Best Bay Area Jazz Releases 2007
When it comes to recordings, 2007 has been an unusual and unpredictable year for the Bay Area jazz scene, with a series of unlikely albums so good that they've gained widespread notice. From the debut of a 78-year-old ballad singer to a string quartet interpreting the music of John Coltrane, the local scene continues to produce artists who are making essential contributions. Here are 10 of the most memorable CDs of the year, in no particular order.
Ed Reed: Ed Reed Sings Love Stories (Blue Shorts Records, $16)
The history of jazz is littered with promising but unknown musicians whose careers were derailed by addiction and other misfortunes. Vocalist Reed, a balladeer who delivers each song in the manner of an expert raconteur passing on hard-won wisdom, almost fell into that abyss. But instead, he has released a ravishing album at the age of 78. Peck Allmond crafted the canny, uncluttered arrangements that surround Reed's slightly weathered baritone with lovely counter-textures, including the artful use of kalimbas (African instruments with plucked reeds or tines) on “There's a Lull in My Life." The ace rhythm section never lets the slow tempos drag, and Allmond is a lyrical improviser on tenor sax and trumpet. But it's Reed's coming-out party, and he gives the performance of a lifetime.
Ed Reed: Ed Reed Sings Love Stories (Blue Shorts Records, $16)
The history of jazz is littered with promising but unknown musicians whose careers were derailed by addiction and other misfortunes. Vocalist Reed, a balladeer who delivers each song in the manner of an expert raconteur passing on hard-won wisdom, almost fell into that abyss. But instead, he has released a ravishing album at the age of 78. Peck Allmond crafted the canny, uncluttered arrangements that surround Reed's slightly weathered baritone with lovely counter-textures, including the artful use of kalimbas (African instruments with plucked reeds or tines) on “There's a Lull in My Life." The ace rhythm section never lets the slow tempos drag, and Allmond is a lyrical improviser on tenor sax and trumpet. But it's Reed's coming-out party, and he gives the performance of a lifetime.
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