.org

2008's Top Recordings

Philip Booth

Top 10 Jazz CDs of 2008 (in alphabetical order)

  • Brian Blade Fellowship, Season of Changes (Verve) — The drummer enlists Kurt Rosenwinkel and others for folk melodies, fusion, noisy guitar rock, bop-inflected improvisations and sprawling, near-symphonic Americana.


  • Anat Cohen, Notes from the Village (Anzic) — The superb young clarinetist and her all-star group turn in inspired readings of Coltrane, Waller, Sam Cooke and more.


  • Chick Corea & Gary Burton, The New Crystal Silence (Concord) — The pianist and vibraphonist again offer crystalline harmonies and remarkably simpatico musical conversations.


  • John Ellis, Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (Hyena) — Sticky Crescent City street rhythms and infectious melodies are on the bill, with the saxophonist joined by organist Gary Versace, drummer Jason Marsalis and - yes! - tuba man Matt Perrine.


  • Lionel Loueke, Karibu (Blue Note) — The Benin-born guitarist delivers a gorgeous blend of jazz/African musical traditions, on a set including Coltrane's "Naima"; Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock guest.


  • Pat Metheny, Day Trip (Nonesuch) — The celebrated six-stringer strips down and gets telepathic on mostly new music with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez.


  • Sonny Rollins, Road Shows: Vol. 1 (Doxy) — Tenor saxophone titan Rollins demonstrates his mettle as a scenery-chewing, intensely creative improviser, on stellar live performances across nearly three decades.


  • Esperanza Spalding, Esperanza (Heads Up) — The jazz rookie of the year shows off wondrous bass chops and beautiful, affecting vocals on infectious music drawing from mainstream jazz, Latin, funk and pop.


  • Robert Walter featuring James Singleton and Johnny Vidacovich, Cure All (Palmetto) — The organist and keys man joins Astral Project's rhythm section for soul-funk groove digging, including a chunky "Rivers of Babylon."


  • Cassandra Wilson, Loverly (Blue Note) — Jazz's most compelling female singer turns up the drama and soaks up the densely textured atmospherics on "Caravan," "St. James Infirmary" and American Songbook standards.




music blog: www.betweenthegrooves.wordpress.com
home page: www.philipboothmedia.com
band site: www.triovibe.com


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