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Chris May's Best Releases of 2010

By Chris May
December 24, 2010
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Here are my favorite dozen new releases of 2010. It was an outstanding year on many fronts.

There was ravishing lyricism from saxophonists Nat Birchall and Stan Sulzmann and beyond-touristic flamenco and Indian infusions from bassist Dave Holland and singer Amit Chaudhuri, the politically charged complete works of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and the delicious superficiality of The Waitiki 7, the deep space voyages of saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and guitarist Mary Halvorson, the Senegambian adventures of Outhouse, the Latin tinge of pianist Chucho Valdes, the New Orleans funk of Dr John, and the retro R&B of saxophonist Cochemea Gastelum.

Every one a winner...

Outhouse Ruhabi (Loop)

Nat Birchall Guiding Spirit (Gondwana)

Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela Hands (Dare2)

Neon Quartet Catch Me (Edition)

Amit Chaudhuri Found Music (Babel)

Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messangers Chucho's Steps (World Village)

The Waitiki 7 New Sounds Of Exotica (Pass Out)

Kris Davis; Ingrid Laubrock; Tyshawn Sorey Paradoxical Frog (Clean Feed)

Fela Anikulapo Kuti The Complete Works (Wrasse)

Dr John & The Lower Third Tribal (429)

Mary Halvorson Quintet Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12)

Cochemea Gastelum The Return Of Johnny Arrow (Mowo)

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