also inspired) and Ittetsu Takemura on drums.
5.		*Rich Halley 3: The Literature* (Pine Eagle)** The letter suggested "something different," but I didn't look at the fine print before putting on what appeared to be his usual tenor sax trio. I didn't notice the difference until I heard "Mood Indigo" wafting through, although I should have picked up earlier that they were doing standards: Monk, Davis, Coleman, and Jimmie Rodgers came earlier, with more Monk and Coltrane, Mingus and Sun Ra, a boisterous "Motherless Children" to follow. Terrific.
6.		*Rodrigo Amado: A History of Nothing* (Trost)** Tenor saxophonist, from Portugal, led a group called Lisbon Improvisation Players around 2000, emerging as one of the top avant-saxophonists of the young century. With Joe McPhee (pocket trumpet/soprano sax), Kent Kessler (bass), and Chris Corsano (drums) bringing the noise, he holds this set together, while having a little fun.
7.		*James Brandon Lewis/Chad Taylor: Radiant Imprints* (OFF) Young tenor saxophonist, first albums came out on a major label (Okeh) so I figured him for a mainstream player, but he showed impressive chops and raw vitality. Since then he's fallen into obscure projects (e.g., Heroes Are Gang Leaders) and labels, and winds up here in a sax-drums duo, an avant specialty. Taylor has done this sort of thing before. He not only gets a terrific performance, he gives one.
8.		*Sons of Kemet: Your Queen Is a Reptile* (Impulse!) London-based group, led by saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, with Oren Marshall on tuba and two drummers. Third album: Hutchings has other projects, like Shabaka and the Ancestors and the Comet Is Coming. Nine songs, each named "My Queen Is" and some name -- the two most familiar to me are Harriet Tubman and Angela Davis, but other track down to Africa and its diaspora. More than a few vocals, evidently guests. Nothing on the reptile, which is just as well.
9.		*Henry Threadgill 14 or 15 Kestra: Agg: Dirt . . . and More Dirt* (Pi)** Recorded over three days starting on the date of Double Up, the group expanded from 8 to 15, with composer Threadgill (alto sax, flutes) and producer Liberty Ellman (guitar) joining in, two trumpets, two trombones, bass, an extra drummer, but only two pianists (Davids Bryant and Virelles). Two pieces in multiple parts, alternately grand and fancy. Takes a while to sink in.
10.		*Kevin Sun: Trio* (Ectomorph Music)** Tenor saxophonist, also plays C-melody (2 cuts) and clarinet (3), based in Brooklyn although this was cut near Boston. First album, with Walter Stinson on bass and Matt Honor on drums. The original pieces -- two group-credited -- take a while to sink in, but the album really comes alive on the one cover, a resplendent "All of Me." Sun also writes a blog worth checking out. He's young enough to cite Steve Lehman as a "key influence," but I find his writing about Lester Young more interesting.
11.		*Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Awase* (ECM) Swiss pianist, rhythm-focused quartet (formerly quintet) dates back to 2002, with Sha (clarinet/alto sax), Thomy Jordi (bass), and Kaspar Rast (drums). Title is "a term from martial arts, means 'moving together' in the sense of matching energies." Builds on its minimalist base in divers remarkable ways.
12.		*David Virelles: Igbó Alákorin (The Singer's Groove) Vol I & II* (Pi)** Pianist, born in Cuba, moved to New York in 2009, studying with Henry Threadgill. Combines two volumes on a single CD: the 35:19 "David Virelles Introduces Qrquesta Luz de Oriente" and the 23:17 "Danzones de Romeu at Café La Diana." The latter are duos with güiro player Rafael Abalos, offering an engaging code to the main action, which is the medium-sized orchestra with lead singers Alejandro Almenares and Emilio Despaigne Robert. I often find myself enjoying Latin jazz groups yet wondering what if anything makes one special. No doubts here, not that I can really explain it.
13.		*Adam Forkelid: Reminiscence* (Moserobie)** Swedish pianist, first side credit seems to be 1999, only other record I can find under his name came out in 2005, so this trio, with Georg Riedel and Jon Fält named on the cover below the title, isn't a debut, but it is a remarkable breakthrough. I've never been much of a piano jazz fan, so I'm surprised when one feels so right -- reminds me of early Chick Corea with his Spanish tinge, although Bobo Stenson is probably closer to home.
14.		*Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine: The Poetry of Jazz* (Origin)** Levine is the late US Poet Laureate, winner of Pulitzer Prizes, and like many poets of his generation has much to say about jazz. He also taught for many years at Cal State Fresno, as has saxophonist Boone, who wrote most of the music here -- luxurious riffing behind the poet's words. Cut over four sessions, with numerous guests poking in for a song or a few -- Chris Potter, for instance, joins the "Homage to Sonny Rollins," Tom Harrell "I Remember Clifford," Branford Marsalis "John Coltrane," Greg Osby "Charlie Parker." Levine also knows work.
15.		*Arild Andersen: In-House Science* (ECM)** Norwegian bassist, one of several future stars attracted to George Russell in the 1960s, debuted on ECM with the highly recommended Clouds in My Head in 1975, and lately has been running a trio with Paolo Vinaccia on drums and Tommy Smith on tenor sax. This one took me longer than 2008's Live in Belleville, but Andersen is a steady leader, and Smith can be explosive. **
16.		Dave Holland: Uncharted Territories (Dare2, 2CD) British bassist, first album (Conference of the Birds, 1972) was a landmark of the 1970s avant-garde, but he edged into the postbop mainstream over the years, winning many polls for his quintet and big band efforts. In some ways he returns full circle here, in a quartet with Evan Parker (tenor sax), Craig Taborn (piano, keyboards, organ, electronics), and Ches Smith (percussion). Still, nothing hair-raising here, with Parker at his most measured. Second disc dials it back further, in case you want to enjoy the bassist. *
17.		*Thumbscrew: Ours* (Cuneiform)** Trio adopting the title of their 2014 album -- Mary Halvorson (guitar), Michael Formanek (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums) -- developed this music during a residency in Pittsburgh last year. My copy came shrinkwrapped with a second album, Theirs, but looks more like two separate albums now -- the distinction original pieces here, covers there. Would have been easier to grade as a single item, as the second is pretty much more of the same. I'm not one of Halvorson's more complete fans, but this is the combo I find her most interesting in.
18.		*Adrean Farrugia/Joel Frahm: Blues Dharma* (GB)** Piano/tenor sax duets, the pianist from Canada, teaches at York, two previous albums, not someone I've noticed before but he's forceful here, driving the rhythm, building on it. Frahm is a saxophonist I've often admired, but usually on other people's albums. He's masterful here, a delight.
19.		*Daniel Carter/William Parker/Matthew Shipp: Seraphic Light* (AUM Fidelity)** Mostly an alto saxophonist, Carter is also credited here with flute, trumpet, clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophones. Not nearly as famous as his bassist and pianist, he is actually older, and has played on quite a few of their better albums, including in Parker's Other Dimensions in Music quartet. No drummer here, so Shipp takes a strong rhythmic role, with Parker fattening the sound and occasionally taking charge. Not one of Carter's flashier performances, but he adds color and flavor.
20.		*François Carrier/Michel Lambert/John Edwards: Elements* (FMR)** Another superb outing for the Canadian alto sax-drums duo, this time joined by the British bassist. Three pieces, two sessions.
21.		*Thumbscrew: Theirs* (Cuneiform)** Maybe a bit catchier [than Ours], which may make it a bit less fascinating to follow, or just more simply pleasurable.
22.		*Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Blue* (self-released)** Organ player, the fifth of his Organ Monk titles, returning to trio format after his more expansive (and trans-Monkish) Breathe Suite. I've always regarded his albums as a clever gimmick, but he gets more out of less here than I imagined possible. Obvious credit goes to guitarist Marc Ribot, but the organ continues to do the heavy lifting, gliding in and out of recognizable Monk, funk, and soul.
23.		*Ceramic Dog [Marc Ribot/Shahzad Ismaily/Ches Smith]: YRU Still Here?* (Northern Spy) Guitarist Marc Ribot's group, second by the trio after eponymous debut, the others play bass and drums but also everyone dabbles in electronics and sings -- leads seem to be Ribot, with lyrics on half of the pieces, maybe more, plus guest horns on a couple. Not sure I get all the politics, or that it really matters. The anger is sure palpable, as is the Arab-Jewish fusion.
24.		*Henry Threadgill: Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus* (Pi)** Threadgill's Ensemble Double Up debuted in 2015, recording Old Locks and Irregular Verbs, the Jazz Critics Poll album of 2016. The idea was two alto saxes, two pianos, and two . . . well, one each: tuba, cello, drums. "Plus" adds a third piano -- unless the point is it takes two pianists (David Bryant and Luis Perdomo) to replace Jason Moran. Threadgill doesn't play (Curtis Macdonald and Roman Fíliu return on alto), but composed the tricky, slippery score. Not quite the tour de force of the previous album, but perhaps he was thinking ahead to his larger ensemble.
25.		*No Fast Food: Settings for Three* (Corner Store Jazz)** Trio, names listed alphabetically -- Drew Gress (bass), Phil Haynes (drums), Dave Liebman (woodwinds) -- but Haynes is the leader and composer. Still, a tour de force for Liebman, whose Coltrane-ish freebop has rarely sounded better. Dedicated to the late avant trumpet player Paul Smoker. Haynes played on his last records, and they're dandies.
26.		*Angles 3: Parede* (Clean Feed) Swedish saxophonist Martin Küchen (tenor/soprano), recorded his first Angles group in 2007, a sextet, later expanding it to Angles 8 and Angles 9, here cut back to a trio -- different from his 2007 Trio and later Trespass Trio. This one has Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Kjell Nordeson (drums), with the saxophonist straining and wailing, even turning free jazz into something catchy.
27.		*Myra Melford's Snowy Egret: The Other Side of Air* (Firehouse 12)** Pianist, made a strong impression with her first trio recordings in 1990, and has only grown from there. This group refers back to a 2015 album with this same group: Ron Miles (cornet), Liberty Ellman (guitar), Stomu Takeishi (bass guitar), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums). She lays back a bit on the piano, letting the group work her tricky music out.
28.		Kresten Osgood Quintet Plays Jazz (ILK, 2CD) Danish drummer, has a few albums under his own name, many more notable side-credits since 2000. Quintet is the classic hard bop lineup, with trumpet, sax, piano, and bass (print is awfully small so I'll skip the names). "Jazz" is the classics, mostly from 1950s and 1960s, like Dolphy, Davis, Ellington, Monk, and Mingus, with three apt originals included. Would be a fine primer, but still sounds fresh.
29.		*Alexander Von Schlippenbach/Globe Unity Orchestra: Globe Unity - 50 Years* (Intakt)** Back in 1966, a hitherto unknown 28-year-old German pianist assembled Europe's (and, really, the world's) first avant-jazz orchestra -- originally an ad hoc merger of groups led by Gunter Hampel, Manfred Schoof, and Peter Brötzmann (ages 29, 30, and 25). The group grew to 18 the next year, and recorded regularly over the next decade, regrouping later for significant anniversaries, with their 50th marking more time than had passed between ODJB's first jazz records and Globe Unity's founding. Still 18 strong here, with Von Schlippenbach, Schoof, and Gerd Dudek returning from the original band, plus Evan Parker, Tomasz Stanko, and Paul Lovens from the 1970 group. Cutting edge then, still pretty far out.
30.		*Espen Eriksen Trio With Andy Sheppard: Perfectly Unhappy* (Rune Grammofon) Norwegian piano trio, with Lars Tormod Jenset (bass) and Andreas Bye (drums), fifth album since 2010. I doubt the piano would command enough attention as the lead, but it does a fine job of supporting Sheppard's sax, which is flat-out gorgeous.
31.		*Art Hirahara: Sunward Bound* (2017, Posi-Tone) Pianist, based in New York after studying in Ohio and Caifornia, fourth album, starts as a trio with Linda May Han Oh (bass) and Rudy Royston (drums), then blossoms as Donny McCaslin (tenor sax) enters, doing what he was always meant to do.
32.		*Makaya McCraven: Universal Beings* (International Anthem) Drummer, pieced this album together from four sessions (each given an LP side) recorded by different groups in New York, Chicago, London, and Los Angeles -- the rhythm a unifying thread, whether with the softer New York instruments (harp, vibes, cello, bass) or the horns that pop up elsewhere.
33.		*Schnell: Live at Sowieso* (Clean Feed)** Avant-sax trio, based in Berlin, with Pierre Borel (alto sax), Antonio Borghini (bass), and Christian Lillinger (drums). After the fact, I'm tempted to take Schnell as the title: the surnames are also on the cover, "Schnell" is title of three parts, totalling all but 6:31, most of the rest a non-obvious Billy Strayhorn cover. And they are fast, burning rubber throughout. **
34.		*Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore: After Caroline* (Northern Spy) Bass clarinetist, based in Chicago, has a couple albums under this group name, a trio with Jason Roebke (bass) and Mike Pride (drums). Stein struck me as awkward and tentative when he first appeared, but he's turning into a powerhouse.
35.		*Harvey Sorgen/Joe Fonda/Marilyn Crispell: Dreamstruck* (Not Two) Drums-bass-piano trio, no obvious reaon why they are listed in this order, as most pieces are joint improvs (two covers, one from Crispell's long-time drummer Paul Motian). Starts with a soft one, then adds more strength here and there, drawing you in.
36.		*Z-Country Paradise: Live in Lisbon* (Leo) Mostly German group, released an eponymous album in 2015, reprise six (of seven) songs here, plus one new one. With Frank Gratkowski (alto sax/bass clarinet), Kalle Kalima (guitar), Oliver Potratz (electric bass), Christian Marien (drums), plus Jelena Kuljic singing/speaking lyrics from poets Charles Simic and Arthur Rimbaud.
37.		*Jon Hassell: Listening to Pictures (Pentimento Volume One)* (Ndeya) Trumpet player, but that's always taken a backseat role to his intricately layered electronics, guitar, and percussion -- a formula Brian Eno helped him market as "Fourth World: Possible Musics." He's released little since 2000, but following his 80th birthday he's come up with a new album on his own label, and promises more coming both new and old. This one wobbles a bit, but is cooly entrancing.
38.		*Binker and Moses: Alive in the East?* (Gearbox) British duo, Binker Golding (tenor sax) and Moses Boyd (drums), although there are also guests here and there, including Evan Parker (tenor/soprano sax, pretty hard to miss). Sounds like guitar on one track, but the closest credit seems to be harp (Tori Handsley). Rather scattered, would take some time to sort out, but much is terrific, not least the drums.
39.		LFU: Lisbon Freedom Unit: Praise of Our Folly (Clean Feed) Nine-piece free jazz ensemble, Portuguese as far as I can tell -- best known musicians here are Luis Lopes (guitar), Rodrigo Amado (tenor sax), and all three members of RED Trio (Rodrigo Pinheiro, Hernani Faustino, Gabriel Ferrandini). Most impressive flat out, but when they hold back you can feel the tension build.
40.		*Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton: Music for David Mossman: Live at Vortex London* (Intakt)** Sax-bass-drums trio, have played together a lot over the years, as a trio since 1980, the Parker-Lytton duo going back to 1967, with both playing in Guy's big band in 1972. Mossman was founder of the Vortex, a London club where they've played often for thirty-some years. Not sure this is one of their best, but hard to deny.
41.		*Peter McEachern Trio: Bone-Code* (Clean Feed) Trombonist, first album I can find under his name but he has side-credits going back to 1979, mostly with Thomas Chapin and/or Mario Pavone -- the bassist here, along with Michael Sarin on drums. I've long had a soft spot for trombone, but this is an exceptional trio.
42.		*The Jamie Saft Quartet: Blue Dream* (RareNoise)** Pianist, got an early start on organ and keyboards so his emergence as a conventional pianist has been a revelation. Quartet is fairly mainstream with Bill McHenry (tenor sax), Bradley Christopher Jones (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums), leaning to ballads, but not that simple. Three covers, including a whiff of "Sweet Lorraine." *
43.		*Josephine Davies' Satori: In the Corners of Clouds* (Whirlwind)** Tenor sax trio again, same bassist (Dave Whitford), new drummer (James Madden). Pretty much the same sound and dynamics as on her group-defining Satori. **
44.		*VWCR [Ken Vandermark/Nate Wooley/Sylvie Courvoisier/Tom Rainey]: Noise of Our Time* (Intakt)** Reeds, trumpet, piano, drums, all but Rainey bringing songs. The pianist is central here, setting the pace, fracturing time, shooting off flairs, a bit of abstract comping when Vandermark finally gets his monster solo, then wraps it up with a dazzling flourish.
45.		*Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet: Polka* (Whirlwind)** Polish bassist, Quintet dates to 2011 although he has earlier records back to 2008. This one refers back to a 2014 album: not sure if it's a reissue, a remix, or a revision -- this is presented as "Worldwide Deluxe Edition," and there's also a Polka Live and a Polka Remixed. "Polka" is a song, not the genre here. The music is intricate, layered, meditative, measured, often quite lovely. **
46.		*Frank Kimbrough: Monk's Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk* (Sunnyside, 6CD)** Seventy tracks, not the first to tackle them all -- Alexander von Schlippenbach did that in Monk's Casino (2005, 3CD) -- nor the only one to act on the idea during the centennial of Monk's birth (see guitarist Miles Okazaki's Work). With Scott Robinson (saxophone and trumpet), Rufus Reid (bass), and Billy Drummond (drums). Way too much for me to let it sink in, but Robinson both does a perfect Charlie Rouse but can switch up on the horns to give you some variety. Meanwhile, the others understand that much of Monk's appeal is rhythmic, and they're up to it. **
47.		Ill Considered: Ill Considered 3 (Ill Considered Music) Back in the studio, working more from compositions -- whereas their masterful debut was reportedly improvised in less than two hours -- drummer Emre Ramazanoglu has gotten the rhythm back, while Idris Rahman's sax grows more and more expansive. Relatively short album (35:37), timed for vinyl. **
48.		*Dave Rempis/Matt Piet/Tim Daisy: Throw Tomatoes* (Astral Spirits) Chicago avant-garde, sax-piano-drums, two improv pieces, 28:26 + 27:22, both powerhouses. Pianists normally comp behind sax leads, but in free jazz the piano makes more sense as percussive counterpoint, and Piet's become a master at that.
49.		*On the Levee Jazz Band: Swinging New Orleans Jazz* (Big Al) New Orleans trad jazz outfit led by drummer Hal Smith, logo adds "A Tribute to Kid Ory," takes its name from a club owned by Ory. Clint Baker is front and center on trombone, Ben Polcer trumpet, Joe Goldberg clarinet, plus piano-guitar-bass. Fourteen songs, all "good ol' good 'uns" as Satch liked to say. I'm sure I've heard them all before, but not better, at least not lately.
50.		*Fred Frith Trio: Closer to the Ground* (Intakt)** British guitarist, his 1974 Guitar Solos could be traced as one of the founding ventures in what came to be called "experimental rock." Close to a hundred albums later, he most often shows up on jazz labels, enough so that's probably where he should be slotted. Trio here, with on bass (electric and double) and Jordon Glenn on drums, a stutter-step percussion run serves as a hook, his searching runs layered on top.
51.		Eva Novoa's Ditmas Quartet: Live at IBeam (Fresh Sound New Talent) Pianist, from Barcelona, Spain; studied in Netherlands and New York, where she formed this group for her 2016 Butterflies and Zebras album. With Michaël Attias (alto/baritone sax), Max Johnson (bass), and Jeff Davis (drums). Very strong sax performance, but the fractured rhythm is even more of a marvel. **
52.		*Flavio Zanuttini Opacipapa: Born Baby Born* (Clean Feed) Two-horn trio, Zanuttini on trumpet, Piero Bittolo Bon on alto sax, with Marco D'Orlando on drums, nothing in between to mediate or harmonize. Mostly free, with a bit of swing as the horns stand out.
53.		*Matt Penman: Good Question* (Sunnyside) Bassist, from New Zealand, studied at Berklee, moved to New York, then San Francisco, where he is part of SFJazz. This one is built around a trio with Aaron Parks (piano, Rhodes, organ, vibraphone) and Obed Calvaire (drums), adding tenor saxophonist Mark Turner on 6 (of 9) cuts, Nir Felder (guitar, on 2), with Will Vinson (soprano sax) and Rogerio Boccato (percussion) on one cut. Strikes me as the best of Turner's recent performances: still floats in the air, so the rhythm section deserves much of the credit.
54.		*Kaja Draksler/Petter Eldh/Christian Lillinger: Punkt. Vrt. Plastik* (Intakt)** Piano trio, the pianist from Slovenia, bassist Swedish, drummer German. Hard to say what makes this one of the year's finest piano trio albums: maybe inner strength, which gives her unpredictable moves an air of destiny. An attentive rhythm section helps, too.
55.		*Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo: Kikoeru: Tribute to Masaya Kimura* (Libra)** Kimura was a saxophonist in the Tokyo big band, who died in 2017. This winds up Fujii's "Kanreki" -- one record each month in 2018, marking the pianist-composer's 60th birthday -- with a bang: no piano, but spectacular horn solos and interplay, with some words leading into the climax.
56.		*Endangered Blood: Don't Freak Out* (Skirl) New York quartet, originally came together to play in a benefit for Andrew D'Angelo. Their eponymous first album listed the names in alphabetical order, so I filed it under drummer Jim Black -- followed by Trevor Dunn on bass, with two saxophonists -- Chris Speed on tenor and Oscar Noriega on alto. (D'Angelo recovered, and Speed and Black still play in a band with him called Human Feel.)
57.		*Walter Smith III: Twio* (Whirlwind)** Tenor saxophonist, debut was Casually Introducing in 2006, so casual I hadn't bothered with five subsequent albums although I've noticed him with other mainstream stars, like Christian Scott, Terence Blanchard, Eric Harland, and Ambrose Akinmusire. Trio with Harland on drums and either Harish Raghavan or Christian McBride on bass, with Joshua Redman adding a second tenor sax on two cuts. **
58.		*The Thing: Again* (Trost)** I usually take promo copies that look like this as actual releases -- many releases these days are done up with minimal packaging -- but I see from Discogs that my copy is a promo: back cover is different, and I didn't get the Brian Morton liner notes. Three tracks, timed for vinyl (39:06). Group cut their eponymous debut in 2000 (one of their best), the little known (back then) rhythm section now stars in their own right (Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love), with saxophonist Mats Gustafsson bringing the noise. There are limits to how much thrash and squeal I can stand in free jazz, and he can easily cross that line, but he generally doesn't here -- even with Joe McPhee helping on the middle track. Still not easy listening, but easier here to appreciate their talent.
59.		*Barry Guy: Barry Guy @ 70: Blue Horizon: Live at Ad Libitum* (Fundacja Sluchaj, 3CD)** British bassist, founder of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, a major avant-jazz figure, but one I've had a tough time warming to: the only A- record I have listed for him is a trio with Marilyn Crispell and Paul Lytton (Phases of the Night), who play the middle of three hour-long sets at this extended birthday bash. This one is also superb, plus it's bracketed by two duos that are every bit as dazzling: the opener with pianist Agustí Fernandez, and a closer with bassist Joëlle Léandre. Not everyday music, but fits the occasion. **
60.		*Dmitry Baevsky/Jeb Patton: We Two* (Jazz & People) Alto saxophonist, from St. Petersburg, Russia; half-dozen albums since 2004, earliest recorded in US, so probably was based in NY then (this one was recorded in France, but pianist Patton is American). Mainstream player, does an especially lovely job on the standards. Piano less impressive on solos, but fine accompaniment.
61.		*Jason Kao Hwang Burning Bridge: Blood* (True Sound)** Violinist, has done a lot to incorporate traditional Chinese music into avant-jazz. Band here includes erhu (Wang Guowei) and pipa (Sun Li), as well as Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet), Steve Swell (trombone), Joseph Daley (tuba), Ken Filiano (bass), and Andrew Drury (drums).
62.		*Simon Nabatov/Barry Guy/Gerry Hemingway: Luminous* (NoBusiness)** Piano-bass-drums trio: Nabatov a Russian who moved to Germany in 1989, has more than two dozen albums; the others, better known for longer -- perhaps the edge that lifts this above his many other fine performances.
63.		*Dave Sewelson: Music for a Free World* (FMR)** Baritone saxophonist (also sopranino), first album with his name up front but he's been around a while: I think I first noticed him in Microscopic Septet (or maybe its Fast 'N' Bulbous spin-off), but he's also been in William Parker's orchestras and is on a couple albums with Peter Kuhn. Freewheeling two-horn quartet here, with Steve Swell (trombone) facing off, Parker on bass, and Marvin Smith on drums. A little ragged, but freedom's like that.
64.		*Hal Galper Quartet: Cubist* (Origin)** A superb pianist, side credits start with Chet Baker in 1964, his own albums from 1971, gets extra help here from tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, although a stretch late in the album where he's on his own doesn't let down.
65.		*Jonathan Finlayson: 3 Times Round* (Pi)** Trumpet player, New York, often works with Steve Coleman, Steve Lehman, and Mary Halvorson. Third album, sextet with Lehman (alto sax), Brian Settles (tenor sax/flute), Matthew Mitchell (piano), John Hebert (bass), and Craig Weinrib (drums). Postbop, often spectacular, a few spots seem off and give me doubts, but they invariably blast them away.
66.		*Bjørn Marius Hegge Trio: Assosiasjoner* (Particular) Norwegian bassist-composer, leads a trio with Oscar Grönberg (piano) and Hans Hulbaekmo (drums). One of the better piano trios I've heard lately, but haven't given it enough time to really sink in.
67.		*Kris Davis & Craig Taborn: Octopus* (Pyroclastic)** Piano duets, two of the most accomplished pianists of their generation(s) -- Davis b. 1980, Taborn b. 1970 -- selected from three concerts. Not normally my thing, but remarkable all the way through.

Also added the following 2017 albums after freezing the 2017 year-end file:

1.		*Josephine Davies: Satori* (Whirlwind) British saxophonist, photos show tenor but I'm also hearing soprano, leads a trio with Dave Whitford (bass) and Paul Clarvis (drums), live at Iklectik in London. I may be a sucker for sax trios, but only if they're as consistently on point at this one is.
2.		*Dan Phillips Quartet: Converging Tributaries* (Lizard Breath) Guitarist, his current Chicago trio -- Krzysztof Pabian on bass and Tim Daisy on drums (he also has a group based in Bangkok) -- plus Jeb Bishop on trombone. Whereas his trio albums feature his frenzied riffing, the trombone takes center stage, adding weight and drive, and letting the guitar fill in around the edges. Not that Phillips doesn't get moments to shine, but they tend to be quieter, contrasting his sweet tone against the deeper growl.
3.		*Scott Hamilton: The Shadow of Your Smile* (Blau) Same group, same lack of recording info but DeRose gets second-tier type and sings a verse to finish "How Deep Is the Ocean" -- an unexpected pleasure on top of many more.

Honorable Mention

Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

Tom Abbs & Frequency Response: Hawthorne (Engine Studios) **
Stefan Aeby Trio: The London Concert (Intakt)
David Ake: Humanities (Posi-Tone) **
Erlend Olderskog Albertsen: Rodssal Neen Glassdor (Dugnad Rec) **
Alchemy Sound Project: Adventures in Time and Space (ARC)
Ben Allison/Steve Cardenas/Ted Nash: Quiet Revolution (Sonic Camera) **
Bill Anschell: Shifting Standards (Origin)
Ethan Ardelli: The Island of Form (self-released)
Bad Luck: Four (Origin)
Simon Barker/Henry Kaiser/Bill Laswell/Rudresh Mahanthappa: Mudang Rock (Fractal Music)
Nat Birchall: Cosmic Language (Jazzman) **
Dan Block: Block Party: A Saint Louis Connection (Miles High)
Moses Boyd Exodus: Displaced Diaspora (Exodus) **
Bobby Bradford/Hafez Modirzadeh: Live at the Blue Whale (NoBusiness) *
Randy Brecker & Mats Holmquist: Together (Summit)
Peter Brotzmann & Fred Lonberg-Holm: Ouroboros (Astral Spirits) **
Jarod Bufe: New Spaces (OA2)
Don Byron/Aruán Ortiz: Random Dances and (A)tonalities (Impakt)
Jonas Cambien Trio: We Must Mustn't We (Clean Feed) **
François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Rafal Mazur: Beyond Dimensions (FMR)
Brian Charette/George Coleman: Groovin' With Big G (SteepleChase) **
Chicago Edge Ensemble: Insidious Anthem (Trost) **
Freddy Cole: My Mood Is You (HighNote) **
Steve Coleman and Five Elements: Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. I (The Embedded Sets) (Pi, 2CD)
Sean Conly: Hard Knocks (Clean Feed) **
Sylvie Courvoisier Trio: D'Agala (Intakt)
Andrew Cyrille: Lebroba (ECM) **
Tim Daisy's Fulcrum Ensemble: Animation (Relay) **
Michael Dessen Trio: Somewhere in the Upstream (Clean Feed) **
Olegario Diaz: I Remember Chet (SteepleChase) **
Pierre Dørge: Soundscapes (SteepleChase) **
Dave Douglas Quintet: Brazen Heart: Live at Jazz Standard: Saturday (Greenleaf Music, 2CD) **
Hamid Drake/Joe McPhee: Keep Going (Corbett vs. Dempsey) **
Mia Dyberg Trio: Ticket! (Clean Feed) **
Yelena Eckemoff: Desert (L&H Production)
Marty Ehrlich: Trio Exaltation (Clean Feed) **
The Equity & Social Justice Quartet: Argle-Bargle or Foofaraw (Edgetone)
Danny Fox Trio: The Great Nostalgist (Hot Cup)
David Friesen: My Faith, My Life (Origin, 2CD)
Satoko Fujii/Joe Fonda: Mizu (Long Song) **
Satoko Fujii/Joe Fonda/Gianni Mimmo: Triad (Long Song)
Full Blast: Rio (Trost) **
Sergio Galvao/Lupa Santiago/Clement Landais/Franck Enouf: 2X2 (Origin)
Brad Garton/Dave Soldier: The Brainwave Music Project (Mulatta)
Dave Gisler Trio: Rabbits on the Run (Intakt)
The Vinny Golia Sextet: Trajectory (Orenda/Nine Winds, 2CD) **
Benito Gonzalez/Gerry Gibbs/Essiet Okon Essiet: Passion Reverence Transcendence: The Music of McCoy Tyner (Whaling City Sound)
Devin Gray: Dirigo Rataplan II (Rataplan)
Gordon Grdina's the Marrow: Ejdeha (Songlines) **
Hamar Trio: Yesterday Is Here (Clean Feed) **
Ross Hammond & Sameer Gupta: Mystery Well (Prescott) **
The Heavyweights Brass Band: This City (Lulaworld)
Carlos Henriquez: Dizzy Con Clave: Live From Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (RodBros Music) **
Eddie Henderson: Be Cool (Smoke Sessions) **
Hofbauer/Rosenthal Quartet: Human Resources (Creative Nation Music)
Christopher Hollyday: Telepathy (Jazzbeat Productions)
William Hooker Trio: Remembering (Astral Spirits) **
François Houle/Alexander Hawkins/Harris Eisenstadt: You Have Options (Songlines) **
Rocco John Iacovone/Jack DeSalvo/Mark Hagan/Phil Sirois/Tom Cabrera: Connoisseurs of Chaos IV (Woodshedd) **
Ill Considered: Live at Total Refreshment Centre (Ill Considered Music) **
Ill Considered: Live in Nantes (Ill Considered Music) **
Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra: Down a Rabbit Hole (Summit)
Ingrid Jensen/Steve Treseler: Invisible Sounds: For Kenny Wheeler (Whirlwind) **
Russ Johnson: Headlands (Woolgathering) **
Phillip Johnston & the Coolerators: Diggin' Bones (Asynchronous) **
Mike Jones/Penn Jillette: The Show Before the Show: Live at the Penn & Teller Theater (Capri)
Jones Jones [Larry Ochs/Mark Dresser/Vladimir Tarasov]: A Jones in Time Saves Nine (NoBusiness) *
Darrell Katz and the JCA Orchestra: Rats Live on No Evil Star (JCA)
Kaze: Atody Man (Libra)
Quin Kirchner: The Other Side of Time (Astral Spirits) **
Peter Kuhn: Dependent Origination (FMR -17)
Daniel Levin/Chris Pitsiokos/Brandon Seabrook: Stomiidae (Dark Tree)
Carol Liebowitz/Birgitta Flick: Malita-Malika (Leo)
Johan Lindström Septett: Music for Empty Halls (Moserobie)
Charles Lloyd & the Marvels + Lucinda Williams: Vanished Gardens (Blue Note) **
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas: Sound Prints: Scandal (Greenleaf Music)
Igor Lumpert & Innertextures: Eleven (Clean Feed) **
MAST: Thelonious Sphere Monk (World Galaxy) **
Lonnie McFadden: Live at the Green Lady Lounge (Jazz Daddy)
Bill McHenry Trio: Ben Entrada La Nit (Fresh Sound New Talent) **
Joe McPhee/John Edwards/Klaus Kugel: Journey to Parazzar (Not Two) **
Hailu Mergia: Lala Belu (Awesome Tapes From Africa) **
Nicole Mitchell: Maroon Cloud (FPE)
Patricia Nicholson/William Parker: Hope Cries for Justice (Centering)
Angelika Niescier Trio: The Berlin Concert (Intakt)
Fredrik Nordström: Needs (Clean Feed) **
Miles Okazaki: Work: The Complete Compositions of Thelonios Monk (self-released, 6CD) **
Onyx Collective: Lower East Suite Part Three (Big Dada) **
Aruán Ortiz Trio: Live in Zürich (Intakt)
Caterina Palazzi/Sudoku Killer: Asperger (Clean Feed) **
Eddie Palmieri: Full Circle (Ropeadope) **
William Parker: Lake of Light: Compositions for AquaSonics (Gotta Let It Out)
Aaron Parks: Little Big (Ropeadope)
Ivo Perelman/Rudi Mahall: Kindred Spirits (Leo, 2CD)
Ivo Perelman/Mat Maneri/Mark Feldman/Jason Hwang: Strings 1 (Leo)
Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp: Oneness (Leo, 3CD)
Peripheral Vision: More Songs About Error and Shame (self-released)
Houston Person & Ron Carter: Remember Love (HighNote) **
Barre Phillips: End to End (ECM) **
Dan Phillips/Hamid Drake: Trail of Inevitability (Lizard Breath) **
Matt Piet & His Disorganization: Rummage Out (Clean Feed) **
Alberto Pinton Trio: Röd (Clear Now) **
Dafnis Prieto Big Band: Back to the Sunset (Dafnison) **
Joshua Redman/Ron Miles/Scott Colley/Brian Blade: Still Dreaming (Nonesuch) **
Dave Rempis/Jasper Stadhouders/Frank Rosaly: Icoci (Aerophponic)
Marc Ribot: Songs of Resistance 1942-2018 (Epitaph) **
Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble: Rogue Star (Edgetone)
Jamie Saft: Solo a Genova (RareNoise) *
Akira Sakata & Chikamorachi With Masahiko Satoh: Proton Pump (Family Vineyard) **
Samo Salamon/Howard Levy: Peaks of Light (Sazas)
Samo Salamon/Tony Malaby/Roberto Dani: Traveling Moving Breathing (Clean Feed)
Trygve Seim: Helsinki Songs (ECM) **
Elliott Sharp Carbon: Transmigration at the Solar Max (Intakt) **
Steve Slagle: Dedication (Panorama)
Gary Smulyan: Alternative Contrafacts (SteepleChase) **
Günter Baby Sommer: Baby's Party [Guest: Till Brönner] (Intakt)
Sonar With David Torn: Vortex (RareNoise) *
Stéphane Spira: New Playground (Jazzmax)
Edgar Steinitz: Roots Unknown (OA2)
Subtle Degrees: A Dance That Empties (New Amsterdam) **
Trio Heinz Herbert: Yes (Intakt)
Trio HLK: Standard Time (Ubuntu Music) **
Piet Verbist: Suite Réunion (Origin)>
Jay T. Vonada: United (Summit)
Walking Distance: Freebird by Walking Distance feat. Jason Moran (Sunnyside) **
David S. Ware Trio: The Balance (Vision Festival XV+) (AUM Fidelity) **
Kamasi Washington: Heaven and Earth (Young Turks, 2CD) **
Salim Washington: Dogon Revisited (Passin' Thru) **
Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Live (ECM) **
Jeff "Tain" Watts: Travel Band: Detained in Amsterdam (Dark Key) **
Trevor Watts & RGG: RAFA (Fundacja Sluchaj) **
Håvard Wiik Trio: This Is Not a Waltz (Moserobie)
Jeff Williams: Lifelike (Whirlwind) **
Florian Wittenburg: Four Waves (NurNichtNur)
Aida Bird Wolfe: Birdie (self-released)
Z-Country Paradise: Live in Lisbon (Leo) **
Miguel Zenón: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miel Music)

Also added the following 2017 albums after freezing the 2017 year-end file:

Scott Hamilton/Paolo Birro/Aldo Zunino/Alfred Kramer: Ballads for Audiophiles (Fonè Jazz) **
Scott Hamilton: Meets the Piano Players (Organic) **
Hegge: Vi Är Ledsna Men Du Får Inte Längre Vara Barn (Particular) **
Matt Lavelle/Lewis Porter/Hilliard Greene/Tom Cabrera: Matt Lavelle Quartet (Unseen Rain) **
Matt Piet/Raoul van der Welde/Frank Rosaly: Out of Step: Live in Amsterdam (self-released) **
Jure Pukl/Matija Dedic: Hybrid (Whirlwind) **
Mars Williams: Mars Williams Presents an Ayler Xmas (Soul What) **
Hideo Yamaki/Bill Laswell/Bjorn Björkenheim/Mike Sopko/Dominic James: Inaugural Sound Clash for the 2 Americas (MOD Technologies) **

Reissues/Historic Music

The standard for historic music is a record where everything was recorded 10+ years ago, regardless of whether it's ever been in print before. Some past lists may have treated previously unreleased music as new (regardless of actual age), but I've never been able to manage that distinction consistently. This category also includes compilations of previously released music, including straight reissues, although my selection is very erratic.

1.		*Howard Riley: Live in the USA* (1976, NoBusiness)** British pianist, a founding figure in the British avant-garde, although less known now than many of the musicians he started playing with in the late 1960s -- Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Tony Oxley, John McLaughlin. Big Penguin Guide favorite, including a crown for 1970's The Day Will Come. That and Angle (1969) are on my A-list, but I've heard little else by him -- chiefly his fine career-spanning 5-CD box, Constant Change 1976-2016 -- but this selection of four longish solo pieces from stops in Buffalo and New York City is dazzling all the way through.
2.		*Sonny Rollins: Way Out West [Deluxe Edition]* (1957, Craft)** An early masterpiece, the wood block intro a pure joy even before he saunters into "I'm an Old Cowhand" and ventures far beyond. The reissue -- as far as I can tell digital only -- basically doubles the album with alternate versions spliced with some dialogue. Can't say it offers new insights. You shouldn't skip Work Time or Saxophone Colossus or even Plays for Bird, but I've played just the extras three times and enjoy them as much as I do the original album, and that's one of his very best. **
3.		*Joe McPhee: Nation Time* (1970, Corbett vs. Dempsey) Second album, plays tenor sax and trumpet, with Mike Kull (piano/electric piano), Tyrone Crabb (bass/electric bass/trumpet), and percussion (Ernest Bostic and Bruce Thompson). Original release was on CjRecord in 1971, the 18:30 title cut on one side, two more (22:12) on the other, as was the 2000 Atavistic Unheard Music Series reissue in 2000. This reissue adds three extra cuts, for a total of 65:00. The original album was one of the greatest artifacts of its era, a feat of radical boogaloo, the beat (especially on "Shakey Jake") just regular enough to drive us to ecstasy. The extras aren't as monumental, but hold up pretty well.
4.		*Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Parker) 1993* (New Braxton House, 11CD)** A massive expansion of the sessions and live tour that produced the 2-CD Charlie Parker Project 1993. I was pretty down on Parker back then, so the first thing I noticed was that Braxton had alto sax chops Parker could only dream of (but then I often thought that Braxton was most brilliant playing other's music). I didn't recall the brilliant band Braxton assembled for the project: Ari Brown (tenor/soprano sax), Paul Smoker (trumpet/flugelhorn), Misha Mengelberg (piano), Joe Fonda (bass), and Han Bennink (drums, except for 6, of 68, cuts with Pheeroan akLaff). Too much to digest, especially on computer -- the physical package was limited to 500 copies and quickly sold out, presumably to the 1% -- and I doubt you actually need, for instance, six takes of "Klactoveedsedstene." Still, much of this is magnificent. **
5.		*Martin Küchen & Landaeus Trio: Vinyl* (2013-14, Moserobie)** Swedish saxophonist, plays them all here, with pianist Mathias Landaeus' trio on two sessions (different drummers), each previously released on vinyl. Küchen is best known for his Angles groups, but is a terrific free saxophonist, while the rhythm is just regular enough to let him vamp and boogie a little.
6.		*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Willisau) 1991 Studio* (Hatology, 2CD) Previously released as the front half of a 4-CD box -- presumably the June 2 concert CDs will re-appear soon. This is one of the great quartets of all time -- Marily Crispell (piano), Mark Dresser (bass), and Gerry Hemingway (drums) -- in their last year after a decade together. One of their most extraordinary recordings.
7.		*Alexander von Schlippenbach/Aki Takase: Live at Café Amores* (1995, NoBusiness)** Two pianists, German and Japanese, each famous before they got married. Pieces include medleys of Mingus and Monk as well as their own tunes. Remarkable throughout.
8.		The Savory Collection, Vol. 4: Embraceable You: Bobby Hackett and Friends (1938-40, National Jazz Museum of Harlem) Three previous volumes are well regarded by critics who've heard them -- featuring Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie/Lester Young, and Fats Waller, I can well believe their rep, but can't confirm it. Unfortunately, they're only available on Apple Music, although I've seen promise of an expensive 5-CD box on Mosaic later this year. I'm working off a download from the publicist, who ignored my request for the previous volumes, and I'm more than a little aggravated, given that it took a couple of hours to unpack the archive and rename and reorganize the files so I could finally play all fifteen tracks in order. Also note that Hackett (trumpet) only appears on seven tracks, only one under his own name -- the others are by a group led by clarinetist Joe Marsala, plus you get three tracks by Teddy Wilson, two by Jack Teagarden, and three by Glenn Miller. The Wilson tracks, with Ben Webster on tenor sax, are the real prizes, but everything else is first-rate traditional jazz, and Miller's "The Mood" is a rousing finish. The tracks were recorded by Bill Savory from ballrooms and broadcasts. He's evidently a legend among audio engineers, and everything here is sharp and clear. I'm tempted to slam the (lack of) packaging, but love the music too much. **
9.		*Louis Armstrong: Sparks, Nevada 1964!* (1964, Dot Time) Late in his career -- he didn't record much after 1966, and died in 1971 -- but this catches him on top of the world, with a smash single ("Hello Dolly"), a crack (if no longer All Star) band (Billy Kyle and Arvell Shaw are still in). His voice has an extra load of gravel, but he's still remarkably nimble, especially as he pushes his hit to 7:05, and his trumpet is as brilliant as ever. Still, he takes a break, giving Shaw a long solo on "How High the Moon," then turning the microphone over to Jewel Brown for two cuts. But she's terrific, and he returns for the closing crowd pleaser: "When the Saints Go Marching In."
10.		*Thelonious Monk: Mønk* (1963, Gearbox) Quartet set, recorded live in Copenhagen with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), John Ore (double bass), and Frankie Dunlop (drums). Limited edition vinyl, collector-priced, good sound on classic tunes, nothing you haven't heard before, but superb.
11.		*Anthony Braxton: The Essential Anthony Braxton: The Arista Years* (1974-80, Arista/Legacy, 2CD) A surprise add to Sony/Legacy's long-running (mostly) 2-CD sampler series -- launched in 2001 with Columbia artists like Bob Dylan and Miles Davis (also Billy Joel and Neil Diamond), eventually picking up other labels like RCA and Arista as they were acquired by Sony. Arista, founded by ex-Columbia honcho Clive Davis, made a couple of interesting forays into jazz in the 1970s, including signing a hot young AACM saxophonist named Anthony Braxton. Those records went out of print long before Arista sold out to RCA, until Mosaic reissued them in an 8-CD box in 2008, and unavailable separately until Legacy offered them digital-only last year. This, too, is only on digital. More a wide-ranging sampler than a best-of, the highlights are still amazing, the explorations daring, the faux pas -- well, that happens.
12.		*Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Pepper Vol. 10: Toronto* (1977, Widow's Taste, 3CD)** Much discussion here of this being Pepper's first-ever band tour, which seems strange given that he toured relentlessly in his last years, up to his death at 56 in 1982. He had spent the better part of 1954-65 in jail, and didn't record much in the following decade, until the superb Living Legend in 1975, starting one of the most extraordinarily productive runs in history. The best place to start is his big (16-CD) box of Complete Galaxy Recordings: dive in anywhere and be amazed. Another choice is his pivotal 1977 Village Vanguard Sessions, originally released in four volumes then boxed up complete for 9-CD. Then there are the live bootlegs from the period, which Laurie Pepper has collated into ten volumes: nearly every disc has its share of breathtaking stretches, and this one is no exception. This is touted as a tune-up for the Village Vanguard stand, but the rhythm section here (Bernie Senensky, Gene Perla or Dave Piltch, Terry Clarke) was to be replaced by much more familiar names (George Cables, George Mraz, Elvin Jones). Still, Pepper adjusts by blowing even harder. Third disc is padded out with a 30-minute interview, which I may not play again but was never for a moment tempted to eject. Among other things, he talks about falling in love with Miles Davis' Live-Evil, and wishing to play with that rhythm section. Too bad that never happened -- would have been especially poignant given that one of his first great albums was a chance meeting with Davis' famous 1957 rhythm section.
13.		*Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Final Tour [The Bootleg Series Vol. 6]* (1960, Columbia/Legacy, 4CD)** A quick one, three cities in four days -- Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen -- winding up the five-year tenure of Davis' first great quartet, with Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). Coltrane, well into his string of recordings for Atlantic, was bursting with fresh ideas, not that Davis was willing to give up the lead. Good chance most (or all) of this has appeared before, early on European labels like Dragon, later on Acrobat's 2014 4CD box, All of You: The Last Tour 1960 (which misses Paris but adds other shows in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands). **
14.		J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1969-1984 (1969-84, BBE) I'm not sure how jazz was introduced to and developed in Japan, but this makes clear that by the 1970s it was generating a lot of energy. This label is working on a series of obscure (to us, at least) Japanese jazz reissues, and figured they'd launch it with this sampler. They went for the upbeat stuff, easy to relate to, fast and fancy free. Note that the 10-track digital differs from the 9-track CD (mostly by adding the one artist I had heard of, trumpeter Terumasa Hino) and the 12-track 3-LP. **
15.		*John Coltrane: Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album* (1963, Impulse, 2CD)** Recorded March 8, 1963 with his famous quartet, unreleased, the master destroyed in some senseless housekeeping. However, a second copy recently surfaced among his first wife's (Naima's) things, and is organized here with multiple takes, including four of "Impressions" (the title track, recorded earlier, of an album released later in 1963). Nothing here markedly different from the year's major releases -- certainly no reason to prioritize this over Live at Birdland or Crescent or the live Afro Blue Impressions, although I would rank it above John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman and Impressions itself. **
16.		*Tohru Aizawa Quartet: Tachibana Vol. 1* (1975, BBE) Label initials stand for Barely Breaking Even, which is probably more hope than fact. They've started a "J Jazz Masterclass Series" to reissue obscure Japanese jazz, and this certainly qualifies. Aizawa plays piano, leading a quartet with Kyoichiroh Morimura (tenor/soprano sax), bass, and drums. Amusing to see this classified as Latin Jazz (as well as modal and post-bop), but the closing track is called "Samba de Orfeu" (by Ikujiroh Tachibana, as are all five tracks) and it really breaks loose.
17.		*Sun Ra: God Is More Than Love Can Ever Be* (1979, Cosmic Myth) Piano trio, with Hayes Burnett (bass) and Samarai Celestial (drums), originally released on El Saturn in 1979. Evidently "the only complete piano-bass-drums studio session in the massive Sun Ra catalog," this reminds you how dynamic a pianist Ra could be. While his piano was always in evidence, he usually was satisfied just to stir up the universe. Here he overwhelms it.
18.		*Wadada Leo Smith/Sabu Toyozumi: Burning Meditation* (1994, NoBusiness)** Trumpet and drums duo, a joint improv set recorded in Yamaguchi, Japan, part of the label's Chap Chap Series (not sure if these are reissues). More recently Smith has emerged as a major composer. This is a reminder of how sharp he could be in an improv setting.
19.		*Fred Hersch: Fred Hersch Trio '97 @ The Village Vanguard* (Palmetto)** Previously unreleased tape, with Drew Gress and Tom Rainey, predates four other Village Vanguard records I've heard, and probably the best of the bunch. Came at a time when he was releasing a series of songbook albums. Two originals, one from the bassist, five standards -- got the mix just right.
20.		*Marion Brown/Dave Burrell: Live at the Black Musicians' Conference, 1981* (1981, NoBusiness)** Duets, alto sax and piano. Starts with two Brown originals, then packs three from Burrell between two Billy Strayhorn pieces, ending with a gorgeous "Lush Life."
21.		*Erroll Garner: Nightconcert* (1964, Mack Avenue) Piano trio with Eddie Calhoun (bass) and Kelly Martin (drums), a previosly unreleased midnight set at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Sparkling standards served with the pianist's usual flourishes. Fine sound. Piano jazz fans will be thrilled.
22.		*Charlie Haden & Brad Mehldau: Long Ago and Far Away* (2007, Impulse) Recorded at a festival in Mannheim, Germany, just bass and piano. Not revelatory, but lovely nonethless -- you don't often hear sensitize comping behind tear-jerking bass solos every day, but Haden often brought such emotion to bear.
23.		*Sun Ra: Of Abstract Dreams* (1974-75, Strut) Previously unreleased Philadelphia radio session, date approximate (because he did this pretty often), group a nonet including regulars John Gilmore and Marshall Allen. Four pieces, with lots of flute, bass clarinet, oboe, congas, and vocals: fairly typical for the period, but one where all of his idiosyncrasies pay dividends.
24.		Cecil Taylor: Conversations With Tony Oxley (2008, Jazzwerkstatt) Piano-drums duo. Oxley emerged as an important figure in English avant-jazz in the late 1960s. He played with Taylor in Berlin in 1988 -- a month which produced about 15 albums -- both as a duo and in the Feel Trio (with William Parker), which lasted several more years. The last Taylor record in my database was a duo with Oxley, recorded about six months after this set. Much of this is typically remarkable. Seems to give up at one point, then rebounds stronger than ever. **
25.		*Jazz at the Philharmonic [Oscar Peterson/Illinois Jacquet/Herb Ellis]: Blues in Chicago 1955* (Verve)** Not a group per sé, just an ad hoc collection of stars who Norman Granz brought together for jam session shows all over the world. Just three names on the cover, and Jacquet only appears on 3 (of 4) tracks, same as unlisted stars Flip Phillips, Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, and Roy Eldridge. The rhythm section -- Peterson, Ellis, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich -- are on all four. Starts with 20:00 of "The Blues" -- same title as on JATP's 1944 First Concert starring Jacquet -- backed with a 13:06 "Ballad Medley" giving each horn player a solo. Rounded out with two shorter pieces, "The Modern Set" (Gillespie and Young) and "The Swing Set" (Eldridge, Phillips, and Jacquet). **
26.		Amarcord Nino Rota (1981, Corbett vs. Dempsey) I file this under producer Hal Willner's name, who went beyond this first album to produce a series of tribute albums worthy of auteur tatus -- most fabulously Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (1985). Otherwise, this would be "various artists" playing compositions by Nino Rota from the films of Federico Fellini. Mostly jazz musicians, several solo (Jaki Byard, Bill Frisell, Steve Lacy), larger ensembles arranged by Carla Bley and Muhal Richard Abrams, even a medley with the Marsalis brothers. **

Also added the following 2017 albums after freezing the 2017 year-end file:

1.		*Ella Fitzgerald: Ella at Zardi's* (1956, Verve) Previously unreleased, two sets, twenty-one songs, at Zardi's in Los Angeles, very shortly after she left Decca for Verve. She's backed by Don Abney (piano), Vernon Alley (bass), and Frank Capp (drums) -- no big names there, but as she gets on a roll, all she needs.
2.		Art Pepper: The Art Pepper Quartet (1956, Omnivore) Recorded a couple months before his famed Meets the Rhythm Section (with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones from Miles Davis' first great hard bop quintet), this rhythm section epitomized West Coast cool: Russ Freeman (piano), Ben Tucker (bass), and Gary Frommer (drums). Filling the CD out with alternate takes (including a false start) brings this to an odd end, but the original record is superb -- as was pretty much everything Pepper did during this brief period between jail terms. **

Honorable Mention

Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

Kaoru Abe/Sabu Toyozumi: Mannyoka (1976, NoBusiness)
Choi Sun Bae Quartet: Arirang Fantasy (1995, NoBusiness)
Don Cherry: Home Boy, Sister Sounds (1985, Wewantsounds) **
John Coltrane: 1963: New Directions (Impulse!, 3CD) **
Ben Lamar Gay: 500 Chains (2013-14, International Anthem) **
Dexter Gordon Quartet: Tokyo 1975 (Elemental Music) **
Dexter Gordon Quartet: Espace Cardin 1977 (Elemental Music) **
Beaver Harris-Don Pullen 360° Experience: A Well Kept Secret (1984, Corbett vs. Dempsey) **
Steve Lacy: Stamps (1977-78, Corbett vs. Dempsey, 2CD) **
Guy Lafitte: His Tenor Sax & Orchestra 1954-1959 (Fresh Sound) **
Joe McPhee/Mats Gustafsson: Brace for Impact (2007, Corbett vs. Dempsey) **
Frank Morgan/George Cables: Montreal Memories (1989, High Note) **
Takeo Moriyama: East Plants (1983, BBE) **
Barre Phillips/Motoharu Yoshizawa: Oh My, Those Boys! (1994, NoBusiness)
Sun Ra: The Cymbals/Symbols Sessions: New York City 1973 (Modern Harmonic, 2CD) **
Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Taking a Chance on Chances (1977, Enterplanetary Koncepts) **
Jesse Sharps Quintet & P.A.P.A.: Sharps and Flats (2004, Nimbus West/Outernational Sounds) **
Soul of a Nation: Jazz Is the Teacher/Funk Is the Preacher (1969-75, Soul Jazz) **
Cecil Taylor: Mysteries: Indent: Antioch College/Yellow Springs, Ohio/March 11, 1973 (Black Sun) **
Cecil Taylor: Poschiavo (1999, Black Sun) **
Cecil Taylor: Conversations With Tony Oxley (2008, Jazzwerkstatt) **
Ralph Thomas: Eastern Standard Time (1980, BBE) **
Ben Webster: Valentine's Day 1964 Live! (Dot Time) **

Also added the following 2017 albums after freezing the 2017 year-end file:

Louis Armstrong: The Nightclubs (1950-58, Dot Time) **
Detail [Johnny Mbizo Dyani/Frode Gjerstad/Evin One Pedersen/John Stevens]: Detail at Club 7 (1982, Not Two) **
Joel Futterman and Ike Levin: Live in Chicago (2007, Charles Lester Music) **
Woody Shaw/Louis Hayes: The Tour: Volume One (1976 [2016], High Note) **

Notes

Additional new jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

10^32K: The Law of Vibration (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Juhani Aaltonen/Raoul Björkenheim: Awakening (Eclipse) ** [B+(**)]
Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids: An Angel Fell (Strut) ** [B+(**)]
Sophie Agnel/John Edwards/Steve Noble: Aqisseq (ONJazz) ** [B_(**)]
Aguankó: Pattern Recognition (Aguankó) [B+(**)]
Cyrille Aimée: Live (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(**)]
Joey Alexander: Eclipse (Motéma) ** [B+(**)]
JD Allen: Love Stone (Savant) ** [B+(**)]
Amu: Weave (Libra) [B+(*)]
Jakob Anderskov: Mysteries (ILK) ** [B+(**)]
Dave Anderson: Melting Pot (Label1) [B+(*)]
Anguish: Anguish (RareNoise) * [B+(**)]
Lotte Anker/Pat Thomas/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Ståle Liavik Solberg: His Flight's at Ten (Iluso) ** [B+(**)]
Tucker Antell: Grime Scene (OA2) [B+(**)]
Anteloper: Kudu (International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Julian Argüelles: Tonadas (Edition) ** [B+(**)]
Lynne Arriale Trio: Give Us These Days (Challenge) ** [B+(*)]
As Is Featuring Alan & Stacey Schulman: Here's to Life (self-released) [B]
Tiffany Austin: Unbroken (Con Alma) [B+(*)]
Danny Bacher: Still Happy (Whaling City Sound) [B+(*)]
John Bailey: In Real Time (Summit) [B+(**)]
Jeff Baker: Phrases (OA2) [B]
Bob Baldori/Arthur Migliazza: The Boogie Kings: Disturbing the Peace (Blujazz/Spirit) [B+(*)]
Dave Ballou & BeepHonk: The Windup (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Balto!: Taco Cat Poops (self-released, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Barker Trio: Avert Your I (Astral Spirits) ** [B+(*)]
Andrew Barker/Daniel Carter: Polyhedron (Astral Spirits) ** [B+(**)]
Joey Baron/Robyn Schulkowsky: Now You Hear Me (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Kenny Barron Quintet: Concentric Circles (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Jon Batiste: Hollywood Africans (Verve) ** [B+(*)]
Jamie Baum Septet+: Bridges (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Daniel Bennett Group: We Are the Orchestra (Manhattan Daylight Media, EP) ** [B]
Heather Bennett: Lazy Afternoon (Summit) [B]
Tony Bennett & Diana Krall: Love Is Here to Stay (Verve/Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
Eraldo Bernocchi: Like a Fire That Consumes All Before It (RareNoise) * [B+(*)]
Rafiq Bhatia: Breaking English (Anti-) ** [B+(**)]
Pat Bianchi: In the Moment (Savant) ** [B]
Carlos Bica & Azul: Azul in Ljubljana (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Nick Biello: Vagabond Soul (Blujazz) [B+(**)]
Big Heart Machine: Big Heart Machine (self-released) [B]
David Binney: Here & Now (Mythology) ** [B-]
Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner: Sounds Almighty (Tradition Disc) ** [B+(**)]
Andy Biskin: 16 Tons: Songs From the Alan Lomax Collection (Andorfin) [B+(**)]
Black Art Jazz Collective: Armor of Pride (HighNote) ** [B]
Terence Blanchard: Live (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Samuel Blaser With Marc Ducret/Peter Bruun: Taktlos Zurich 2017 (Hatology) ** [B+(*)]
Samuel Blaser: Early in the Mornin' (Out Note) ** [B+(*)]
Martin Blume/Tobias Delius/Achim Kaufmann/Dieter Manderscheid: Frames & Terrains (NoBusiness) * [B+(**)]
Andrea Brachfeld: If Not Now, When? (Jazzheads) [B+(*)]
Geof Bradfield: Yes, and . . . Music for Nine Improvisers (Delmark) ** [B+(**)]
Craig Brann: Lineage (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Jakob Bro: Bay of Rainbows (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Jakob Bro: Returnings (ECM) ** [B]
Owen Broder: Heritage: The American Roots Project (ArtistShare) [B]
Brom: Sunstroke (Trost) ** [B+(**)]
Magnus Broo Trio: Rules (Moserobie) [B+(**)]
Bobby Broom & the Organi-sation: Soul Fingers (MRi) [B]
Peter Brötzmann/Heather Leigh: Sparrow Nights (Trost) ** [B+(*)]
Justin Brown: Nyeusi (Biophilia) ** [B-]
Sheldon Brown Group: Blood of the Air (Edgetone) [B+(*)]
Sarah Buechi: Contradiction of Happiness (Intakt) [B+(*)]
Greg Burk: The Detroit Songbook (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Sam Broverman: A Jewish Boy's Christmas (Brovermusic) [B]
Butcher Brown: Camden Session (Gearbox) ** [B+(*)]
Jonathan Butler: Close to You (Mack Avenue) ** [C+]
Chris Byars: New York City Jazz (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Francesco Cafiso: We Play for Tips (EFLAT/Incipit) ** [B+(**)]
Harley Card: The Greatest Invention (self-released) [B+(*)]
Dustin Carlson: Air Ceremony (Out of Your Head) [B+(**)]
Daniel Carter/Hilliard Greene/David Haney: Live Constructions (Slam) ** [B]
Lynn Cassiers: Imaginary Band (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Dan Cavanaugh/Dave Hagedorn: 20 Years (UT Arlington) [B+(*)]
Ernesto Cervini's Turboprop: Abundance (Anzic) [B+(**)]
Chamber 3: Transatlantic (OA2) [B+(*)]
Annie Chen Octet: Secret Treetop (Shanghai Audio & Video) [B]
Cyrus Chestnut: Kaleidoscope (HighNote) ** [B]
Chrome Hill: The Explorer (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Mike Clark & Delbert Bump: Retro Report (Ropeadope) ** [B+(**)]
Scott Clark: ToNow (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Zack Clarke: Mesophase (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Dawn Clement: Tandem (Origin) [B+(*)]
The Nels Cline 4: Currents Constellations (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Anat Cohen/Fred Hersch: Live in Healdsburg (Anzic) ** [B+(*)]
Richie Cole: Cannonball (RCP) [B+(**)]
Collective Order: Collective Order Vol. 3 (self-released) [B]
George Colligan: Nation Divided (Whirlwind) ** [B+(*)]
Marco Colonna/Agustí Fernandez/Zlatko Kaucic: Agrakal (Not Two) ** [B+(**)]
The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band: Chinese Butterfly (Stretch/Concord, 2CD) ** [B+(*)]
Roxy Coss: The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone) ** [B]
Mário Costa: Oxy Patina (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
George Cotsirilos Quartet: Mostly in Blue (OA2) [B+(*)]
Marilyn Crispell/Tanya Kalmanovitch/Richard Teitelbaum: Dream Libretto (Leo) ** [B+(*)]
Ronnie Cuber: Ronnie's Trio (SteepleChase) ** [B+(*)]
Francesco Cusa & the Assassins Meets Duccio Bertini: Black Poker (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Tomasz Dabrowski Ad Hoc: Ninjazz (ForTune) ** [B+(*)]
Tim Daisy: Configurations (Relay) ** [B+(**)]
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz (Blue Note) ** [B]
Caroline Davis: Heart Tonic (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Kris Davis/Matt Mitchell/Aruán Ortiz/Matthew Shipp: New American Songbooks: Volume 2 (Sound American) ** [B+(**)]
Dennis Llewellyn Day: Bossa, Blues and Ballads (DDay Media Group) [B+(*)]
Benje Daneman Serendipity: Light in the Darkness (ACI) [C+]
Maria Da Rocha: Beetroot & Other Stories (Shhpuma) ** [B+(**)]
Dead Composers Club [Noah Preminger/Rob Garcia]: Chopin Project (Connection Works) [B]
Michael Dease: Reaching Out (Posi-Tone) ** [B]
Michael Dease: Bonafide (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(**)]
Benoît Delbecq 4: Spots on Stripes (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Christopher Dell/Johannes Brecht/Christian Lillinger/Jonas Westergaard: Boulez Materialism: Live in Concert (Plaist) ** [B+(**)]
Detroit Bop Quintet: Two Birds (TQM, EP) [B+(*)]
Julien Desprez/Luís Lopes: Boa Tarde (Shhpuma) * [B+(**)]
Ron Di Salvio/Bart Plateau: The Puglia Suite (Blujazz) [B-]
Robert Diack: Lost Villages (self-released) [B+(*)]
Sam Dillon: Out in the Open (Cellar Live) ** [B+(**)]
Dinosaur: Wonder Trail (Edition) ** [B]
District Five: Decoy (Intakt) [B+(**)]
Dogwood: Hecate's Hounds (Nusica.org) [B+(**)]
David Dominique: Mask (Orenda) [C]
Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band: My Heart Belongs to Satchmo (Blujazz) [B+(**)]
Dos Santos: Logos (International Anthem) ** [B+(*)]
Kit Downes: Obsidian (ECM) ** [B]
Drone Trio [Evelyn Davis/Fred Frith/Phillip Greenlief]: Lantskap Logic (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Drums & Tuba: Triumph! (Ropeadope) ** [B+(*)]
Elina Duni: Partir (ECM) ** [B+(*)]
Dystil: Dystil (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Yelena Eckemoff: Better Than Gold and Silver (L&H Production, 2CD) [B+(**)]
Kat Edmonson: Old Fashioned Gal (MRI) ** [B+(*)]
Colin Edwin & Lorenzo Feliciati: Twinscapes Vol. 2: A Modern Approach to the Dancefloor (RareNoise) * [B+(**)]
Jake Ehrenreich: A Treasury of Jewish Christmas Songs (self-released) [B+(*)]
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra: The Falling Dream (OA2) [B]
Kurt Elling: The Questions (Okeh) ** [B-]
The End [Sofia Jernberg/Mats Gustafsson/Kjetil Moster/Anders Hana/Greg Saunier]: Svårmod Och Vemod Är Värdesinnen (RareNoise) * [D+]
Enemy: Enemy (Edition) ** [B+(**)]
John Escreet: Learn to Live (Blue Room) ** [B+(*)]
Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band: Presence (Smoke Sessions) ** [B]
Peter Evans/Agusti Fernandez/Barry Guy: Free Radicals at DOM (Fundacja Sluchaj) ** [B+(**)]
Extra Large Unit: More Fun Please (PNL) ** [B]
Fred Farell: Distant Song (Whaling City Sound) [B+(*)]
Román Filiú: Quarteria (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Nick Finzer's Hear & Now: Live in New York City (Outside In) ** [B+(**)]
Fire!: The Hands (Rune Grammofon) ** [B+(**)]
Birgitta Flick Quartet: Color Studies (Double Moon) ** [B+(**)]
Michael Formanek Elusion Quartet: Time Like This (Intakt) [B+(**)]
Michael Foster/Katherine Young/Michael Zerang: Bind the Hand(s) That Feed (Relative Pitch) [B+(*)]
James Francies: Flight (Blue Note) ** [B]
Erik Friedlander: Artemisia (Skipstone) ** [B+(**)]
Bill Frisell: Music IS (Okeh) ** [B+(**)]
Satoko Fujii: Solo (Libra) [B+(**)]
Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin: Ninety-Nine Years (Libra) [B+(**)]
Tia Fuller: Diamond Cut (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(*)]
Ben LaMar Gay: Downtown Castles Can Never Block the Sun (International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Frode Gjerstad Trio + Steve Swell: Bop Stop (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
GoGo Penguin: A Humdrum Star (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Aaron Goldberg: At the Edge of the World (Sunnyside) [B+(**)]
Vinny Golia/Henry Kaiser/Bob Moses/Damon Smith/Weasel Walter: Astral Plane Crash (Balance Point Acoustics) ** [B+(**)]
Vinny Golia/Steph Richards/Bert Turetzky: Trio Music (PfMentum) ** [B+(*)]
The Marie Goudy 12tet featuring Jocelyn Barth: The Bitter Suite (self-released) [B]
Victor Gould: Earthlings (Criss Cross) ** [B+(**)]
Johan Graden: Olägenheter (Moserobie) [B+(**)]
Maria Grand: Magdalena (Biophilia) ** [B+(**)]
Justin Gray & Synthesis: New Horizons (self-released) [B+(**)]
Danny Green Trio Plus Strings: One Day It Will (OA2) [B+(**)]
Tord Gustavsen Trio: The Other Side (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Randy Halberstadt: Open Heart (Origin) [B+(*)]
James Hall: Lattice (Outside In Music) [B+(*)]
Mary Halvorson: Code Girl (Firehouse 12) [B+(*)]
Jeff Hamilton Trio: Live From San Pedro (Capri) [B+(**)]
Scott Hamilton: Moon Mist (Blau) ** [B+(**)]
Eric Harland: 13th Floor (13th Floor) ** [B+(*)]
Stefon Harris + Blackout: Sonic Creed (Motéma) ** [B-]
Joel Harrison: Angel Band: Free Country Vol. 3 (HighNote) ** [B]
Bill Hart Band: Live at Red Clay Theatre (Blujazz) [B]
Phil Haynes & Free Country: 60/69: My Favorite Things (Corner Store Jazz, 2CD) [B+(*)]
Shay Hazan: Good Morning Universe (NoBusiness, EP) * [B+(*)]
David Hazeltine: The Time Is Now (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(*)]
The Heat Death: The Glenn Miller Sessions (Clean Feed, 3CD) ** [B+(**)]
Gerry Hemingway/Samuel Blaser: Oostum (NoBusiness) * [B+(*)]
Lauren Henderson: Ármame (Brontosaurus) [B+(*)]
Here's to Us: Animals, Wild and Tame (Hoob Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Fred Hersch Trio: Live in Europe (Palmetto) [B+(**)]
Monika Herzig: Sheroes (Whaling City Sound) [B+(*)]
Tyler Higgins: Blue Mood (Shhpuma) ** [B+(*)]
Marquis Hill: Modern Flows Vol. 2 (Black Unlimited Music Group) ** [B]
Steve Hobbs: Tribute to Bobby (Challenge) [B+(*)]
Amos Hoffman/Noam Lemish: Pardes (self-released) [B+(*)]
Claus Højensgård/Emanuele Mariscalco/Nelide Bendello: Høbama (Gotta Let It Out)
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble: All Can Work (New Amsterdam) ** [B]
Honest John w/ Ab Baars: Treem (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Adam Hopkins: Crickets (Out of Your Head) [B+(**)]
Charlotte Hug & Lucas Niggli: Fulguratio: Live at Ad Libitum 2016 (Fundacja Sluchaj) ** [B+(**)]
Juan Ibarra Quinteto: NauMay (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
ICP Orchestra: Live at the Royal Room: First Set: 6 May 2015 (ICP) ** [B+(*)]
ICP Orchestra: Live at the Royal Room: Second Set: 6 May 2015 (ICP) ** [B+(**)[
Jon Irabagon Quartet: Dr. Quixotic's Traveling Exotics (Irabbagast) [B+(**)]
Gene Jackson Trio NuYorx: Power of Love (Whirlwind) [B+(*)]
Tomo Jacobson/Maria Laurette Friis/Emanuele Maniscalco + Karlis Auzixs: Split : Body (Getta Let It Out) * [B+(*)]
José James: Lean on Me (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Janczarski & McCraven Quintet: Liberator (ForTune) ** [B+(*)]
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis: Una Noche Con Rubén Blades (Blue Engine) [B+(**)]
Jentsch Group No Net: Topics in American History (Blue Schist) [B+(**)]
Park Jiha: Communion (Tak:til) ** [B+(**)]
Thomas Johansson: Home Alone (Tammtz) [B+(**)]
Phillip Johnston: The Adventuers of Prince Achmed (Asychronous) ** [B+(*)]
Vic Juris: Eye Contact (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Mark Kavuma: Kavuma (Ubuntu Music) ** [B+(*)]
Ryan Keberle/Frank Woeste: Reverso: Suite Pavel (Phonoart) [B+(**)]
Roger Kellaway Trio: New Jazz Standards Vol. 3 (Summit) [B+(**)]
Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra: Flyin' Through Florida (Summit) [B+(**)]
Knalpot: Dierendag (Shhpuma) ** [B+(*)]
Kirk Knuffke/Steven Herring: Witness (SteepleChase) ** [B]
Gayle Kolb: Getting Sentimental (JeruJazz) [B+(**)]
Adam Kolker & Russ Lossing: Whispers and Secrets (Fresh Sound) ** [B+(*)]
Simone Kopmajer: Spotlight on Jazz (Lucky Mojo) [B+(**)]
Fredrik Kronkvist: Kronicles (Connective) ** [B+(**)]
Sarathy Korwar and Upaj Collective: My East Is Your West (Gearbox) ** [B+(**)]
Martin Küchen/Rafal Mazur: Baza (NoBusiness) * [B+(*)]
Kukuruz Quartet: Julius Eastman: Piano Interpretations (Intakt) ** [B+(*)]
Julian Lage: Modern Lore (Mack Avenue) ** [B]
Andrew Lamb Trio: The Casbah of Love (Birdwatcher) ** [B+(**)]
Lana Trio: Lana Trio With Sofia Jernberg (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Lawful Citizen: Internal Combustion (self-released) [B+(*)]
Azar Lawrence: Elementals (HighNote) ** [B+(**)]
Jeremy Ledbetter Trio: Got a Light? (Alma) [B]
Pablo Ledesma/Pepa Angelillo/Mono Hurtado/Carlo Brandan: Gato Barbieri Revisitado (Discos ICM) ** [B+(**)]
Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet: From the Heart (Savant) ** [B+(*)]
Bongwool Lee: My Singing Fingers (Origin) [B+(**)]
Jennifer Lee: My Shining Hour (SBE) [B]
Peggy Lee: Echo Painting (Songlines) ** [B]
Robbie Lee & Mary Halvorson: Seed Triangular (New Amsterdam) ** [B+(**)]

José Lencastre Nau Quartet: Eudaimonia

Allegra Levy: Looking at the Moon (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Dave Liebman/Tatsuya Nakatani/Adam Rudolph: The Unknowable (RareNoise) * [B+(*)]
Dave Liebman/John Stowell: Petite Fleur: The Music of Sidney Bechet (Origin) [B+(*)]
Chris Lightcap: Superette (The Royal Potato Family) ** [B+(*)]
Living Fossil: Never Die! (self-released) [B+(**)]
Brandon Lopez: Quoniam Facta Sum Vilis (Astral Spirits) ** [B+(*)]
The Doug MacDonald Quintet/The Roger Neumann Quintet: Two Quintets: Live Upstairs at Vitello's (Blujazz, 2CD) [B+(*)]
Shai Maestro: The Dream Thief (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Joe Magnarelli: Magic Trick (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
The Maguire Twins: Seeking Higher Ground (Three Tree) [B+(*)]
Mahobin: Live at Big Apple in Kobe (Libra) [B+(**)]
Debra Mann: Full Circle: The Music of Joni Mitchell (Whaling City Sound) [B+(**)]
Todd Marcus: On These Streets (A Baltimore Story) (Stricker Street) [B]
Ben Markley Quartet: Basic Economy (OA2) [B+(**)]
Thomas Marriott: Romance Language (Origin) [B+(**)]
Nicolas Masson: Travelers (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Master Oogway: The Concert Koan (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Deanne Matley: Because I Loved (self-released) [B+(*)]
Christian McBride: Christian McBride's New Jawn (Mack Avenue) [B+(**)]
Pete McCann: Pay for It on the Other Side (McCannis Music) [B+(*)]
Brian McCarthy: Codex (self-released) [B+(**)]
Ernest McCarty Jr./Theresa Davis: I Remember Love (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Donny McCaslin: Blow. (Motéma) ** [B+(*)]
Solon McDade: Murals (self-released) [B+(**)]
Erin McDougald: Outside the Soirée (Miles High) [B+(**)]
Kate McGarry/Keith Ganz/Gary Versace: The Subject Tonight Is Love (Binxtown) [B+(**)]
Nellie McKay: Sister Orchid (Palmetto) ** [B+(**)]
Dave McMurray: Music Is Life (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Ryan Meagher: Lost Days (Fresh Sound New Talent) ** [B+(*)]
Ryan Meagher: Evil Twin (PJCE) ** [B]
Brad Mehldau: Seymour Reads the Constitution! (Nonesuch) ** [B+(*)]
Brad Mehldau: After Bach (Nonesuch) ** [B]
Joachim Mencel Quintet: Artisena (ForTune) ** [B+(*)]
Marieann Meringolo: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: The Songs of Alan & Marilyn Bergman (Blujazz) [C+]
Allison Miller/Carmen Staaf: Science Fair (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Nick Millevoi's Desertion Trio With Jamie Saft: Midtown Tilt (Shhpuma) ** [B]
Dom Minasi/Juampy Juarez: Freeland (Cirko) ** [B+(*)]
MJO Brothers Present: Hip Devotions (Blujazz) [B]
Liudas Mockünas: Hydro 2 (NoBusiness) [B+(*)]
Lello Molinari: Lello's Italian Job Volume 2 (Fata Morgana Music) [B+(**)]
Chris Monson: Seldom in the Well (self-released) [B]
Joel Moore/Nick Mizock/Paul Scherer/Michael Barton/Paul Townsend: Magnetic EP (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Joey Morant: Forever Sanctified (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Michael Morreale: MilesSong: The Music of Miles Davis (Summit, 2CD) [B+(**)]
Diane Moser: Birdsongs (Planet Arts) [B]
Moskus: Mirakler (Hubro) ** [B+(**)]
Michael Moss/Accidental Orchestra: Helix (4th Stream) [B+(**)]
Kjetil Møster/John Edwards/Dag Erik Knedal Andersen: Different Shapes/Immersion (Va Fongool) ** [B+(*)]
John Moulder: Decade: Memoirs (Origin) [B+(**)]
Al Muirhead's Canadian Quintet: Undertones (Chronograph) [B+(**)]
David Murray feat. Saul Williams: Blues for Memo (Motéma) ** [B+(**)]
Música De Selvagem: Volume Único (Shhpuma, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where the River Goes (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Myriad 3: Vera (ALMA) [B+(*)]
Kyle Nasser: Persistent Fancy (Ropeadope) [B]
The Necks: Body (Northern Spy) ** [B+(**)]
Peter Nelson: Ash, Dust, and the Chalkboard Cinema (Outside In Music) [B+(**)]
Lucas Niggli: Alchemia Garden (Intakt) [B+(*)]
Judy Night Quintet: Sliding on Glass: Live at 210 (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Now Vs Now: The Buffering Cocoon (Jazzland) ** [B]
Nuance Crusaders: Reflections (Blujazz -17) [B-]
Adam Nussbaum: The Lead Belly Project (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Uwe Oberg/Heinz Sauer: Sweet Reason (Jazzwerkstatt) ** [B+(*)]
Adam O'Farrill's Stranger Days: El Maquech (Biophilia) ** [B+(*)]
Meg Okura/Sam Newsome/Jean-Michel Pilc: NPO Trio Live at the Stone (Chant) ** [B+(*)]
Meg Okura & the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble: Ima Ima (Chant) ** [B+(*)]
Orquesta Del Tiempo Perdido: Stille (Shhpuma) ** [B]
Juan Andrés Ospina Big Band: Tramontana (self-released) [B]
Otherworld Ensemble: Live at Malmitalo (Edgetone) [B+(*)]
The Ed Palermo Big Band: The Adventures of Zodd Zundgren (Cuneiform) * [C+]
Jason Palmer: At Wally's: Volume 1 (SteepleChase) ** [B+(*)]
Jason Palmer: At Wally's: Volume 2 (SteepleChase) ** [B]
Jeff Parker/Jeb Bishop/Pandelis Karayorgis/Nate McBride/Devin Gray: The Diagonal Filter (Not Two) ** [B+(**)]
William Parker: Flower in a Stained-Glass Window/The Blinking of the Ear (Centering/AUM Fidelity, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Chris Pasin: Ornettiquette (Planet Arts) [B+(**)]
Hanna Paulsberg Concept & Magnus Broo: Daughter of the Sun (Odin) ** [B+(**)]
Jeremy Pelt: Noir En Rouge: Live in Paris (HighNote) ** [B+(**)]
Ivo Perelman/Mat Maneri/Hank Roberts/Ned Rothenberg: Strings 2 (Leo) [B+(**)]
Ivo Perelman/Jason Stein: Spiritual Prayers (Leo) [B+(*)]
Madeleine Peyroux: Anthem (Decca) ** [B+(*)]
Dan Phillips Trio: Divergent Flow (Lizard Breath) ** [B+(**)]
Roberta Piket: West Coast Trio (13th Note) [B+(*)]
Charles Pillow Large Ensemble: Electric Miles (MAMA) [B]
Lucas Pino's No Net Nonet: That's a Computer (Outside In Music) [B+(*)]
Leslie Pintchik: You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl! (Pintch Hard) [B+(**)]
Alberto Pinton Noi Siamo: Opus Facere (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Chris Pitsiokos CP Unit: Silver Bullet in the Autumn of Your Years (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
John Pittman: Kinship (Slammin' Media) [B+(*)]
Chris Platt Trio: Sky Glow (self-released) [B+(*)]
Mikkel Ploug/Mark Turner: Faroe (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Pocket Aces: Cull the Heard (Creative Nation Music) [B+(**)]
Verneri Pohjola/Maciej Garbowski/Krzysztof Gradziuk: Gemstones (Fundacja Sluchaj) ** [B+(**)]
Charlie Porter: Charlie Porter (Porter House) ** [B+(*)]
Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble: From Maxville to Vanport (PJCE) [B+(**)]
Noah Preminger: Genuinity (Criss Cross) ** [B+(**)]
Bobby Previte: Rhapsody (RareNoise) * [B]
Dan Pugach Nonet: Plus One (Unit) [B-]
Jure Pukl: Doubtless (Whirlwind) [B+(**)]
Reggie Quinerly: Words to Love (Redefinition Music) [B]
Quoan [Brian Walsh/Daniel Rosenboom/Sam Minaie/Mark Ferber]: Fine Dining (Orenda) ** [B+(**)]
R+R=Now: Collagically Speaking (Blue Note) ** [B]
Nikita Rafaelov: Spirit of Gaia (Gotta Let It Out) [B+(**)]
Antonio Raia: Asylum (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Kristjan Randalu: Absence (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Mette Rasmussen & Chris Corsano: A View of the Moon (From the Sun) (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Mette Rasmussen/Tashi Dorji: Mette Rasmussen/Tashi Dorji (Feeding Tube) ** [B-]
Ratatet: Heroes, Saints and Clowns (Ridgeway) [B]
Andrew Rathbun: Character Study (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
John Raymond & Real Feels: Joy Ride (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra: Without a Trace (Origin) [B]
Steve Reich: Pulse/Quartet (Nonesuch) ** [B+(*)]
Dave Rempis/Tomeka Reid/Joshua Abrams: Ithra (Aerophonic) [B+(**)]
The Rempis/Daisy Duo & Guests: Dodecahedron (Aerophonic, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Margo Rey: The Roots of Rey/Despacito Margo (Origin) [B+(**)]
RGG/Verneri Pohjola/Samuel Blaser: City of Gardens (Fundacja Sluchaj) ** [B+(**)]
Rhio: A Rhio Good Thing (Beso) [B+(*)]
Stephanie Richards: Fullmoon (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(**)]
Logan Richardson: Blues People (Ropeadope) ** [B]
Mattias Risberg: Stamps (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Ernesto Rodrigues/Guilherme Rodrigues/Bruno Parrinha/Luís Lopes/Vasco Trillo: Lithos (Creative Sources) [B+(**)]
Jay Rodriguez: Your Sound: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (Whaling City Sound) [B+(**)]
Roller Trio: New Devices (Edition) ** [B+(*)]
Rich Rosenthal/Jack DeSalvo/Tom Cabrera: Connoisseurs of Chaos (Woodshedd) ** [B+(**)]
Renee Rosnes: Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(**)]
Scott Routenberg Trio: Supermoon (Summit) [B+(*)]
Rudy Royston: Flatbed Buggy (Greenleaf Music) ** [B+(**)]
Dori Rubbicco: Stage Door Live! (Whaling City Sound) [B+(**)]
Jerome Sabbagh/Greg Tuohey: No Filter (Sunnyside) ** [B]
Anne Sajdera: New Year (Bijuri) [B+(*)]
Akira Sakata/Simon Nabatov/Takashi Seo/Darren Moore: Not Seeing Is a Flower (Leo) ** [B+(**)]
Cécile McLorin Salvant: The Window (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(*)]
Cecilia Sanchietti: La Verza Via (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Christian Sands: Reach Further EP (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(**)]
Christian Sands: Facing Dragons (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(**)]
Javier Santiago: Phoenix (Ropeadope) ** [B]
Rafal Sarnecki: Climbing Trees (Outside In Music) [B]
Scheen Jazzorchester/Eyolf Dale: Commuter Report (Losen) [B+(*)]
JP Schlegelmilch/Jonathan Goldberger/Jim Black: Visitors (Skirl) ** [B+(*)]
J. Peter Schwalm: How We Fall (RareNoise) * [B+(*)]
John Scofield: Combo 66 (Verve) ** [B+(**)]
Rob Schwimmer: Heart of Hearing (Sunken Heights Music) [B-]
Dolores Scozzesi: Here Comes the Sun (Café Pacific) [B]
Sara Serpa: Close Up (Clean Feed) [B+(*)]
Shakers n' Bakers: Heart Love: Plays the Music of Albert Ayler and Mary Maria Parks (Little i Music) [B+(*)]
Andy Sheppard Quartet: Romaria (ECM) [B+(*)]
Matthew Shipp: Zero (ESP-Disk) ** [B+(*)]
Matthew Shipp Quartet: Sonic Fiction (ESP-Disk) ** [B+(**)]
Wayne Shorter: Emanon (Blue Note, 3CD) ** [B-]
Aaron Shragge & Ben Monder: The World of Dew (Human Resource) [B+(*)]
Julian Siegel Quartet: Vista (Whirlwind) ** [B+(**)]
Susana Santos Silva: All the Rivers: Live at Panteão Nacional (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Edward Simon: Sorrows & Triumphs (Sunnyside) [B+(*)]
Jared Sims: The New York Sessions (Ropeadope) [B+(**)]
Sibarg Ensemble: Cipher (self-released) [B+(**)]
Marc Sinan/Oguz Büyükberber: White (ECM) ** [B]
Josh Sinton's Predicate Trio: Making Bones, Taking Draughts, Bearing Unstable Millstones Pridefully, Idiotically, Prosaically (Iluso) ** [B+(**)]
SLUGish Ensemble: An Eight Out of Nine (Slow & Steady) ** [B+(**)]
Dr. Lonnie Smith: All in My Mind (Blue Note) ** [B-]
Walter Smith III/Matthew Stevens/Joel Ross/Harish Raghavan/Marcus Gilmore: In Commmon (Whirlwind) ** [B+(**)]
Cory Smythe: Circulate Susanna (Pyroclastic) [B-]
Jim Snidero & Jeremy Pelt: Jubilation! Celebrating Cannonball Adderley (Savant) * [B+(**)]
Il Sogno: Birthday (Gotta Let It Out -17) [B+(**)]
Tyshaw Sorey: Pillars (Firehouse 12, 3CD) [B+(**)]
Mark Soskin: Upper West Side Stories (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Esperanza Spalding: 12 Little Spells (Concord) ** [B-]
Spectral [Dave Rempis/Darren Johnston/Larry Ochs]: Empty Castles (Aerophonic) ** [B+(**)]
Alister Spence/Satoko Fujii: Intelset (Alister Spence Music) [B+(**)]
Spin Cycle [Scott Neumann/Tom Christensen]: Assorted Colors (Sound Footing) [B+(**)]
Mike Steinel Quintet: Song and Dance (OA2) [B+(**)]
Bobo Stenson Trio: Contra La Indecisión (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Michael Jefry Stevens Quartet: Red's Blues (ARC) ** [B+(**)]
Zhenya Strigalev: Blues for Maggie (Whirlwind) ** [B+(*)]
Jon Rune Strøm Quintet: Fragments (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Kristen Strom: Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett (OA2) [B]
Yuhan Su: City Animals (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Subtone: Moose Blues (Laika) [B+(*)]
James Suggs: You're Gonna Hear From Me (Arbors) ** [B+(**)]
John Surman: Invisible Threads (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Szun Waves: New Hymn to Freedom (The Leaf Label) ** [B+(*)]
Steven Taetz: Drink You In (Flatcar/Fontana North) [B]
Chad Taylor: Myths and Morals (Ears & Eyes) ** [B+(*)]
Hans Teuber & Jeff Johnson: Deuce (Origin) [B+(*)]
Thiefs: Graft (Le Greffe) (Jazz & People) [B+(**)]
This Is It! [Satoko Fujii]: 1538 (Libra) [B+(**)]
Jay Thomas With the Oliver Groenewald Newnet: I Always Knew (Origin) [B+(*)]
The Clifford Thornton Memorial Quartet: Sweet Oranges (Not Two) ** [B+(*)]
Steve Tibbetts: Life Of (ECM) ** [B+(*)]
The Tiki Collective: Muse (Vesuvius Music/Slammin' Media) [B-]
Rafael Toral/Hugo Antunes/João Pais Filipe/Ricardo Webbens: Space Quartet (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Toronto Jazz Orchestra: 20 (self-released) [B+(*)]
Ricardo Toscano: Quartet (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Joshua Trinidad: In November (RareNoise) * [B+(*)]
Turbamulta: Turbamulta (Clean Feed) ** [B]
Mark Turner/Ethan Iverson: Temporary Kings (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Steve Turre: The Very Thought of You (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(*)]
Steve Tyrell: A Song for You (New Design) [B+(**)]
The David Ullmann Group: Sometime (Little Sky) [B]
The United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note: The Jazz Heritage Series 2018 Radio Broadcasts (self-released, 3CD) [C]
The United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note: Best of the Jazz Heritage Series Volume 1 (self-released) [B-]
University of Toronto 12Tet: When Day Slips Into Night (UofT Jazz) [B+(*)]
Marije Van Dijk: The Stereography Project Feat. Jeff Taylor and Katell Keinig (Hert/Membran) [B]
Petra Van Nuis & Dennis Luxion: Because We're Night People (String Damper) ** [B+(*)]
Ken Vandermark/Nate Wooley: Deeply Discounted II/Sequences of Snow (Pleasure of the Text/Audiographic, EP) ** [B]
Mike Vax & Ron Romm: Collaboration (Summit) [B+(**)]
Vin Venezia: Fifth and Adams (Blujazz) [B]
Verve Jazz Ensemble: Connect the Dots (Lightgroove Media) [B]
Harry Vetro: Northern Ranger (T.Sound) [B+(**)]
Andrés Vial: Andrés Vial Plays Thelonious Monk: Sphereology Volume One (Chromatic Audio) [B+(**)]
Fay Victor's SoundNoiseFUNK: Wet Robots (ESP-Disk) ** [B+(**)]
Will Vinson: It's Alright With Three (Criss Cross) ** [B+(**)]
Jerry Vivino: Coast to Coast (Blujazz) [B+(**)]
Voicehandler: Light From Another Light (Humbler) [B+(*)]
Cuong Vu 4Tet: Change in the Air (RareNoise) ** [B+(**)]
Mark Wade Trio: Moving Day (self-released) [B+(**)]
Frank Wagner's Floating Holiday (MEII) [B]
Michael Waldrop: Origin Suite (Origin) [B-]
Tim Warfield: Jazzland (Criss Cross) ** [B+(*)]
Kobie Watkins Grouptet: Movement (Origin) [B+(**)]
Ernie Watts Quartet: Home Light (Flying Dolphin) ** [B+(**)]
The Way Ahead: Bells Ghosts and Other Saints (Clean Feed) ** [B+(*)]
Way North: Fearless and Kind (self-released) [B+(**)]
Doug Webb: Fast Friends (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(**)]
Weird Beard [Florian Egli/Dave Gisler/Martina Berther/Rico Bauman]: Orientation (Intakt) [B+(**)]
Walt Weiskopf: European Quartet (Orenda) ** [B+(**)]
Dan Weiss: Starebaby (Pi) [B]
Ben Wendel: The Seasons (Motéma) ** [B+(*)]
Kenny Werner: The Space (Pirouet) [B+(*)]
Bugge Wesseltoft/Prins Thomas: Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas (Smalltown Supersound) ** [B+(**)]
Mike Westbrook: Starcross Bridge (Hatology) ** [B+(*)]
Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra: Turkish Delight (Blujazz) [B+(*)]
Dr. Michael White: Tricentennial Rag (Basin Street) ** [B+(**)]
Brad Whiteley: Presence (Destiny) [B+(**)]
Chip Wickham: Shamal Wind (Lovemonk) ** [B]
Buster Williams: Audacity (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(*)]
Kamaal Williams: The Return (Black Focus) ** [B+(**)]
Mars Williams: Mars Williams Presents an Ayler Xmas: Volume 2 (Soul What) ** [B+(**)]
Martin Wind: Light Blue (Laika) ** [B-]
WoodWired: In the Loop (UT Arlington) [B+(**)]
Nate Wooley & Torben Snekkestad: Of Echoing Bronze (Fundacja Sluchaj) ** [B]
WorldService Project: Serve (Rare Noise) [C-]
Yoko Yamaoka: Diary 2005-2015: Yuko Yamaoka Plays the Music of Satoko Fujii (Libra, 2CD) [B+(**)]
Darryl Yokley's Sound Reformation: Pictures at an African Exhibition (Truth Revolution) ** [B]
YoshimiO/Susie Ibarra/Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe: Flower of Sulphur (Thrill Jockey) ** [B+(**)]
Denny Zeitlin/Buster Williams/Matt Wilson: Wishing on the Moon (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Patrick Zimmerli Quartet: Clockworks (Songlines) ** [B+(**)]
Gabriel Zucker: Weighting (ESP-Disk) ** [B]

Additional reissued/archival jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

Louis Armstrong: Pops Is Tops: The Complete Verve Studio Albums and More (1957, Verve, 4CD) ** [B+(*)]
Derek Bailey & Company: Klinker (2000, Confront, 2CD) ** [B]
Gordon Beck Quartet: When Sunny Gets Blue (1966-68, Another Planet) ** [B+(*)]
Kenny Burrell: A Generation Ago Today (1966-67, Verve) ** [B+(*)]
Eliane Elias: Music From Man of La Mancha (1995, Concord) ** [B+(*)]
Duke Ellington: In Coventry, 1966 (Storyville) ** [B]
Svein Finnerud Trio: Plastic Sun (1970, Odin) ** [B+(*)]
Ben Lamar Gay: Grapes (2013-14, International Anthem) ** [B+(*)]
Ben Lamar Gay/Edinho Gerber: Benjamin E Edinho (2011-13, International Anthem) ** [B+(*)]
Joanne Grauer: Introducing Lorraine Feather (1978, MPS) ** [B+(*)]
Fred Hersch Trio: Heartsongs (1989, Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Kang Tae Hwan: Live at Café Amores (1995, NoBusiness) [B+(**)]
Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette: After the Fall (1998, ECM, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Keith Jarrett: La Fenice (2006, ECM, 2CD) ** [B+(*)]
Lee Konitz: Prisma: By Guenter Buhles (2000, QFTF) ** [B]
Ernie Krivda and Swing City: A Bright and Shining Moment (Capri) [B+(**)]
The Gene Krupa Quartet: Live 1966 (Dot Time Legends) ** [B+(*)]
Guy Lafitte: Quartet & Sextet Sessions 1956-1962 (Fresh Sound) ** [B+(**)]
Wynton Marsalis Septet: United We Swing: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas (2003-07, Blue Engine) [B+(*)]
Dave McKenna: In Madison (1991, Arbors) ** [B+(**)]
Bobby Naughton/Leo Smith/Perry Robinson: The Haunt (1976, NoBusiness) [B+(*)]
William Parker: Voices Fall From the Sky (AUM Fidelity, 3CD) [B]
Sounds of Liberation: Unreleased (Columbia University 1973) (Dogtown) ** [B+(*)]
Sun Ra & His Arkestra: Sun Ra With Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold: Judson Hall, New York, Dec. 31, 1964 (Enterplanetary Koncepts) ** [B+(**)]
Sun Ra: Astro Black (1972, Modern Harmonic) ** [B+(*)]
Sun Ra & His Arkestra: Discipline 99 (Out Beyond the Kingdom Of) (1974, Enterplanetary Koncepts) ** [B+(**)]
Sun Ra: Sun Ra Plays Gershwin (1951-89, Enterplanetary Koncepts) ** [B]
Woody Shaw: Tokyo '81 (Elemental Music) ** [B+(**)]
Esbjörn Svensson Trio: E.S.T. Live in London (2005, ACT, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Bill Warfield Big Band: For Lew (1990-2014, Planet Arts) [B+(**)]
Calm Waters Rolling Swells & Roiling Seas: A Whaling City Sampler (Whaling City Sound) [B]
Nicola Conte Presents Cosmic Forest: The Spiritual Sounds of MPS (1965-75, MPS) ** [B+(**)]
We Out Here (Brownswood) ** [B+(*)]

New jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them:

Julian Arguelles: Tonadas (Edition)
Atomic: Pet Variations (Odin)
The Bad Plus: Never Stop II (Legbreaker)
Han Bennink/Steve Noble/Alexander Hawkins: 11.8.17 (Otoroku)
Adam Berenson/Scott Barnum/Eric Hofbauer: Introverted Cultures (Dream Play)
Tim Berne/Matt Mitchell: Angel Dusk (Screwgun)
John Wolf Brennan: Oriental Orbit (Leo)
Chris Corsano/Bill Orcutt: Brace Up! (Palilalia)
Roger Davidson Quartet Featuring Hendrik Meurkens: Music From the Heart (Soundbrush)
Axel Dorner/Mia Dyberg/Pierre Borel/Ernesto Rodrigues/Tristan Honsinger/Guilherme Rodrigues: Laura (Creative Sources)
Endangered Blood: Don't Freak Out (Skirl)
Friends and Neighbors: What's Next (Clean Feed)
Ben Goldberg/Michael Coleman: Practitioner (BAG Productions)
Frank Gratkowski: Live in Lisbon (Leo)
Gordon Grdina: China Cloud (Madic)
Mary Halvorson/Bill Frisell: The Maid With the Flaxen Hair (Tzadik)
Mary Halvorson/Joe Morris: Traversing Orbits (RogueArt)
Scott Hamilton Trio: Live at Pyatt Hall (Cellar Live)
Hearts & Minds: Electroradiance (Astral Spriits)
McClenty Hunter Jr: The Groove Hunter (Strikezone)
Billy Jenkins: Ghost Music (VOTP)
Darren Johnston/Tim Daisy: Crossing Belmont (Relay)
Kidd Jordan/Alvin Fielder/Joel Futterman/Steve Swell: Masters of Improvisation (Valid)
Sheila Jordan Quartet: Lucky to Be Me (Abeat)
Kirk Knuffke/Ben Goldberg: Uncompahgre (Relative Pitch)
Lee Konitz/Dan Tepfer: Decade (Impulse)
Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Utter (Relative Pitch)
Joe Locke: Subtle Disguise (Origin)
Harold Mabern: The Iron Man: Live at Smoke (Smoke Sessions)
Rudi Mahall/Alexander von Schlippenbach: So Far (Relative Pitch)
Brian Marsella Trio: Outspoken: The Music of the Legendary Hasaan (Tzadik)
Joe McPhee/John Edwards/Klaus Kugel: Journey to Parazzar (Not Two)
John Medeski: Mad Skillet (Indirecto)
Roscoe Mitchell/Montreal-Toronto Art Orchestra: Ride the Wind (Nessa)
Jemeel Moondoc Quartet: The Astral Revelations (RogueArt)
Jason Moran: Bangs (Yes)
Jason Moran and the Bandwagon: Looks of a Lot (Yes)
Michael Musillami Trio + 2: Life Anthem (Playscape)
Ted Nash Quintet: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Plastic Sax)
Larry Ochs Sax and Drumming Core: Wild Red Yellow (RogueArt)
Jeff Parker/Jeb Bishop/Pandelis Karayorgis/Nate McBride/Devin Gray: The Diagonal Filter (Not Two)
Noam Preminger/Frank Carlberg: Whispers and Cries (Red Piano)
Tomeka Reid/Kyoko Kitamura/Taylor Ho Bynum/Joe Morris: Geometry of Caves (Relative Pitch)
Stephen Riley: Hold 'Em Joe (SteepleChase)
Paul Rogers/Olaf Rupp/Frank Paul Schubert: Three Stories About Rain Sunlilght and the Hidden Soil (Relative Pitch)
Wayne Shorter: Emanon (Blue Note) **
Skadedyr: Musikk! (Hubro)
The Alan Skidmore Quartet: Naima: Live in Berlin (Jazzwerkstatt)
Harvey Sorgen/Joe Fonda/Marilyn Crispell: Dreamstruck (Not Two)
Terell Stafford: Family Feeling (BCM&D)
The Clifford Thornton Memorial Quartet: Sweet Oranges (Not Two)
Vandermark & Snow: Duol (Audiographic)
Ken Vandermark/Klaus Kugel/Mark Tokar: No-Exit Corner (Not Two)
Ken Vandermark [Marker] (Roadwork 1/Roadwork 2/Homework 1) (Audiographic -3CD)
Ken Vandermark/Michael Gorczyriski/Mikolaj Trzaska: Details in the Air: Open Containers (Kilogram)
Elio Villafranca: Cinque (ArtistShare)
Alexander Von Schlippenbach/Dag Magnus Narvesen: Not Two

John Zorn: In a Convex Mirror (Tzadik)

John Zorn: The Urmuz Epigrams (Tzadik)

Reissued jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them:

Alan Braufman: Valley of Search (1975, Valley of Search)

Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Parker) 1993 (New Braxton House)

Don Cherry Trio: Studio 105 Paris 1967 (Hi Hat)

Barbara Dane: Hot Jazz Cool Blues & Hard-Hitting Songs (Smithsonian Folkways -2CD)

Detail [John Stevens/Johnny Mbizio Dyani/Frode Gjerstad]: Detail 83 (FMR)

Vinny Golia: Live at the Century City Playhouse - Los Angeles 1979 (Dark Tree)

Dexter Gordon: In the Cave (Nederlands Jazz Archief)

Dexter Gordon: Live at the Playboy Jazz Festival (Run Out Groove)

Milford Graves: Babi (Corbett vs Dempsey)

Grant Green: Slick! Live at Oil Can Harry's (Resonance)

Grant Green: Funk in France: From Paris to Antibes (1969-1970) (Resonance)

Beaver Harris-Don Pullen 360° Experience: A Well Kept Secret (1984, Corbett vs Dempsey)

Fred Hersch Trio: Heartsongs (Sunnyside)

Steve Lacy: Stamps (1979, Corbett vs Dempsey -2CD)

Hugh Masekela: Masekela \'66-\'76 (Wrasse -3CD)

Jackie McLean Quartet: Montreal '88 (Hi Hat)

Misha Mengelberg/Peter Brotzmann/Evan Parker/Peter Bennink/Paul Rutherford/Derek Bailey/Han Bennink: Groupcomposing (1978, Corbett vs Dempsey)

Charles Mingus: Jazz in Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden (BBE)

Charles Mingus: Live in Montreux 1975 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

Roscoe Mitchell/Matthew Shipp: Accelerated Projection: Live at Sant'Anna Arresi (2005, RogueArt)

Wes Montgomery: In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording (Resonance)

Terry Pollard: A Detroit Jazz Legend (Fresh Sound)

Don Pullen: New Beginnings (Spectra Music Group)

Sun Ra: Of Mythic Worlds (1978-79, Enterplanetary Koncepts)

Sun Ra & His Arkestra: On Jupiter (1979, Art Yard)

Paul Rutherford/Ken Vandermark/Torsten Muller/Dylan Van Der Schyff: Are We in Diego? (2004, Whirrboom)

Woody Shaw: Live in Bremen 1983 (Elemental Music)

Stan Tracey: Alone & Together With Mike Osborne: Live at Wigmore Hall 1974 (Cadillac -2CD)

Randy Weston: Sound (2001, African Rhythms)

Teddy Wilson: Classic Brunswick & Columbia Teddy Wilson Sessions 1934-42 (Mosaic)

Amarcord Nino Rota (1981, Corbett vs Dempsey)

The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions (Craft -5CD)

The Savory Collection 1935-1940 (Mosaic -6CD)