Best of 2003

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)