My 11 top CDs of 2009 blow past conventions to enrich jazz, blues, new and unusual music. They’re chosen from almost 1000 I received for review — an abundance of fine releases since November 2008, the full year following Barack Obama’s election to president.<\/p>\n
Maybe it’s coincidence that fresh thinking, spirited energy and practical creativity runs high \u00a0at this moment in history — or maybe it’s that 2009’s challenges require musicians like everyone else to find new answers to the tough questions: how to find joy amid gloom, work to harmonize and<\/em> stand independently, keep the beat and<\/em> take time out, too. The following CDs (most also available as MP3 downloads), are pleasures from the past 12 months I recommend for their surprises and soulfulness. Listed in no particular order. For complete annotations and a list of more-than-honorable mentions, see my blog posting<\/a>.<\/p>\n Henry Threadgill Zooid<\/strong>, This Brings Us To, Vol. 1<\/em><\/a> (Pi)<\/p>\n The Thirteenth Assembly<\/strong> (Bynum, Fujiwara, Halvorson, Pavone), (un)sentimental<\/em><\/a> (Important Records)<\/p>\n Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society<\/strong>, Infermal Machines<\/em><\/a> <\/em>(New Amsterdam Records)<\/p>\n Charles Tolliver Big Band<\/strong>, Emperor March<\/a><\/em> (Half Note)<\/p>\n Steve Lehman Octet<\/em><\/strong>, Travail, Transformation, and Flow<\/em><\/a> (Pi)<\/p>\n Bela Fleck<\/strong>, Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions<\/em><\/a> (Rounder)<\/p>\n Kurt Elling<\/strong>, Dedicated to You<\/em><\/a> (Concord<\/p>\n Keith Jarrett<\/strong>, Paris\/London: Testament<\/em><\/a> (ECM)<\/p>\n Indigo Trio<\/strong> (Mitchell-Bankhead-Drake), Anaya<\/em><\/a> (Rogue Art)<\/p>\n Allen Toussaint<\/strong>, The Bright Mississippi<\/em> <\/a>(Nonesuch)<\/p>\n Digital Primitives<\/strong>, Hum Crackle and Pop<\/em><\/a> (Hopscotch)<\/p>\n