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John Kelman's Best Releases of 2012

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2012 has been another banner year, but one with an ever-present problem: so much good music, but so little time. While there are many other recordings worthy of attention—and inclusion—with the usual condition that only albums that have been reviewed are eligible for selection, here are just a few of the top recorded events in jazz and beyond for 2012, in no particular order:

Jazz New Releases


Eivind Aarset
Dream Logic

(ECM)

Endresen/Westerhus
Didymoi Dreams

(Rune Grammofon)

Simcock / Garland / Sirkis
Lighthouse

(ACT)



Bugge Wesseltoft
Songs

(Jazzland)

Vloeimans/Weber
Live at the Concertgebouw

(Challenge)

Bobo Stenson
Indicum

(ECM)



Joel Harrison 7
Search

(Sunnyside)

Tim Berne
Snakeoil

(ECM)

Kurt Rosenwinkel
Star of Jupiter

(Wommusic)



Oregon
Family Tree

(Cam Jazz)

Nik Bärtch's Ronin
Live

(ECM)

Pat Metheny
Unity Band

(Nonesuch)



Brad Mehldau Trio
Ode

(Nonesuch)

Corea/Burton
Hot House

(Concord)

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble
The Well

(ECM)




Jazz Reissues & Historical Releases


Garbarek/Gismonti/Haden
Magico: Carte de Amore

(ECM)

Loose Tubes
Säd Afrika

(Lost Marble)

Jan Garbarek
Dansere

(ECM)



Jon Balke
Magnetic Works

(ECM)

Michael Gibbs/NDR
Back in the Days

(Cuneiform)

Keith Jarrett
Sleeper

(ECM)




Progressive/Fusion/Funk New Releases


Motorpsycho/Storløkken
The Death Defying Unicorn

(Rune Grammofon)

Alex Machacek
FAT

(Abstract Logix)

Steven Wilson
Get All You Deserve

(Kscope)



Wayne Krantz
Howie 61

(Abstract Logix)

Elephant9
Atlantis

(Rune Grammofon)

Michael Landau Group
Organic Instrumentals

(Tone Center)





Progressive/Fusion/Funk Reissues & Historical Releases


King Crimson
Larks Tongues in Aspic

(DGM Live)

The Brecker Brothers
Complete Arista Albums

(Legacy)

Allan Holdsworth
Hard Hat Area

(MoonJune)




New Discoveries (including new groups)


Ivar Grydeland
Bathymetric Modes

(Hubro)

Pessi/Wallumrød
If Grief Could Wait

(ECM)

Sheppard/Benita/Rochford
Trio Libero

(ECM)



Konitz/Frisell/Peacock/Baron
Enfants Terrible

(Half Note)

Metta Quintet
Big Drums / Small World

(Self Produced)

Niels Lyhne Lokkegaard
Vesper

(Self Produced)




Beyond: Is it jazz? Is it not? Does it really matter?


Farmers Market
Slav to the Rhythm

(Division Records)

Jan Bang/Erik Honoré
Uncommon Deities

(SamadhiSound)

Floratone
Floratone II

(Savoy Jazz)



Stian Westerhus
The Matriach and the Wrong Kind of Flower

(Rune Grammofon)

John Surman
Saltash Bells

(ECM)

Sweet Billy Pilgrim
Crown and Treaty

(Luxor Purchase)

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