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Best of 2003

By AAJ Staff
January 9, 2004
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2003 was a banner year for jazz and beyond. Here are my top picks from the last 12 months, sorted by genre. Click on titles to read in-depth reviews.

Jazz

Matthew Shipp
Equilibrium
(Thirsty Ear)

Mario Pavone Nu Trio/Quintet
Orange
(Playscape)

Jerry Granelli
The V16 Project
(Songlines)

Dave Holland Quintet
Extended Play/Live at Birdland
(ECM)

Scot Ray Quintet
Active Vapor Recovery
(Cryptogramophone)

Bill Frisell
The Intercontinentals
(Nonesuch)

Historic/Reissues

Various Artists
The Real Bahamas in Music and Song
(Nonesuch Explorer Series)

Miles Davis
The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions
(Columbia/Legacy)

Giuffre/Bley/Swallow
Emphasis & Flight (1961)
(Hatology)

South Africa

Zim Ngqawana
Vadzimu
(Sheer Sound)

Winston Mankunku Ngozi
Abantwana Be Afrika
(Sheer Sound)

Various Artists
The Rough Guide to South African Gospel
(World Music Network)

Africa

Souad Massi
Deb (Heart Broken)
(Wrasse)

Tartit
Ichichila
(Network)

Various Artists
Festival in the Desert
(World Village)

Reggae

Cedric Im Brooks & The Light of Saba
(Honest Jons)

King Tubby
The Roots of Dub/Dub from the Roots
(Moll-Selekta)

Luciano
Tell It From The Heart
(Minor7 Flat5)

Electronica

Ramiro Musotto
Sudaka
(Fast Horse)

Cinematic Orchestra
Man With A Movie Camera
(Ninja Tune)

Amon Tobin
Out From Out There
(Ninja Tune)

Books/DVD

Hélène Lee
The First Rasta
(Lawrence Hill Books)

Style Wars
(Plexifilm)

Ruy Castro
Bossa Nova
(A Capella Press)

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