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Karl Ackermann's Best Releases of 2016

By Karl Ackermann
December 8, 2016
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2016 has proven that jazz and creative music in general, are healthier than ever. Artists like Steve Lehman, Nate Wooley and Vijay Iyer continue to push the envelope while those like Bob Gluck find ways to make the old, very new. This list is—for the most part—outside the mainstream because that is where artists risk the most to tell their stories; it is where many listeners go to be challenged.

Nate Wooley
Seven Storey Mountain V
(Pleasure Of Text Records)

Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord
2016: EPs
(Hot Cup Records)

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith
A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke
(ECM Records)

Raphael Malfliet
Noumenon
(Ruweh Records)

Steve Lehman & Sélébéyone
Sélébéyone
(Pi Recordings)

The Core Trio featuring Matthew Shipp
The Core Trio Live, featuring Matthew Shipp
(Evil Rabbit Records)

Avishai Cohen
Into the Silence
(ECM Records)

Bob Gluck/Billy Hart/Eddie Henderson/Christopher Dean Sullivan
Infinite Spirit -Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band
(FMR Records)

Jack DeJohnette
Return
(Newvelle Records)

Taylor Ho Bynum
Enter the Plus Tet
(Firehouse 12 Records)

Keith Jarrett
A Multitude of Angels
(ECM Records)

Aruán Ortiz Trio with Eric Revis and Gerald Cleaver
Hidden Voices
(Intakt Records)

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