I have continually listened to music since the Sunday night in 1959 (I was 12) when Bob Eder – who was a "much older" high school student – invited me to listen to his newest longplay album, a recording by Thelonius Monk.
I fell immediately and forever in love with jazz.
I have no other qualifications to justify publishing my own list of the best music of the year. These 30 albums were my favorites this year. Favorites because – by some process I have never been able to explain – the music of these contemporary artists touched me. I did not select these albums from some finely honed system of aesthetic theory.
There’s no conscious determination of which are “THE BEST.” Nonetheless, you will see most of these titles on many other published best-of lists.
The rank of albums (I always listen to complete works) is not absolute. But this is how they stood when I posted my list on MissoulaJournal.com
This is all new music. Some meditative, some propulsive, some evocative, some unsettling, some seductive. All very good and worth a reserved place in your music library.
Missoula has a thriving local jazz scene. But – other than the always excellent UM Jazz Festival and the concurrent Jazzoola Festival – very few big name acts make their way to local venues nowadays.
My favorite show of the year was in Seattle. It was a CD release party for Hadley Caliman, which I experienced at Tula's Jazz Club in downtown Seattle. Appearing with Caliman were the marvelous young Seattle drummer, Matt Jorgensen, and internationally known vibist Joe Locke. Both Jorgenson and Locke have released excellent new albums (see my list!) The photo is one I took during the performance at Tula's.
My lists of favorites are on the next page.
JAZZ
1. David Sanchez -- Cultural Survival
Sanchez moves well beyond his recent Latin Jazz explorations here, incorporating broader influences, primarily African-tinged melodies and the inclusion of excellent young guitarist Lage Lund. But the strengths of this set are the several lengthy songs that – partly because of their length – become complex and evocative... and Sanchez’ accomplished and muscular playing.
2. Avishai Cohen -- Gently Disturbed
An album of challenging melodic and rhythmic material built upon the equitable interplay of each trio member. The best of the year of many young groups that are re-fashioning the way the traditional jazz trio interprets music.
3. Guillermo Klein -- Filtros
Argentine composer-arranger Klein’s music defies precise jazz classification (Klein says it’s not jazz), but with songs that twist and whirl with impulse and energy, Klein’s works stand as some of the most rhythmically complex and emotive in contemporary music.
4. Bennie Maupin -- Early Reflections
Known mostly for his work as a frontline sideman to Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, Maupin’s recent work, particularly Early Reflections, should give him preeminent standing as a jazz composer-saxophonist on equal footing with the tradition’s best and best-known.
5. Marc Copland -- Another Place
A mature and reflective pianist whose studied exploration of minor-key chromatic textures gives his songs remarkable depth. Copland has steadily built an impressive library of meditative trio and quartet works, of which Another Place may be the best. John Abercrombie’s guitar work is revelatory.
6. Matt Jorgensen + 451 -- Another Morning
An energetic, brilliant young Seattle composer-drummer in the Elvin Jones school, Jorgensen deserves as much recognition for his work behind the scenes at Origin Records as for this unique and excellent fusion-bop recording that is rooted in both the jazz tradition and contemporary music.
7. William Parker -- Petit Oiseau
In my book, the best recent work from this prolific, composer-bassist whose work takes on a surprising array of sounds and identities, and whose playing on this disc is better than ever.
8. Mauger -- Beautiful Enabler
Whether Mauger represents a one-time collaboration of three young new-music visionaries (Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mark Dresser, Gary Hemmingway) or the blueprint of a working group, Beautiful Enabler is a debut of the highest order and represents some of Mahanthappa’s most muscular playing on record.
9. Adam Kolker -- Flag Day
A tight ensemble performance that seems unassuming at first, but Kolker gets stunning ensemble work from drummer Paul Motian, guitarist John Abercrombie and bassist John Hebert who interpret Kolker’s five original pieces (plus others) with understated intimacy and inspiration in an impressive soundscape that broadens with each listen.
10. Greg Osby -- Nine Levels
Osby deserves recognition this year, as much for his creation of his own Inner Circle Music Records (and several strong releases from outstanding young artists) as he does for this m-base drenched release of dancing and melodic material that draws upon the unique
vocal phrasing of Portugese vocalist Sara Serpa.
11. Michael Blake The World Awakes -- A Tribute To Eli "Lucky" Thompson
Saxophonist Blake’s interpretation of the under-appreciated Lucky Thompson’s excellent compositions, both musically and with an affectionate narrated evocation of Lucky’s enigmatic personality.
12. J D Allen -- I Am I Am
A muscular and innovative young saxophonist deserving of wider recognition for this accomplished set of original songs played with pace and power by an uber-tight trio.
13. Benedikt Jahnel Trio -- Modular Concepts
A brilliant young German pianist who, in this trio setting, interweaves music of diverse modern schools – both jazz and avant-classical – in perhaps the most original release of the year.
14. Taylor Eigsti -- Let it Come to You
A relaxed and accomplished set of originals, reflective of Eigsti’s steadily maturing style. This album delivers surprising rewards (melodic and rhythmic) with repeated listening.
15. Todd Sickafoose -- Tiny Resistors
Genre-bending set of jazz-inflected chamber songs that soar with inspired ensemble-supporting contributions from pop musicians Ani Difranco and Andrew Bird. One of the year's truly unique and ground-breaking recordings.
16. Joe Locke -- Force of Four
As adept as a sideman as he is a leader, Force of Four is four-mallet vibist Locke’s second outstanding recording of the past 18 months in which he has written and the group interplay which he directs with charismatic verve.
17. Vijay Iyer -- Tragicomic
Rhythmically and chromatically supercharged piano quartet (Iyer, saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, bassist Stephan Crump, and drummer Marcus Gilmore) delivers music evocative of (not musically, but in terms of energy) the marvelous late Don Pullen. Iyer’s best compositional outing to date.
18. Roy Hargrove -- Ear Food
Hargrove’s explorations with funk have set a firm foundation for this inspired, fluid and comfortable tdradition-leaning set of strong and strongly melodic compositions. Hargrove has never sounded better.
19. Ben Allison -- Little Things Run the World
This understated, almost meditative album by bassist Allison won me over gradually but steadily with slowly developing compositions that are deeply rewarding via repeated listening.
20. Oliver Lake -- Makin’ It
Lake, an esteemed charter member of the World Saxophone Quartet, has long fronted cutting edge groups of young musicians playing experimental or otherwise adventurous new music, and “Making It’ with promising young talents, B-3 organist Jared Gold and drummer Jonathan Blake, is one of his best. Exceptional song writing. And Lake a monster on the alto, as usual.
POP-CLASSICAL ETC.
1. Department of Eagles -- In Ear Park
With more than a subtle nod to the music of the great Van Dyke Parks, this soaring album integrates intricately structured pop compositions into complex and lush arrangements in the most complete song cycle of 2008.
2. The Notwist -- The Devil, You & Me
A tasteful melding of melodically chromatic electronica and artful jazz-pop orchestration in sophisticated song-structures that unfold with wit, irony and measured elegance.
3. Why -- Alopecia
Blunt & brutal confessional lyrics clash (and sometimes distract) tantalizingly with dense orchestral, timbral & melodic backdrops. This cryptic, cacophony of melody and chromatic coloration comes close on three-or four occasions to truly discovering the “lost chord.”
4. Lambchop -- Oh Ohio
Built upon the dual foundations of Kurt Wagner’s voice and his lovingly structured rock-country-pop compositions, it’s an album that is best listened to, and delivers the most satisfying rewards – in one complete sitting.
5. Kronos Quartet w/Terry Riley -- The Cusp of Magic
Further proof that Riley stands alone over the past 50 years as an delightfully enigmatic genius; a never predictable, but always rewarding composer, here with a piece commissioned by Kronos as a collaboration to celebrate his 70th birthday. In other words, they said, "Mr. Riley, write what you wish & together we’ll create something fantastical!"
6. Johann Johannsson -- Fordlandia
The latest in Johannsson’s deeply layered orchestral works to meditatively unfold layer upon layer of interwoven melodic structures of depth and revelation.
7. La 33 -- Gozalo
This Colombian brass assemblage – sadly unrecognized in America – for my taste in contemporary Latino salsa... or any dancing music for that matter... is quite simply the hottest band on the planet.
8. Shugo Tokumaru -- Exit
Delicate and intricate pop structures – supplemented with Tokumaru's use of traditional Japanese instruments – develop into whimsically melancholic melodies that embrace gently tighter with each listen.
9. John Mellencamp -- Life, Death, Love, and Freedom
Well structured songs of quiet intensity that soar, sometimes unexpectedly, under the combined brilliance of Mellencamp’s wry, understated vocals and T Bone Burnett’s always brilliant, and here very tasteful backing on guitar.
10. Orchestra Baobab -- Made in Dakar
Not much new here, but this is is accomplished Afro-pop by experienced artists that’s orchestrated and performed with practiced professional flair.
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