Winding down a memorable 2004, we at AAJ:NY would like to share some of what sticks out in our ears and minds from this past year in jazz.

Not easy being an indie...
The predominance and growth of independent labels continues. Kudos to the small in budget but immense in quality labels such as Pi, Intakt, Thirsty Ear, Palmetto, OmniTone and many others. What would we do without the little guys?

"Big" clubs unchartered territory...
Of the so-called "big" (i.e. mainstream) clubs of New York, Iridium has led the way in opening up to the more adventurous (and economically chancy) acts. Even the Vanguard has followed suit, diverting from their at times more characteristic and predictable scheduling. Only time will tell of the commitment to jazz' inherent diversity by the recent opening of Jazz at Lincoln Center's new home, Rose Hall.

Envision every week...
The folks behind the annual Vision Festival have gone weekly. The Vision club series presents regular Saturday events in the inimitable Vision tradition which will lead up to their regular May festival.

1s and 2s...less is more
This year has seen an abundance of performances and CD releases of duos. Sunnyside's Kirk Lightsey/Rufus Reid unearthed release from a night at the now defunct Bradley's; Anthony Braxton's double volume duos with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith (Pi Records) and drummer Andrew Cyrille (Intakt); releases by Paul Dunmall/ Paul Rogers (Emanem), Milford Graves/John Zorn (Tzadik), Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake (Thrill Jockey); Kahil El'Zabar/David Murray and sure to make many "Best Of 2004" lists, Charles Lloyd and Billy Higgins' double disc release, Which Way is East (ECM). Merkin Hall's jazz piano duo series, "Monday Nites No Minimum", paired Randy Weston with Rodney Kendrick and Andrew Hill with Jason Moran. Our own series at Cornelia Street Caf�: "1s & 2s: Music for Solo & Duo" is off to a running headstart with sets by trombonist Ray Anderson and his Heavy Metal Duo with tubaist Bob Stewart and multi-instrumentalist/man of all hats, Scott Robinson.

Happy 100th and then some...
Birthday and tribute events were plentiful, from Blue Note's and Jazz Standard's separate Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley and Coleman Hawkins tributes to Iridium's Art Blakey Jazz Messenger reunion to the Centennial Ball at Columbia University's Count Basie night and 92nd Street Y's Fats Waller program which was Dick Hyman's farewell as longtime Artistic Director.

Sing, Sing, Sing...
Jazz in radio charts, Billboard and record sales continues to be predominantly the territory of vocalists, some listenable, many not, with an overwhelming trend of covering modern pop songs in a jazz context and many worse for it. For the fan base of male jazz vocals, there is hope beyond the many mediocre singers out there and that hope's name is Giacomo Gates - the inheritor of the throne left by the late Eddie Jefferson. Of course there are also the warhorses such as Andy Bey, who continues with resurgent interest in his music and his latest album (American Song), and Sheila Jordan.

It took you this long...
The overdue leader debuts by some of jazz' true veterans were plentiful this year, starting with one-time MJQ-er Percy Heath and his A Love Song (Daddy Jazz). Three other releases, perhaps not so coincidentally, were also led by bass players: Cameron Brown's Here and How! (OmniTone), Bob Cunningham's Walking Bass (a reissue of the impossible to find LP on Nilva) and Hillard Greene's solo effort Alone (Soulsearch). Also worthy of mention in this category was drummer and Barry Harris-associate Leroy Williams' Time Is (JazzChild).

What's "jazz" to you?...
A trend has appeared amongst certain musicians decrying the term "jazz" as artificial or limiting. There is a preference to use "creative improvising musician". When someone says they like jazz, it can mean Hank Jones to Cecil Taylor, Lester Young to Peter Br�tzmann, Lionel Hampton to Gunter Hampel, Baby Dodds to William Hooker. Often though you can pretty much imagine exactly what "creative improvised music" sounds like. Perhaps more time should be spent on the playing than worrying about compartmentalizing.

Best of 2004

COMEBACKS
Alice Coltrane
John Handy
Revolutionary Ensemble
Dave Schnitter
Jeremy Steig

BOX SETS
Albert Ayler Holy Ghost (Revenant)
Miles Davis Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis, 1963-1964 (Columbia Legacy)
Dexter Gordon Complete Prestige Recordings (Prestige-Fantasy)

BOOKS
Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter Michelle Mercer (Penguin)
Jelly's Blues: The Life, Music, and Redemption of Jelly Roll Morton Howard Reich/William Gaines (Da Capo)
Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams Tammy L. Kernodle (Northeastern UP)

DEBUTS
Ayelet Rose Gottlieb InTernal ExTernal (Genevieve)
Eric Hofbauer American Vanity (CNM)
Steve Lehman Interface (Clean Feed)
Allison Miller 5 am Stroll (Foxhaven)
Eric Revis Tales of the Stuttering Mime (11:11)