Jazz Albums of the Year 2010

Top 20 best jazz albums of the past year


1.       The Monterey Quartet - Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF /Concord) Review


2.       Keith Jarrett - Paris / London – Testament (ECM) Review

3.       Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez - Quartet Live (Concord Jazz) Review


4.       Ravi Coltrane - Blending Times (Savoy

Chris Potter – Gratitude

Album review. Chris Potter places himself in the tradition of the great saxophone players.

Verve

Original release date: April 3rd 2001

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York on September 27th and 28th, 2000.




Personnel:

Chris Potter (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet, Chinese wood flute); Kevin Hays (piano, Fender Rhodes); Scott

100 Greatest Jazz Albums amazon Store

100 Greatest Jazz Albums reviews the best jazz available in CD and MP3 formats. Our amazon Store features most of these albums together with additional background and further reviews from amazon users.

Giving you the confidence of shopping with amazon.com together with a clear focus on jazz.





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Jazz at

Vinson Valega Group - Biophilia

Album review. Drummer Vinson Valega's fourth release as leader; challenging yet accessible jazz played by a fine sextet

Consilience

Recorded: 28th and 29th June 2009 at Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ.

Release date: December 1st 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download




'Biophilia' is drummer Vinson Valega's fourth release as leader. It offers challenging yet accessible jazz played by a fine

Bargain Watch - Great Jazz on Offer

From time to time, amazon.com features really outstanding bargains on great jazz. Here are our suggestions, regularly updated.

Some of the best jazz of all time at bargain prices.

Featuring: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, John McLaughlin, Weather Report, Stanley Clark, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billie Holiday:

Alvin Queen - I Ain't Looking At You

Album review. Drummer Alvin Queen with an outstanding quintet for his 2006 album, now re-released by Enja.

Enja

Release Date: September 25th 2006

Re-release date: December 15th 2009

Availabilty: CD, MP3 download




Drummer Alvin Queen assembled an outstanding quintet for his 2006 album 'I Ain't Looking At You', now re-released by Enja. The band is: Terell Stafford (trumpet and flugelhorn),

Dave Douglas – Strange Liberation

Bluebird / RCA

Original release date: January 27th 2004




Personnel:

Dave Douglas (trumpet), Bill Frisell (guitar), Chris Potter (saxophone, bass clarinet), Uri Cane (Fender Rhodes piano), Jams Genus (bass), Clarence Penn (drums)

Tracks:

A Single Sky, Strange Liberation, Skeeter-ism, Just Say This, Seventeen, Mountains From The Train, Rock of Billy, The Frisell Dream, Passing Through

Kurt Elling - GRAMMY Nomination for 'Dedicated to You'

On Target Media Group (OTMG) Press Release (8th December 2009)

Renowned Vocalist Kurt Elling Earns His 9th GRAMMY Nomination for Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman

Honor Comes One Week After Headlining the First State Dinner at the White House



Last night when the 52nd annual GRAMMY nominations were announced in Los Angeles, renowned jazz vocalist Kurt

December 2009 - Focus On Chris Potter

One of the most imaginative sax players active on the current scene; equally inventive on tenor, alto or soprano instruments.

Here is a listing of our reviews that feature Chris Potter:

Chris Potter - Underground



Chris Potter Underground - Follow The Red Line - Live At The Village Vanguard



The Monterey Quartet - Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival



Dave Holland Quintet - Critical

Jazz New Releases - December 2009

New releases and re-releases for December 2009

With Blue Note concentrating on Norah and most of the majors producing no new releases or re-releases of any note, it's a good time to be a small independent or an importer of great but no longer available jazz. Here we feature ten of the best.......



Tuesday December 1st 2009

Vinson Valega "Biophilia" (Consilience)

Jeb Patton - New Strides

album review

MaxJazz

Release date: November 17th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download




'New Strides' is Jeb Patton's debut as a leader on the MaxJazz Piano Series. Yet his depth of experience and understanding of the music immediately comes through.

After studying at Duke University and then at the Aaron Copland School of Music (where he studied with pianist Sir Roland Hanna and Jimmy

Stefano Bollani - Stone In The Water

album review

ECM

Release date: October 26th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



In the crowded genre of the jazz piano trio, signposted by so many great musicians – Bill Evans, Hank Jones, Ahmad Jamal, Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett, Mulgrew Miller, Brad Mehldau, Gonzalo Rubalcaba – it is extraordinarily difficult and near to impossible for a European to stand out. But this is

Gary Burton and Chick Corea - Crystal Silence - The ECM Recordings 1972-79

ECM

Recording Dates: 1972 - 1979

Re-release date: September 15th, 2009

Availabilty: CD, MP3 download



Chick Corea and Gary Burton's piano and vibes duet playing has been one of the most productive and longlasting partnerships in jazz. Early on, in 1973, it produced the emblematic 'Crystal Silence', one of ECM's signature albums. They have performed together in just about each year since,

Miles Davis - The Complete Columbia Album Collection

album review

Columbia / Sony

Release date: November 24th 2009

Availability: CD Box Set



Just when you thought that your Miles Davis collection was complete, along comes this massive box set, exclusive to Amazon.com.

'Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection' is a limited edition retrospective of the music that Miles Davis created during his 30 years with Columbia Records.

The

November 2009: Feature on Joshua Redman

A stellar tenor sax player and composer and one of the key musicians for the future of jazz.

Here is a listing of our reviews that feature Joshua Redman:

Joshua Redman - Freedom In The Groove


Joshua Redman - Compass


Joshua Redman - Back East


Joshua Redman - Momentum


SF Jazz Collective - 2



Earlier:

September 2008: Focus on Hank Mobley

October 2008: Focus on Miles Davis

Jazz New Releases - November 2009

New releases and re-releases for November 2009Something of a quiet month, culminating in the release of the Miles Davis collection to end all collections........ Tuesday November 3rd 2009 John Coltrane "1962 Graz Concert Complete" (Zoom) John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy "Complete 1961 Copenhagen Concert" (Gambit) Tuesday November 10th 2009 David Sanborn "Taking Off" (

Jon Irabagon - The Observer

album review

Concord Jazz

Release date: October 20th 2009

Recorded at the Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, on May 19th - 22nd, 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



Appearing in and winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1991 launched the career of Joshua Redman. Over the years, many other entrants who have won one of the top three places in the

The Monterey Quartet - Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival

album review

MJF Records

Release date: August 25th 2009

Recorded live at the Monterey Jazz Festival on September 22nd, 2007

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



The planning for the fine performance captured here dates back to 1996 when producer Jason Olaine had the idea of pairing Cuban-born pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba with British-born bassist Dave Holland. That meeting could not take place

Keith Jarrett - Paris / London - Testament

album review

ECM

Release date: October 6th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



Keith Jarrett started out with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, joined the Charles Lloyd group and then played electric keyboards for Miles Davis, appearing on 'At Filmore', 'Get Up With It' and 'The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions'. In the late 'sixties and into the 'seventies, he featured in a band with Dewey

Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy And Dial Master Takes

Savoy JazzRecorded 1944 – 1948, various locations; mainly Hollywood or New YorkPersonnel: Charlie Parker (alto sax)Various additional musicians including:Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie (trumpet)Dodo Marmarosa, Errol Garner, Bud Powell, John Lewis, Duke Jordan (piano)Red Callendar, Tommy Potter, Nelson Boyd (bass)Max Roach, Roy Porter (drums)Tracks:Over 60 Master takes on 3 discs. Review: Despite

John Coltrane - Side Steps

PrestigeRecording Dates: 1956 - 1958Re-release date: October 6th 2009Availabilty: CD Box Set The release of this 5 CD box set completes the reissue in remastered form of John Coltrane's legendary Prestige recordings that had been begun with the 'Fearless Leader' and 'Interplay' sets, released in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Featured here on 'Side Steps' is all the great saxophonist's work as a

October 2009: Focus on Joe Locke

One of the most inventive musicians on the scene today, establishing himself as the leading vibes player of his day

Here is a listing of our reviews that feature Joe Locke:

Joe Locke - Force Of Four


Joe Locke Quartet - Sticks and Strings


Joe Locke Geoffrey Keezer Group - Live In Seattle


Joe Locke & David Hazeltine - Mutual Admiration Society 2


David Hazeltine "The Inspiration Suite"

Jazz New Releases - October 2009

New releases and re-releases for October and November 2009Many good box set releases aimed at the Holiday season, including in November the Miles Davis collection to end all collections........ Release date: Tuesday October 6th 2009 John Coltrane "Side Steps" (Prestige) (5 CD) Keith Jarrett "Paris/London:Testament" (ECM) (3 CD) Jimmy Cobb "Jazz In The Key of Blue" (Chesky)

Joshua Redman – Freedom In The Groove

Warner Brothers Original release date: September 24th 1996Recording dates: April 10th – 13th 1996 at Power Station, NYC Personnel: Joshua Redman (tenor and soprano saxophones), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Martin (piano), Christopher Thomas (bass), Brian Blade (drums) Tracks:Hide and Seek, One Shining Soul, Streams of Consciousness, When the Sun Comes Down, Home Fries, Invocation, Dare I Ask,

September 2009 - Focus on Bill Evans

One of the greatest jazz pianists; early into modal jazz, influential in introducing novel chord voicings and in freeing up the bassist in the classic jazz trio.

Here is a listing of our reviews that feature Bill Evans:

Bill Evans "Waltz For Debby"


Bill Evans "Sunday At The Village Vanguard"


Bill Evans "Portrait In Jazz"


Tony Bennett/Bill Evans "The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans

Jazz New Releases - September 2009

New releases and re-releases for September and October 2009 Tuesday September 8th 2009 Scott Lafaro "Pieces of Jade" (Resonance)John Hicks "Passion Flower" (2 CD) (Mapleshade) Thelonious Monk "Monk" (Prestige - RVG Remaster) Sonny Rollins "Moving Out" (OJC/Prestige - RVG Remaster) Red Garland with John Coltrane "Dig It!" (Prestige - RVG Remaster) Gary Burton/Chick Corea "

Heath Brothers - Endurance

album review

Jazz Legacy

Release date: August 11th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



Back in 1947 Jimmy Heath formed one of his earliest bands – one that featured John Coltrane as a sideman. He played with Charlie Parker and could play his riffs so well that he became known for awhile as 'Little Bird'. Perhaps to escape that tag, he switched from alto to tenor sax (and lately soprano

John Patitucci - Remembrance

album review

Concord

Release date: August 4th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



With 'Way Out West', Sonny Rollins defined the pianoless saxophone trio. Joshua Redman recently explored the formula with great success in his 2007 album "Back East". Now, teaming with Joe Lovano on tenor sax, ace bassist John Patitucci explores the form. The difference, of course, is that the musical

Seamus Blake - Live In Italy

album review

Jazz Eyes

Release date: March 2nd 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



This double CD of the Seamus Blake quartet recorded live on a tour of Italy in 2007 is one of the most vibrant albums of the year. The partnership with David Kikoski that featured on the Concord release 'Way Out Willy' of the same year has been retained but there is no guitar seat and the bass and drums

August 2009 - Focus On the Vibes in Jazz

The vibraphone in jazz – enriching the tradition and coming back to prominence again with a new wave of talented musicians.

Here is a listing of our reviews that feature vibes in jazz:

Jackie McLean "One Step Beyond"


Andrew Hill "Judgment!"


Milt Jackson & Wes Montgomery - Bags Meets Wes


Jackie McLean "Destination Out!"


"The Kicker"


"Happenings"


"Head On"


"For Sentimental

Jazz New Releases - August 2009

New releases and re-releases for August and September 2009 Tuesday August 4th 2009 John Patitucci "Remembrance" (Concord)Medeski, Martin & Wood "Radiolarians III" (Indirecto) John Surman "Brewster's Rooster" (ECM)Tuesday August 11th 2009 Donny McCaslin "Declaration" (Sunny Side)Mike Stern "Big Neighborhood" (Heads Up) Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond "1975: The Duets" (A&M)McCoy

George Russell - In memoriam

George Russell: born 23 June 1923; died 27 July 2009 Our Review of 'Ezz-Thetic' Our Review of 'Kind Of Blue' Matt Schudel's obituary in the Washington Post John Fordham's obituary in The Guardian var addthis_pub = 'kgw'; Visit the 100 Greatest Jazz Albums Store What is this?RETURN TO: Main PageJazz at amazon.com

Jazz New Releases - June 2009 - Recently released and recommended jazz albums

New releases and re-releases for June and July



June 2nd 2009

Dave Holland "The Monterey Jazz Quartet" (Concord)
Sonny Rollins "Reel Life" (Fantasy)
Freddie Hubbard "Without A Song" (Blue Note)
John Coltrane "Coltrane" (Prestige)
Charlie Parker "Complete Live At Birdland" (Rare Live Recordings)
Art Tatum / Ben Webster "The Album" (Essential Jazz)
Yotam Silberstein "

June 2009 - Focus on Brad Mehldau

The most distinctive jazz pianist of his generation, Brad Mehldau has developed his own definitive take on jazz standards and established a growing reputation for his own compositions.

Here is a summary of where his work appears in our reviews:

"Brad Mehldau Trio - Live"


"House on Hill"


Metheny-Mehldau "Quartet"


"Metheny -Mehldau"


Brad Mehldau podcasts
Podcast series by the

Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez - Quartet Live

album review

Concord Jazz

Recording date: June 10th and 11th, 2007 at Yoshi's, Oakland, California

Release date: May 26th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



When Pat Metheny suggested for the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2006 a one-off revival of the Gary Burton Quartet to recreate the music he used to play in the band when he was just starting out, he had no idea that three years later

Miles Davis - Complete Bitches Brew Sessions

album reviewSony/ Columbia Original release date: June 1970Re-release date (with many additional tracks) May 11th 2004Recording dates: Columbia Studio B, NYC, August 19,20,21, 1969; Columbia Studio E, NYC, November 19 and 28, 1969; Columbia Studio B, NYC, January 27,28, and February 6 1970 Personnel: August 19,20,21: Miles Davis (trumpet), Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet), Wayne Shorter (soprano

Steve Davis - Outlook

album review

Rhombus / Posi-tone

Release date: September 30th 2008 / March 24th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



Steve Davis has been making great ensemble jazz in live performance, with the sextet 'One For All' and with a sequence of albums as leader with the seemingly obscurantist Criss Cross label. So, it is good to see that Posi-tone have released "Outlook" and that this

David Binney / Alan Ferber - In The Paint

album review

Posi-tone

Release date: April 21st 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



David Binney's excellent work with David Simon ("Afinidad", "Fiestas De Agosto", "Oceanos") produced landmarks in intelligent, immersive jazz. The relatively new partnership with Alan Ferber returns to that productive vein after the 2006 departure with Bill Frisell on "Out Of Airplanes".

The

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin - Five Peace Band Live

album review

Concord Records

Release date: April 28th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



Recorded during a tour of Europe in 2008, this double album delivers over one and three quarter hours of high value jazz.

Chick Corea has said that he does not want to label the music - "I decline to attempt to describe this music or give it a name….".

Nonetheless, the meeting with John

Jazz jukebox

Jazz New Releases - May 2009 - Recently released and recommended jazz albums

New releases and re-releases for May and a look ahead to June and July Tuesday May 5th 2009 David 'Fathead' Newman "The Blessing" (Highnote)Pat Metheny "One Quiet Night" (Nonesuch) Tuesday May 12th 2009 Eastern Rebellion "Mosaic" (Nimbus) Bill Evans "Turn Out The Stars: Final Village Vanguard Recordings" (6CD Box Set)" (Nonesuch)Stanley Clarke Trio with Hiromi & Lenny White "

May 2009 - Focus on Wayne Shorter

Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Weather Report followed by an illustrious solo career; Wayne Shorter is one of the greatest ever jazz performers and, while largely under-recognised for his compositional ability, almost certainly the greatest living American composer.

Here is a summary of where his work appears in our reviews:

"Speak No Evil"


"Mosaic"


"Nefertiti"


"Night Passage"


"

Ken Fowser / Behn Gillece - Full View

album review

Posi-tone

Release date: April 21st 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



Posi-tone, the small independent jazz label from Venice Beach, California, is releasing cutting edge straight ahead jazz and making quite a name for itself.

Ken Fowser / Behn Gillece's 'Full View' is a great example that kicks off with a blistering take on Sam Jones' "Bittersweet", moves neatly

Branford Marsalis Quartet - Metamorphosen

album review

Marsalis Music

Release date: March 17th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



With the Quartet of Branford Marsalis (tenor, alto and soprano sax) Joey Calderazzo (piano) Eric Revis (bass) and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums) celebrating its tenth year, "Metamorphosen" returns to the inventive straight ahead post bop that is the best of their music.

There are original

Cassandra Wilson - Closer to You: The Pop Side

album review

Blue Note

Release date: April 7th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



A feature of Cassandra Wilson's jazz albums has been the ability to surprise by taking a sometimes well-worn pop tune (The Monkees' "Last Train To Clarksville" being a notable example) and showing its unexpected, jazzier, side.

So the idea of bringing all these tracks together in a new compilation was

April 2009 - Focus on Tom Harrell

Inspirational on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tom Harrell continues to play some of the best jazz emerging today.

Here is a summary of where his work appears in our reviews:

"Light On"


"Prana Dance"


"Form"


Art Farmer and Tom Harrell "The Company I Keep"


Charles McPherson "First Flight Out"



Earlier:

September 2008: Focus on Hank Mobley

October 2008: Focus on Miles Davis

November

Jazz New Releases - April 2009 - Recently released and recommended jazz albums

New releases and re-releases for April and a look ahead to May and June Tuesday April 7thCassandra Wilson "Closer To You: The Pop Side" (Blue Note)Kenny Burrell "Live At The Downtown Room" (HighNote)Tuesday April 14th Martin, Medeski & Wood "Radiolarians II" (Indirecto) Stan Getz "At The Shrine" (Verve) Keith Jarrett "Treasure Island" (GRP)Freddie Hubbard "The Artistry of

Wynton Marsalis - He And She

album review – album review – album review – album review

Blue Note

Recorded on August 24th and 25th, 2007 at Legacy Recording Studios, New York

Release date: March 24th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download



"He And She" is an ambitious jazz concept album that really works. A long poem, written and spoken by Wynton Marsalis in the style of a 'toast', is interspersed in sections between

Horace Parlan - Up & Down

album review – album review – album review – album reviewBlue NoteRelease Date: June 18th 1961Re-release date: February 10th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 downloadLike many albums by Horace Parlan, "Up & Down" has not been available on CD or MP3 until the release of this RVG remaster. The rhythm section - Horace Parlan (piano), George Tucker (bass) and Al Harewood (drums) – was the house band at

Charles McPherson - First Flight Out

Arabesque JazzRelease Date: December 13th 1994Re-release date: March 5th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 downloadThere are jazz albums and then there are jazz albums that are exceptional. "First Flight Out", almost unknown and just re-released by Arabesque, is very much in the latter category.Charles McPherson's alto sax playing is almost good enough to make you think that Charlie Parker is still with

The Very Best Of Prestige Records

PrestigeRecorded 1949 - 1969Release date: March 24th 2009Availability: CD, MP3 Download When Bob Weinstock launched the indy jazz label New Jazz in 1948 from his 48th Street New York store "The Record Corner" few would have guessed that this was the first step in the creation of what was to become Prestige Records. In the next thirty years (the last Prestige album appeared in 1978) the label

Art Farmer - The Meaning Of Art

Arabesque JazzRecorded at Manhattan Beach Recording, New York on May 9th and 10th, 1995Release Date: October 17th, 1995 Re-release date: March 5th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 downloadThe Meaning of Art", the third of the Arabesque Jazz re-releases of Art Farmer's work for the label in the 90's, was originally issued in 1995, between "The Company I Keep" and "Silk Road". It is the same band as "The

Art Farmer & Tom Harrell- The Company I Keep

Arabesque JazzRecorded at Hip Pocket Recording Studios, New York, on January 11th and 12th, 1994Release Date: July 14th, 1994 Re-release date: March 5th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 download"The Company I Keep" brought together two of the great exponents of melodic Coltrane-influenced trumpet playing – Art Farmer and Tom Harrell – placed them in a tight sextet that included the excellent Ron Blake

Art Farmer - Silk Road

Arabesque Jazz Original release date: June 11th, 1996Re-release date: March 5th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 download, iTunes Before 1992, the small Arabesque Recordings label was devoted mainly to classical piano and chamber music. The launch of Arabesque Jazz in that year was based around the signing of Art Farmer and Charles MacPherson who went on to produce a string of great albums for the

Jackie McLean - Bluesnik

Blue NoteRecording Date: Van Gelder Studio. Englewood Cliffs, January 8th, 1961 Re-release date (RVG Edition): February 24th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 download, iTunesA year before "Let Freedom Ring" and two years before 'Destination Out!" and "One Step Beyond", Jackie Mclean was here with "Bluesnik" playing blues based bop with a still discernable influence of Charlie Parker. The band - Jackie

John Coltrane - Standard Coltrane

Prestige /OJCOriginal Release Date: July 11th 1958Re-release date (RVG Remaster): March 3rd 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 download, iTunesPrestige in the 50s, along with other labels, was notorious in allowing no rehearsal time, leaving busy on-the-road musicians to make do as best they could in the studio itself. That meant that a strategy that could deliver and yet still offer quality of performance

Grachan Moncur - Some Other Stuff

Blue Note

Original Release Date: July 6th, 1964

Re-release date (RVG Edition): February 24th 2009

Availabilty: CD, MP3 download, iTunes



Following the re-release of Jackie McLean's "One Step Beyond" earlier in February, "Some Other Stuff" goes further in revealing the radical departures in jazz being pioneered by trombonist Grachan Moncur III in 1964, a seminal year for his music and the

March 2009 - Jazz New Releases

March brings some interesting releases and re-releases. Tuesday March 3rd, Prestige/Fantasy re-release:Sonny Rollins "Worktime" (Fantasy)Miles Davis "Collectors' Items" (Prestige) John Coltrane "Standard Coltrane" (Prestige) Tuesday March 10th brings:Lee Konitz "Round And Round" (Nimbus)Ben Webster "Centennial Celebration" (Concord/OJC)Tuesday March 17th brings two releases

March 2009 - Focus On Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny is as important to jazz as he is to progressive rock. Here is a summary of where his work appears in our reviews: "Bright Size Life" "Day Trip""Tokyo Day Trip""Metheny Mehldau"Metheny Mehladu "Quartet" "The Way Up - Live" (DVD)Earlier:September 2008: Focus on Hank MobleyOctober 2008: Focus on Miles DavisNovember 2008: Focus on John ColtraneDecember 2008: Focus on Lee MorganJanuary

Monk De-Funked

Occasional musings on jazz

Hans Groiner



Release date: April 1st 2009

Availability: MySpace



"If it doesn't itch, don't scratch it." Many would agree. But not Hans Groiner. When he knows that something is wrong, he can't stand back and just let it rest. How can people have listened to Thelonious Monk all these years without realizing that the great man had been terribly wrong in allowing

Does Jazz Sound Warmer on Vinyl?

Does jazz sound 'warmer' on vinyl?
Do you get a buzz from collecting your music with LP size artwork and liner notes?
If yes, this new feature will be of interest.

Check out the bestsellers in jazz on vinyl LP format
Amazon Jazz on Vinyl charts


Here is our listing of recently re-pressed and reissued vinyl LP versions
of the best jazz available

Cannonball Adderley / Miles Davis "

Joe Locke - Force Of Four

Origin

Recorded on March 6th, 2008 at Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ

Release date: September 23rd 2008

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



Following the fusion influenced "Live In Seattle" (with Geoffrey Keezer) in 2006 and "Sticks And Strings" (with Jonathan Kreisberg) in 2007, "Force of Four" continues vibe player Joe Locke's very strong recent run of inventive albums.

The new

Jackie McLean - One Step Beyond

Blue NoteRecording Date: Van Gelder Studio. Englewood Cliffs, April 30th, 1963 Re-release date (RVG Edition): February 7th 2009Availabilty: CD, MP3 download, iTunesLong unavailable, the re-release of this great album is welcome. Together with "Destination Out!", recorded in the same year, "One Step Beyond" charts the opening up of the hard bop that Jackie McLean had helped to originate to new

Chick Corea and Hiromi - Duet

Concord

Recorded live at The Tokyo Blue Note, September 2007

Release date: February 4th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



Hiromi Uehara was born in Shizuoka, Japan, in 1979, taking her first piano lessons at age six before enrolling in the Yamaha School of Music a year later. By age 14, she had played with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. She came to the United States in 1999

What are the 100 Greatest Jazz Albums?

Here is our list so far.....John Coltrane "Blue Train"Hank Mobley "Soul Station"Wynton Kelly/ Wes Montgomery "Smokin' At The Half Note"Grant Green "Solid"Freddie Hubbard "Ready For Freddie"Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'"Sonny Rollins "Tenor Madness"Weather Report " Night Passage"Lee Morgan "The Sidewinder"Bobby Hutcherson "The Kicker"Thelonious Monk "Live At The It Club"Miles Davis "

Benny Golson - New Time, New 'Tet

Concord JazzRelease date: January 20th 2009Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes Benny Golson, who appeared on Art Blakey's "Moanin'" alongside Lee Morgan, one of the best jazz albums of all time, reaches 80 and celebrates with his first new album in five years. "New Time, New 'Tet" recalls the famous Jazztet with Art Farmer which Benny Golson co-founded in 1959.The new sextet is: Benny Golson

Tom Harrell - Prana Dance

HighNote Recorded at Bennett Studios, Englewood NJ on May 29th and June 10th, 2008Release date: January 27th 2009Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes This much awaited album features the same band as on his successful 2007 record "Light On" - Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Wayne Escoffery (tenor sax), Danny Grissett (piano and Fender Rhodes) Ugonna Ukegwo (bass) and Jonathan Blake (drums).

February 2009 Jazz New Releases

Is 2009 going to produce the best jazz of this decade?While still trying to take in four albums of sheer brilliance in January:Ravi Coltrane "Blending Times" (Savoy Jazz)Blue Note 7 "Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records" (Blue Note)Joshua Redman "Compass" (Nonesuch)Tom Harrell "Prana Dance" (HighNote)February brings still more important releases. February 3rd, Jeff "

February 2009 - Focus on Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson was unheralded in comparison with John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins and he spent many years in relative obscurity before finally winning the acclaim he deserved in the 80's and 90's. His work featured on many of the best jazz albums. Here is a summary of where he appears in our reviews: "In 'N' Out" Power To The People"Lee Morgan: "The Sidewinder""Bobby Hutcherson: The Kicker"Andrew

February 2009 Jazz New Releases

Is 2009 going to produce the best jazz of this decade?While still trying to take in four albums of sheer brilliance in January:Ravi Coltrane "Blending Times" (Savoy Jazz)Blue Note 7 "Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records" (Blue Note)Joshua Redman "Compass" (Nonesuch)Tom Harrell "Prana Dance" (HighNote)February brings still more important releases. February 3rd, Jeff "

Tom Harrell - Prana Dance

HighNote

Recorded at Bennett Studios, Englewood NJ on May 29th and June 10th, 2008

Release date: January 27th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



This much awaited album features the same band as on his successful 2007 record "Light On" - Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Wayne Escoffery (tenor sax), Danny Grissett (piano and Fender Rhodes) Ugonna Ukegwo (bass) and Jonathan

The Blue Note 7 - Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records

Blue Note

Release date: January 13th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



To celebrate the 70 year anniversary of the founding of the Blue Note record label by Alfred Lion, a stellar group – the Blue Note 7 – has been formed to release the album "Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records" and to undertake a wide ranging US tour.

The band is: Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Steve

Benny Golson - New Time, New 'Tet

Concord JazzRelease date: January 20th 2009Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes Benny Golson, who appeared on Art Blakey's "Moanin'" alongside Lee Morgan, one of the best jazz albums of all time, reaches 80 and celebrates with his first new album in five years. "New Time, New 'Tet" recalls the famous Jazztet with Art Farmer which Benny Golson co-founded in 1959.The new sextet is: Benny Golson

Joshua Redman - Compass

Nonesuch

Recording date: March 24th-26th 2008 at Avatar Studios, New York

Release date: January 13th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



While touring to promote his successful album "Back East", Joshua Redman found himself thinking about what further possibilities there might be for the pianoless saxophone trio format:

"Initially, my idea was to just find one trio, one drummer

Johnny Griffin - Introducing Johnny Griffin

Blue NoteOriginal release date: April 17th 1956Re-release date (RVG Edition): February 6th 2007 As a tribute to Johnny Griffin, we are republishing our review of his first album for Blue Note: "Introducing Johnny Griffin" Overshadowed by the acknowledged greats of jazz tenor saxophone such as John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin was the equal of most; a fine, fast, bop stylist with

Ravi Coltrane - Blending Times

Savoy Jazz

Release date: January 13th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



With this much anticipated release featuring his working quartet - Ravi Coltrane (tenor saxophone), Luis Perdomo (piano), Drew Gress (bass) and E.J. Strickland (drums) – Ravi Coltrane has taken a giant step forward.

Planned initially with input from his mother, Alice, and then coming to fruition after her

Peter Bernstein - Monk

Xanadu

Release date: January 13th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



For his first album as leader in over four years, guitarist Peter Bernstein is partnered by Doug Weiss (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums) in a pianoless trio playing twelve compositions by Thelonious Monk.

The dangers of attempting to prettify Thelinious Monk's work are evident. The point, of course, is that

Joris Roelofs - Introducing Joris Roelofs

Material Records

Recorded September 8th and 9th 2007, Peter Karl Studio, Brooklyn, New York

Release date: September 28th 2008

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes



Not yet 25, Netherlander Joris Roelofs has produced an album for the Material Records label that should propel him on to widespread recognition. Released so far in Japan and available on import, "Introducing ……" deserves a US