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Dan McClenaghan's Top Ten List for 2004
ByA lush, gorgeous, soaring set of sounds. You could get into the "is it classical or is it jazz" argument, but don't. Just listen.
#2. Charlie Haden (with Gonzalo Rubalcala) Land of the Sun Verve
An understated and shamelessly beautiful set of songs from (mostly) Mexican composer Marroquin.
#3. Jeff Johnson Near Earth Origin Records
Bassist Johnson leading a bass/sax/drums trio on a melodic and approachable free set that feels spirtually salubrious. Music distilled to its pure essence.
#4. Jerry Gonzalez Y Los Piratas Del Flamenco Jerry Gonzalez Y Los Pirata Del Flamenco Sunnyside
An odd but captivating mix of American jazz, with Jerry Gonzalez' trumpet, and gypsy flamenco. Spare, simple and simply lovely.
#5. Steven Bernstein Diaspora Hollywood Tzadik
Jazz with a Jewish tinge; a murky, wee hours atmosphere with lots of muted trumpet/bass clarinet musings. Berstein has crafted a dark, different and very interesting sound here.
#6. Raphe Malik, Joe McPhee and Donald Robinson Sympathy Boxholder Records
Malik's trumpet conversing with McPhee's pocket trumpet and soprano sax, in a fairly cordial manner, all things considered. This is definitely "out there," but in a facinatingly measured way.
#7. Satoko Fujii Trio Illusion Suite Libra Records
Pianist Satoko Fujii's best work is either with her quartet or her trio. It's hard to decide. This one makes a case for her trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black. The thirty-four minute title track is a sprawling, energizing and always surprising masterpiece of free jazz.
#8. Fred Hess Quartet The Long and Short of It Tapestry Records A freewheeling pianoless quartet (sax/trumpet/bass/drums) blowing with an energetic abandon, superb chops, high spirits and humor.
#9. Jody Sandhaus A Fine Spring Morning Consolidated Artists Productions
A gorgeous voice and flawless delivery on some well-chosen lesser-known songs from the pens of some of the better-known songwriters, with wonderfully understated piano trio accompaniment. It's been a fantastic year for lady vocalists, but this is the finest I've heard this year.
#10. Matt Jorgenson + 451 Hope Origin Records
Two saxophones and a rhythm section sounding mainstream and modern at the same time, with covers of Coldplay and Mingus tunes, along with some forward-looking originals
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