Programming Note: on Thursday I’ll be sitting down with my esteemed colleagues David Adler, Josh Jackson and Jim Macnie (pictured above, between two other guys)* to talk about the best jazz albums we’ve heard this year. We’ll be playing some of it for each other -- blind, as it were, though not actually blindfolded (I hope). Our moderator will be Howard Mandel.
The event, presented by the Jazz Journalists Association, will happen from 6 to 8 p.m. at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music performance space: 55 West 13th Street, 5th Floor. It’s free, though I believe the JJA welcomes your registration.
On Friday I’ll post a quick recap, and unveil my picks. Meanwhile, I’d be curious to hear what you would pick. The comments are open below. To keep things moving, how about a Top 3? Results are non-binding. Publicists, behave yourselves.
* Yes, I know. Jim is standing between saxophonist Joe Lovano (at left) and Jazz Gallery executive director Dale Fitzgerald (at right). Having released no new music in 2010, Lovano is not eligible for this, by the way -- though he did appear as a sideman on albums by Cindy Blackman, Owen Howard and Kenny Werner. Hmm.
Great post, you have a very nice website. I am sure the event was a huge success and very exciting.
Posted by: Jazz Music | 12/01/2010 at 10:07 PM
Ten goodies so far:
Claudia Quintet - Royal Toast
Stephan Crump - Reclamation
Ideal Bread - Transmit
Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden - Jasmine
Guillermo Klein - Domador De Huellas
Paul Motian - Lost in a Dream
Polar Bear - Peepers
Dan Weiss- Timshel
Mike Reed - Stories and Negotiations
Bad Plus - Never Stop
Posted by: Lucas Gillan (AccuJazz.com) | 10/15/2010 at 01:22 PM
Thanks for providing the forum, Nate. Still working through the year's crop, but I will echo a few above and nominate Harris Eisenstadt's Woodblock Prints, a gorgeous set of chamber-jazz. Anyone who hasn't heard this should do their very best to check it out before listmaking season ends. —H.S.
Posted by: Hank Shteamer | 10/14/2010 at 07:25 AM
Apex - Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green
Don't Fight the Inevitable - John Escreet
The Visitor - Roland Vasquez Big Band
Drum Lore - Owen Howard
American Dream - Taylor Haskins
Chamber Music - Alan Ferber
Posted by: Richard B Kamins | 10/13/2010 at 04:05 PM
Apex - Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green
Posted by: Dave | 10/13/2010 at 03:33 PM
Dual Identity - Dual Identity
The Nels Cline Singers - Initiate
Rova & Nels Cline Singers - The Celestial Septet
Kirk Knuffke - Amnesia Brown
Dave Holland - Pathways
Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit
Christian Scott - Yesterday You Said Today
Posted by: Steptb | 10/13/2010 at 12:41 PM
ROVA Sax Quartet & Nels Cline Singers - The Celestial Septet
Harris Eisenstadt - Woodblock Prints
& I gotta go with Mary Halvorson - Saturn Sings.
Posted by: tani P. | 10/13/2010 at 12:06 PM
Oh, I'd also like to add Mose Allison's THE WAY OF THE WORLD. Accumulated knowledge within.
Posted by: Robert Sweeney | 10/13/2010 at 11:26 AM
How about 4 trio records? I don't know which one I'd cut to make it a top 3.
Fred Hersch - Whirl
Jason Moran - Ten
Paul Motian - Lost In A Dream
The Bad Plus - Never Stop
And I have high hopes for the Apex and Halvorson records, which I haven't heard yet.
Posted by: Steve | 10/13/2010 at 10:30 AM
Mary Halvorson Quintet - Saturn Sings
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green - Apex
Jason Moran - Ten
Little Women - Throat
Steve Coleman and Five Elements - Harvesting Semblances
Posted by: Robert Sweeney | 10/13/2010 at 09:59 AM
Farcical Built for Six --- The Respect Sextet
Posted by: Ruben Sierra | 10/13/2010 at 09:26 AM
Tyshawn Sorey/Ingrid Laubrock/Kris Davis - Paradoxical Frog
Claudia Quintet w/Gary Versace - Royal Toast
Mary Halvorson - Saturn Sings
Posted by: Kevin L. | 10/13/2010 at 08:53 AM
Stephen Riley--El Gaucho (Steeplechase)
Posted by: DE Montgomery | 10/13/2010 at 06:49 AM
I can't stop listening to Charles Lloyd Quartet's "Mirror" and Jason Moran's "Ten." They're outstanding.
Posted by: Audrey | 10/12/2010 at 10:33 PM
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green Apex
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Steve Lehman Dual Identity
Sarah Manning Dandelion Clock
Ran Blake & Christine Correa Out Of The Shadows
Chucho Valdes Chucho's Steps
Posted by: Jerry Withrow | 10/12/2010 at 10:17 PM
Brad Mehldau, Highway Rider
Jacky Terrasson, Push
Christian Scott, Yesterday You Said Today
Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden, Jasmine
Posted by: D-Bon | 10/12/2010 at 08:20 PM
All good stuff. Keep it coming!
Posted by: Nate Chinen | 10/12/2010 at 06:27 PM
1 Harris Eisenstadt Woodblock prints
2 Mary Halvorson Saturn signs
3 Jason Moran Ten
Posted by: Cayetano Lopez | 10/12/2010 at 06:23 PM
A few albums on my best of the year list (so far):
Chicago Underground Duo - Boca Negra
Exploding Star Orchestra - Stars Have Shapes
Fight the Big Bull - All is Gladness in the Kingdom
Mary Halvorson Quintet - Saturn Sings
The Nels Cline Singers - Initiate
Steve Coleman and Five Elements - Harvesting Semblances and Affinities
Posted by: David | 10/12/2010 at 06:22 PM