C. Andrew Hovan's Best Releases of 2016

It is hard to believe I have been writing about jazz for All About Jazz for almost 18 years now. During that time period, vinyl was scarce as can be, only to come back recently with a vengeance. With many classic jazz recordings working their way into the area of public domain, ubiquitous CD reissues have offered up even some of the rarest jazz classics to the masses. It has been an exciting ride to say the least. Nonetheless, I find that in picking through new music it has become harder and harder to find quality works worthy of lasting significance. And for some inexplicable reason, swing has seemed to become a bad word. In the final analysis however, the tradition will always be at the heart of what makes jazz music vital to this reviewer. Artists who are trying to be different just for the sake of being different will not find a place in my year end lists.

So looking through my offerings this year, the word traditional might come to mind and that is just fine by me. These gentlemen and lady are true artists practicing their craft at the highest levels within the tradition of the music. The same could be said for the embarrassment of riches we found in the reissue market this year, particularly when it came to vinyl. Furthermore, hats off to Resonance Records for unearthing two stellar sets that had been previously unheard.

One for All The Third Decade (Smoke Sessions)	Ralph Peterson Triangular III (Onyx/Truth Revolution)	Dave Stryker Eight Track II (Strikezone)
Little Johnny Rivero Music in Me (Truth Revolution)	Jerome Jennings The Beast (Iola)	Behn Gillece Dare to Be (Posi-Tone)
Dena DeRose United (High Note)	Jim Rotondi Dark Blue (Smoke Sessions)	John Coltrane The Atlantic Years in Mono (Rhino)
Ray Charles The Atlantic Years in Mono (Rhino)	Larry Young In Paris: The ORTF Recordings (Resonance Records)	Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra All My Yesterdays (Resonance Records)