Daniel Barry for The New York Times
Results from the 2010 Village Voice Jazz Critics’ Poll are officially in, along with a brief contextual essay by its master undertaker, Francis Davis. No spoilers here: presumably you already knew that this was the Year of JAMO. I’m only sorry that my belated review of Charles Lloyd’s Mirror, slated to run in today’s paper, had to be bumped for space. It was a real pleasure to dive back into that album, after some months, and study Moran’s contribution anew.
While we’re still on the subject of year-end reflections -- and don’t worry, dear reader, this all ends with the arrival of a new year -- Jazztimes has posted my sixth annual Year in Gigs (hence A. Braxton, pictured above). The fun thing about this list is that it makes no claim for comprehensiveness. I saw a lot of jazz in 2010. Perhaps you did too. There’s a good chance that something you saw would have made this list, had I also managed to see it. So with that in mind, I’m welcoming any other Best Gig reminiscences in the comments below.
Please, though, nobody say “Herbie Hancock at Carnegie Hall.” I know a prank comment when I see one.
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