Eyal Hareuveni's Best Releases of 2011

A list that represent only the tip of many excellent releases that I have listened to in 2011. In no particular order...

New Releases:

Amir ElSaffar

Inana

Pi

Another great release by the excellent trumpet player and composer who weaves modal music of the Iraqi maqam with the rhythms and aesthetics of modern jazz

KAZE

Rafale #2

Libra/Circum Disc

Japanese pianist Satoko Fujiiand trumpet player Natsuki Tamura team with French trumpet player Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins.

Søren Kjærgaard/Ben Street/Andrew Cyrille

Femklang

Ilk Music

Third release by this excellent, unorthodox piano trio, focusing on weightless sound world.

Hera

Where My Complete Beloved Is

MultiKulti

Magical and timeless music by the Polish ensemble, headed by reed player Waclaw Zimpel.

Nina de Heney

Three

Found You Recordings

Formidable Swedish double-bassist who dances on her third solo release. She deserves much more attention.

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Øyvind Brække

Migrations

MNJ

This great orchestra always surprises. This time with Composer-trombonist Øyvind Brække, TJO offer a poetical reflections on wars and their aftermaths, after the 2008 war in Gaza.

Sonore

Oto

Trost

Three sax titans: Peter Brötzmann, Ken Vandermark & Mats Gustafsson, playing live. Say no more.

The Swedish Radio Jazz Group

azz Apeal

Not Two

Mats Gustafsson pays tribute to the 50's golden age of the Swedish jazz.

Tarfala Trio

SYZYGY

No Business

Barry Guy, Mats Gustafsson and Raymond Strid in an explosive, masterful improvisations.

Huntsville

For Flowers, Cars And Merry Wars

Hubro Music

This improvisational Norwegian trio reinvents its sound and attitude with every new release, this time with darker, electrified sound.

Ola Kvernberg

Liarbird

Jazzland

Excellent compositions by this Norwegian violinist, excellent arrangements, excellent performances.

Jen Shyu + Mark Dresser

Synastry

Pi

Master vocalist Shyu and master bassist Dresser expand the languages of their instruments.

Henry Kaiser

A Little Stroke of Light—Live Solo Guitar 2010

There

Majestic solo guitar improvisation.

Dave Douglas/So Percussion

Greenleaf Portable Series, Volume 3: Bad Mango

Greenleaf Music

One of the great releases of Dave Douglas this year, with healty doses of humor, elegance and invention.

BassDrumBone

The Other Parade

Clean Feed

Three wise men: Gerry Hemingway, Mark Helias & Ray Anderson keep rocking on their 34th anniversary.

DVD's:

In honor of German sax hero Peter Brötzmann's 70th birthday two excellent documentaries were released.

Bernard Josse in collaboration with Gérard Rouy (directors)

Soldier of the Road

Soldier of the Road

René Jeuckens, Thomas Mau & Grischa Windus (Directors)

Brötzmann

Siegersbusch

Music that deserve your attention:

Japanese pianist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto's Kizuna World project of musical, cinematic and visual collaboration to benefit the Japanese community of Fukushima that suffered from a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, this year.

A similar project of the musicians vocalist Michiro Endo, sound sculptor Otomo Yoshihide and poet Ryoichi Wago, Project Fukushima! offer most interesting Japanese musical collaborations who contributed their compositions to benefit Fukushima.