Pianist Kris Davis’s Diatom Ribbons and the multi-disc set Nat King Cole’s Hittin’ the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-43) are among the albums that made more than one list.
Steve Feeney
Jazz Album Review: jaimie branch’s “FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise” — Into the Outer Reaches
jaimie branch knows music has to be wild and dangerous and beautiful to cut through all the distractions of our times.
Jazz CD Review: Two Quartets Discover Exhilarating New Terrain
The powerful quartets on The People I Love and Terra Incognita work toward locating places beyond notation where, in each moment, new vistas may emerge.
Jazz Album Review: “Swing Symphony” — Quintessential Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony is his third effort in the grand form.
Jazz CD Review: Anthony Braxton – Quartet (New Haven) 2014 — Freely Creative Music
This set of discs will be a delight for any fan of advanced (and incredibly sustained) creativity in music.
Jazz CD Review: The OGJB Quartet — Skipping About Through Time
It is enormous fun to hear how this group of veterans try to think in new ways — as they do throughout this engaging release.
Jazz Album Review: Miles Davis — An Excellent Homage to the Master
This album does an excellent job of recapturing some of the glory of the original Miles Davis recordings.
Jazz Album: “Love Hurts” — Guitarist Julian Lage’s Strongest Recording to Date
The disc is manna for lovers of assertive electric guitar, played by one of today’s top practitioners, in an unadorned trio setting.
Jazz CD Review: Eric Dolphy — Still a “Musical Prophet”
Eric Dolphy fully deserves the renewed attention that this important release demands.
Jazz CD Review: Fred Hersch Trio ’97 @ The Village Vanguard
With two able bandmates, Fred Hersch is inspired to unwind a nice set of standards and a few originals.