Editor's Choice
Mark Corroto's Best Releases of 2011
Mark Corroto
Mark misses his large dog Louie, but endeavors daily to find and listen to new and interesting sounds.Every year, the task of picking the best releases seems to be quite an onerous assignment. This year was especially difficult because, of the four hundred or so discs I listened to, many kept resurfacing for more attention. As I write, I haven't yet spun the new (yes, new) releases by Albert Ayler (Stockholm, Berlin 1966 (Hatology)) and Evan Parker (At Somewhere There (Barnyard Records)).
What I am saying is, I certainly missed a few killer recordings and that this list of twelve notable releases is incomplete and imperfect. I did love every one of them, though, and I am certainly thankful that jazz artists continue to record and perform authentic music.
Noah Preminger
Before the Rain
(Palmetto)
Animation
Asiento
(Rare Noise)
The Claudia Quintet
What Is The Beautiful?
(Cuneiform
Peter Evans Quintet
Ghosts
(More Is More Records)
Harris Eisenstadt
Canada Day II
(Songlines Recordings)
Agusti Fernandez
El Laberint de la Memoria
(Mbari Musica)
Francois Carrier Trio + 1
Entrance 3
(Ayler Records)
Wadada Leo Smith's Organic
Heart's Reflections
(Cuneiform Records)
Akira Sakata & Jim O'Rourke with Chikamorachi
And That's The Story Of Jazz...
(Family Vineyards Records)
Sonny Rollins
Road Shows, Vol. 2
(Doxy Records)
Greg Ward
Phonic Juggernaut
(Thirsty Ear)
Gerry Hemingway Quintet
Riptide
(Clean Feed)
