Jazz Articles

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John Kelman's Best Releases of 2009

by John Kelman
December 30, 2009

Selected picks representing the top recorded events in jazz and beyond for 2009....

Jazz New Releases

David Sylvian Manafon (Samadhi Sound) Stefano Bollani Stone In The Water (ECM) Kornstad Dwell Time (Jazzland)

Lars Danielsson Tarantella (ACT) Tim Garland Libra (Global Mix) David Binney ...

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Troy Collins' Best of 2009

by Troy Collins
December 30, 2009

The titles listed below are among the most exceptional albums I've heard in a year filled with great music. Considering the quantity of recordings released in a years time, attempting to mention every high-quality session received would result in a list of ponderous proportions. As such, I have narrowed this list down to the records I repeatedly returned to throughout the year.

New Releases

Jack DeJohnette Music We Are (Golden Beams)

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Robin Verheyen: Starbound

by Dan McClenaghan
December 30, 2009

Belgian-born/ New York-based saxophonist Robin Verheyen has crafted, on Starbound, an engaging form of lively chamber jazz--a label that often denotes a more sedate listening experience. Verheyen plays tenor and soprano saxophones, but here leans more toward the straight horn. The set opens with a spring-in-its-step romp, “On the House." The ensemble bubbles and burns, as pianist Bill Carrothers lays down quirky grooves behind Verhayen's sugary tone, while bassist Nicolas Thys and drummer Dre Pallemaerts sizzle along with ...

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J Hunter's Best Jazz Discs of 2009

by J Hunter
December 30, 2009

It's that time again--the season for relentless bell-ringers, wild-eyed consumers, and end-of-year countdown lists. The latter category can actually be helpful for last-minute shoppers who want to give someone “the best of everything." However, a little background info never hurts the buying process. As such, here's one more countdown for Best Jazz Discs of 2009.

#10 Spoke Spoke Self ProducedHow many big-label releases can count a Chinese pop ...

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Ian Tamblyn: Gyre

by John Kelman
December 30, 2009

Canadian singer/songwriter Ian Tamblyn has a lot to celebrate. He's become, in his sheer scope of subject matter, the songwriting voice of Canada, now half-way through a Four Coast Project that includes Superior: Spirit and Light (North Track, 2007). A diverse discography on his independent North Track label, and an equal amount of unreleased material, runs the gamut from folksier efforts like When Will I See You Again (1980) and The Middle Distance (1995), to the rock-inflected Dance Me Outside ...

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Dan McClenaghan's Top Ten for 2009

by Dan McClenaghan
December 30, 2009

2009 was a fantastic year for music. Every disc on this list is a marvelous set of sounds. This is what keeps me excited about the art form. Jessica Williams Art of the Piano Origin Records Always a fine pianist, Jessica Williams has driven deeper into her artistry since she started her own record label. This live set features Jessica Williams at the peak of ...

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2009: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 30, 2009

A year of troubles and triumphs--and some retooling The jazz world was far from immune to the economic woes that have dogged nations, corporations and consumers around the globe for more than a year. A review of 2009 shows that the impact was profound. Despite it all--the music played on with adjustments in some cases. And it enjoys a high-profile spotlight at the White House. Festival news One of the biggest and ...

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David A. Orthmann's Top Releases of 2009

by David A. Orthmann
December 30, 2009

It's impossible to do justice to all of the fine new music issued in 2009. So I've listed ten of the discs that had the greatest impact on me. Each one includes the name of the drummer who was essential in making the music special. Joe Locke and David Hazeltine Mutual Admiration Society 2 (Sharp Nine Records) with Billy Drummond Rich Perry Gone (SteepleChase) with Jeff Hirshfield Neal ...

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Julien Lourau: Quartet Saigon

by Bruce Lindsay
December 29, 2009

Marseilles-based saxophonist Julien Lourau brought Quartet Saigon together in 2007, and both the group and album are named for the city where they made their debut performance: Saigon, Vietnam. Quartet Saigon is an inventive and intelligent album and shows that a classic four-piece with talent and imagination can still create original tunes. The album consists mainly of original compositions, with the exception of one standard, the closing “A House is Not a Home." The Burt Bacharach/Hal David ...

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Tamir Hendelman: Living a Dream

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
December 29, 2009

One of those “overnight sensations" who's been working steadily for years, Israeli-born pianist and composer Tamir Hendelman has finally caught a rocket. A member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Jeff Hamilton Trio, as well as leader of his own groups, Hendelman is also a first-call arranger and accompanist for some of the best vocalists around, including Roberta Gambarini, Jackie Ryan, Angela Hagenbach and Greta Matassa. He was involved in pop icon Barbra Streisand's flirtation with jazz, playing on ...