The event horizon for jazz is set at infinity. There is no shortage of finely crafted music being performed within this uniquely American and pragmatically international genre. This year is about baker's dozens. No, make that Bailey's dozens.

Presented here are links to 14 reviews of what I considered the best recordings released between December 2007 and December 2008. Allowing that no writer can listen to or write about the bulk of the music released, 14 more reviews have been added, written by colleagues at All About Jazz, of discs the column was unable to review or that were reviewed more tellingly by other writers.

We have an embarrassment of riches among both jazz (and related) recordings released in 2008 and the writers writing about them. We should celebrate them both.

Maceo Parker
Roots and Grooves
Heads Up International
2008

In jazz, the term swing is used to describe that special thing that makes jazz jazz... continued

Connie Evingson
Little Did I Dream: Songs by Dave Frishberg
Minnehaha Music
2008

The late Tip O'Neill once said, all politics is local. This certainly can be said for jazz also... continued

The Ellis Marsalis Quartet
An Open Letter to Thelonious
elm music
2008

Pianist Thelonious Monk is jazz's biggest enigma. Called the high priest of bebop, the jazz Monk composed and performed was anything but... continued

Art Pepper
Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. III; The Croydon Concert, May 14, 1981
Widow's Taste
2008

Laurie Pepper, widow of alto saxophonist Art Pepper, has single-handedly made the most significant contribution to her late husband's legacy... < continued

Uri Caine
The Othello Syndrome
Winter and Winter
2008

Pianist Uri Caine, in his own unique way, surveyed music from the classical era with The Classical Variations (Winter and Winter, 2008)... continued

Trio West
An Upper Westside Story
Yummy House Records
2008

Tobias Gebb and Trio West debuted on disc with < Trio West Plays Holiday Songs (Yummy House Records, 2007)... continued

Perez
It's Happenin'
Zoho Music
2008

Diana Perez is the new voice of this bunch, in spite of the fact she has been actively performing as both actor and vocalist for several years... continued

The Roy Hargrove Quintet
Earfood
a target=_blank href=http://www.emarcy.com/>Emarcy
2008

Trumpeter Roy Hargrove emerged into jazz consciousness as one of the young lions who beamed into the late 1980s and early 1990s... < continued

The Carla Bley Big Band
Appearing Nightly
Watt
2008

Bandleader and musical provocateur Carla Bley is the Hector Berlioz of jazz. Her command of her large ensembles is complete and potent... < continued

The James Moody and Hank Jones Quartet
Our Delight
Ipo Records
2008

Are there any other two jazz musicians whose presence on a recording gives it more urbanity and class than pianist Hank Jones and reed player James Moody... < continued

Lee Konitz and Minsarah
Deep Lee
Enja Records
2008

Alto saxophonist Lee Konitz (born 1927) is only one of two living musicians out of the original twelve who took part in... continued

Corey Christiansen
img hspace=12 align=left vspace=2 border=1 width=100 height=100 src=/coverart/2008/connieevingson.jpg /> Connie Evingson
Little Did I Dream: Songs by Dave Frishberg
Minnehaha Music
2008

The late Tip O'Neill once said, all politics is local. This certainly can be said for jazz also... continued

The Ellis Marsalis Quartet
An Open Letter to Thelonious
elm music
2008

Pianist Thelonious Monk is jazz's biggest enigma. Called the high priest of bebop, the jazz Monk composed and performed was anything but... continued

Art Pepper
Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. III; The Croydon Concert, May 14, 1981
Widow's Taste
2008

Laurie Pepper, widow of alto saxophonist Art Pepper, has single-handedly made the most significant contribution to her late husband's legacy... continued

Uri Caine
The Othello Syndrome
Winter and Winter
2008

Pianist Uri Caine, in his own unique way, surveyed music from the classical era with The Classical Variations (Winter and Winter, 2008)... continued

Trio West
An Upper Westside Story
Yummy House Records
2008

Tobias Gebb and Trio West debuted on disc with Trio West Plays Holiday Songs (Yummy House Records, 2007)... continued

Perez
It's Happenin'
Zoho Music
2008

Diana Perez is the new voice of this bunch, in spite of the fact she has been actively performing as both actor and vocalist for several years... continued

The Roy Hargrove Quintet
Earfood
Emarcy
2008

Trumpeter Roy Hargrove emerged into jazz consciousness as one of the young lions who beamed into the late 1980s and early 1990s... continued

The Carla Bley Big Band
Appearing Nightly
Watt
2008

Bandleader and musical provocateur Carla Bley is the Hector Berlioz of jazz. Her command of her large ensembles is complete and potent... continued

The James Moody and Hank Jones Quartet
Our Delight
Ipo Records
2008

Are there any other two jazz musicians whose presence on a recording gives it more urbanity and class than pianist Hank Jones and reed player James Moody... continued

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