My "Best of Jazz, 2018" Picks
-or-
Smoke-rings, Shadows, Other Places and Fire Music
Below is my first contribution to the end-of-year polls. Previously, I tended to just avoid this kind of thing but it occurred to me that I stand (loudly) by my convictions in every other setting, so how can I avoid this crush when it comes to the primary object of my journalism? Various versions of the below list were sent in to writers' poll of "the NYC Jazz Record" as well as those of Francis Davis of NPR and the Jazz Journalists Association. This set of accolades comprises what is a rather alternative view of so-called jazz today. From the remaining dregs of downtown to points north and south, here is a "Best of" which celebrates the world famed and the little known, but in each case, artists, recordings and venues I hold in the highest regard. Recognizing that some of these picks may appear on no other critic's choices this year, I needed to make a serious go of it.
Below is my first contribution to the end-of-year polls. Previously, I tended to just avoid this kind of thing but it occurred to me that I stand (loudly) by my convictions in every other setting, so how can I avoid this crush when it comes to the primary object of my journalism? Various versions of the below list were sent in to writers' poll of "the NYC Jazz Record" as well as those of Francis Davis of NPR and the Jazz Journalists Association. This set of accolades comprises what is a rather alternative view of so-called jazz today. From the remaining dregs of downtown to points north and south, here is a "Best of" which celebrates the world famed and the little known, but in each case, artists, recordings and venues I hold in the highest regard. Recognizing that some of these picks may appear on no other critic's choices this year, I needed to make a serious go of it.
Here's to social change, new visions and a hearty helping of Fire Music for the holidays!
Peace for 2019....
john pietaro
Albums:
New Releases:
John Zorn, The Urmuz Epigrams (Tzadik)
Harriet Tubman, Araminta (Sunnyside)
Marty Ehrlich, Trio Exaltation (Clean Feed)
Ra Kalam Bob Moses and Bukky Leo, Spaceships Over
Africa (Ra Kalam Records)
Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine, The Poetry of
Jazz (Origin)
Yusef Komunyakaa/David Cieri/Mike Brown, White
Dust (Ropeadopa)
Christine Correa and Ran Blake, Streaming (Red Piano)
Elliot Levin/Gabriel Lauber Duo, Yu (Dimensional
Recordings)
Historic:
Coltrane, Both
Directions at Once (Impulse)
Walt Dickerson/Richard Davis - Divine Gemini (SteepleChase)
Latin :
Arturo O’Farrill, Fandango at the Wall (Resilience)
Arturo O’Farrill, Fandango at the Wall (Resilience)
Vocals :
Christine Correa and Ran Blake, Streaming (Red Piano)
Christine Correa and Ran Blake, Streaming (Red Piano)
Debuts:
Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine, The Poetry of Jazz (Origin)
Benjamin Boone/Philip Levine, The Poetry of Jazz (Origin)
Concert:
I Never Left and Now I’m Back: A Tribute to Roswell
Rudd (Nov 17, 2018, Murmrr, Brooklyn)
Musicians:
Hall of Fame:
Karl Berger
Hall of Fame:
Karl Berger
piano:
Chris Forbes
Matt Shipp
organ:
Matthew Whitaker
bass:
Ken Filiano
Adam Lane
drums:
Milford Graves
Nasheet Waits
Kenny Wolleson
vibes:
Brian Carrot
Bill Ware
Patricia Brennan
percussion:
Warren Smith
Cyro Baptista
guitar:
Marc Ribot
Brandon Ross
Mary Halvorson
On' Kai Davis
flute:
Nicole Mitchell
Steve Gorn
soprano saxophone:
Lee Odom
alto:
Sonny Fortune
Gary Bartz
Avram Fefer
tenor:
Joe Lovano
Ras Moshe
James Brandon Lewis
bari:
Dave Sewelson
trumpet:
Wadada Leo Smith
Tom Harrell
trombone:
Steve Swell
Bob Stewart
violin:
Gwen Laster
vocals:
Cassandra Wilson
Jay Clayton
Sheila Jordan
poetry:
Steve Dalachinsky
Amina Baraka
Raymond Nat Turner
Larry Roland
Raymond Nat Turner
Larry Roland
Venues:
Minton’s Playhouse (Harlem)
Village Vanguard (West Village)
Joe’s Pub (SoHo/East Village)
ShapeShifter Lab (Park Slope/Gowanus Bklyn)
Roulette (Boerum Hill Bklyn)
17 Frost (Williamsburg Bklyn)
Scholes Street Studio (Williamsburg Bklyn)
The Colony (Woodstock NY)
Magazines:
NYC Jazz Record
the Wire
Magazines:
NYC Jazz Record
the Wire