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Editor's Choice
John Kelman's Best Releases of 2012
By
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: December 21, 2012
John Kelman
With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, John wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.2012 has been another banner year, but one with an ever-present problem: so much good music, but so little time. While there are many other recordings worthy of attention—and inclusion—with the usual condition that only albums that have been reviewed are eligible for selection, here are just a few of the top recorded events in jazz and beyond for 2012, in no particular order:
Jazz New Releases
 Eivind Aarset Dream Logic (ECM) |  Endresen/Westerhus Didymoi Dreams (Rune Grammofon) |  Simcock / Garland / Sirkis Lighthouse (ACT) |
 Bugge Wesseltoft Songs (Jazzland) |  Vloeimans/Weber Live at the Concertgebouw (Challenge) |  Bobo Stenson Indicum (ECM) |
 Joel Harrison 7 Search (Sunnyside) |  Tim Berne Snakeoil (ECM) |  Kurt Rosenwinkel Star of Jupiter (Wommusic) |
 Oregon Family Tree (Cam Jazz) |  Nik Bärtch's Ronin Live (ECM) |  Pat Metheny Unity Band (Nonesuch) |
 Brad Mehldau Trio Ode (Nonesuch) |  Corea/Burton Hot House (Concord) |  Tord Gustavsen Ensemble The Well (ECM) |
Jazz Reissues & Historical Releases
 Garbarek/Gismonti/Haden Magico: Carte de Amore (ECM) |  Loose Tubes Säd Afrika (Lost Marble) |  Jan Garbarek Dansere (ECM) |
 Jon Balke Magnetic Works (ECM) |  Michael Gibbs/NDR Back in the Days (Cuneiform) |  Keith Jarrett Sleeper (ECM) |
Progressive/Fusion/Funk New Releases
 Motorpsycho/Storløkken The Death Defying Unicorn (Rune Grammofon) |  Alex Machacek FAT (Abstract Logix) |  Steven Wilson Get All You Deserve (Kscope) |
 Wayne Krantz Howie 61 (Abstract Logix) |  Elephant9 Atlantis (Rune Grammofon) |  Michael Landau Group Organic Instrumentals (Tone Center) |
Progressive/Fusion/Funk Reissues & Historical Releases
 King Crimson Larks Tongues in Aspic (DGM Live) |  The Brecker Brothers Complete Arista Albums (Legacy) |  Allan Holdsworth Hard Hat Area (MoonJune) |
New Discoveries (including new groups)
 Ivar Grydeland Bathymetric Modes (Hubro) |  Pessi/Wallumrød If Grief Could Wait (ECM) |  Sheppard/Benita/Rochford Trio Libero (ECM) |
 Konitz/Frisell/Peacock/Baron Enfants Terrible (Half Note) |  Metta Quintet Big Drums / Small World (Self Produced) |  Niels Lyhne Lokkegaard Vesper (Self Produced) |
Beyond: Is it jazz? Is it not? Does it really matter?
 Farmers Market Slav to the Rhythm (Division Records) |  Jan Bang/Erik Honoré Uncommon Deities (SamadhiSound) |  Floratone Floratone II (Savoy Jazz) |
 Stian Westerhus The Matriach and the Wrong Kind of Flower (Rune Grammofon) |  John Surman Saltash Bells (ECM) |  Sweet Billy Pilgrim Crown and Treaty (Luxor Purchase) |
