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C. Michael Bailey's Top 10 Best Releases of 2009
Martial SolalLive at the Village Vanguard: I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Cam Jazz
Martial Solal is a nuclear physicist of the piano. He tinkers with the subatomic structure of compositions, moving elements around, pulling them apart, and smashing them together in ways that both surprise and delight...continue.
Enrico PieranunziEnrico Pieranunzi Plays Domenico Scarlatti
Cam Jazz
Italian jazz pianist Enrico Pieranunzi uses a very liberal interpretation of the allegro notation when interpreting the tempi of several of the sonatas on Enrico Pieranunzi Plays Domenico Scarlatti....continue.
Todd Bishop's Pop Art 469 Annee Erotique
Origin Records
Context can be everything or nothing. Listening to 69 Annee Erotique with no background will spark recognition of well-preserved lounge music of the 1960s/'70s, performed with modern sonics imitating those of the period...continue.
Theo BleckmannCharles Ives: Twelve Songs
Winter & Winter
There is no yellowing snapshot of old music on Theo Bleckmann's Twelve Songs by Charles Ives. Performed with the West Coast ensemble Kneebody, Bleckmann capably rearranges Ives in such a way to provide a proper introduction to this American composing hero...continue.
Andras SchiffJohann Sebastian Bach: Six Partitas
ECM Records
Hungarian pianist Andras Schiff recently completed his live survey of Beethoven Piano Sonatas to a great critical reception. But before Schiff addressed Beethoven there was Bach, and Schiff surveyed Baroque music's reformer for Decca in the 1980s....continue.
Steve Kuhn Trio with Joe LovanoMostly Coltrane
ECM Records
Although he's spent most of his career focusing on interpreting the music of others, pianist Steve Kuhn's albums for the ECM label have largely been about his small but significant repertoire of original music. ....continue.
Carla BleyCarla's Christmas Carols
Watt / ECM Records
Carla's Christmas Carols? For many, the idea of their favorite jazz artist releasing an album of seasonal songs usually smells of crass commercialism or pure pandering, but leave it to pianist/composer/arranger Carla Bley to ...continue.
Theo BleckmannSchumann's Favored Bar Songs
Winter & Winter
Schumann's Bar am Hofgarten is located at Odeonsplatz 6+7 80539 Munich, Germany. It derives its name from founder and bartender, Charles Schumann, who originally ran a similar bar in New York City......continue.
PolkastraApolkalypse Now
Ancalagon
The 2010 Grammy ceremonies will have one less award to give out with the decision to drop the Polka category from the official Best Album listing,the stated reason being that the awards need to remain "pertinent within the current musical landscape" ...continue.
Joe CockerLive At Woodstock
A&M Records
Great Britain taught America to be proud of her musical heritage by importing it, transforming it, and sending it back to her...continue.
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