Another tremendous year of travel, to find music in whatever nook and cranny it's hiding. From Montréal to Molde, from London to Luleå and from Oslo to Ottawa, it seemed as though there was an endless supply of great music to seeand even more that sadly had to be skipped. Having attended twelve separate events in seven countries and well over 125 separate performances, here's 25 shows that rose to the top of a very, very good list this year, in chronological order:
1. March 23, 2013:
Stian Carstesen Vossa Jazz Festival, Voss, Norway
2. March 24, 2013:
Sinikka Langeland Ensemble Vossa Jazz Festival, Voss, Norway
3. March 24, 2013:
Trio Mediaeval Ensemble Vossa Jazz Festival, Voss, Norway
4. April 24, 2013:
Steven Wilson Club Soda, Montreal, Canada
5. May 24, 2013:
Jakob Bro ELBJazz, Hamburg, Germany
6. May 25, 2013:
Nils Petter Molvær/Jan Bang/Trilok Gurtu ELBJazz Festival, Hamburg, Germany
7. June 1, 2013:
Django Bates Beloved Trio/Norrbotten Big Band New Directions Festival, Luleâ, Sweden
8. June 24, 2013:
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble TD Ottawa Jazz Festival, Ottawa, Canada
9. June 26, 2013:
Steve Kuhn/Steve Swallow/Joey Baron TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Ottawa, Canada
10. June 29, 2013:
Wayne Shorter 80th Birthday Celebration Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
11. June 30, 2013:
Charles Lloyd/Jason Moran/Bill Frisell Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
12. July 1, 2013:
Christine Jensen Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
13. July 2, 2013:
Kurt Rosenwinkel New Quartet Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
14. July 17, 2013:
Bushman's Revenge Molde Jazz Festival, Molde, Norway
15. July 19, 2013:
Jason Moran & Jan Bang Molde Jazz Festival, Molde, Norway
16. July 19, 2013:
Maciej Obara International Quartet Molde Jazz Festival, Molde, Norway
17. September 6, 2013:
Arve Henriksen/Jan Bang Double CD Release Show Punkt Festival, Kristiansand, Norway
18. September 7, 2013:
Bugge Wesseltoft Solo Punkt Festival, Kristiansand, Norway
19. September 8, 2013:
Eivind Aarset Dream Logic Punkt Festival, Kristiansand, Norway
20. September 12, 2013:
Harry Partch, Delusion of the Fury Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo, Norway
21. September 14, 2013:
Gavin Bryars, Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet
Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo, Norway
22. October 5, 2013: Steve Hackett, Genesis Revisited Casino du Lac Leamu, Gatineau, Canada
23. November 7, 2013:
John Scofield åberjam Band Enjoy Jazz Festival, Ludwigshafen, Germany
24. November 10, 2013:
Nik Bärtsch's Ronin Rhythm Clan Enjoy Jazz Festival, Mannheim, Germany
25. November 14, 2013:
Third Reel Enjoy Jazz Festival, Heidelberg, Germany
Photo Credits Stian Carstensen: Ådne Dyrnesli, courtesy of Vossa Jazz
Sinikka Langeland Ensemble: Til Heimesida, Courtesy of Vossa Jazz
Trio Mediaeval Ensemble: Vidar Herre, Courtesy of Vossa Jazz
Charles Lloyd/Jason Moran:
Dave Kaufman Delusion of the Fury and
Jesus' Blood: Ultima Contemporary Music Festival
All Other Photos:
John Kelman