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Favorite CDs of 2007 |
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Written by Don Berryman
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Tuesday, 01 January 2008 |
This is the time we look back at the year in jazz. Some of my favorite new releases were not nominated for Grammys this year. Although several of my favorites were included such as Kurt Elling's Night Moves, Joshua Redman's Back East, Terence Blanchard's A Tale Of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina), and Maria Schneider's Sky Blue, I'd like to highlight a few that, while not nominated, remain my favorites of the year.
 Howard Wiley, The Angola Project - I found no music more moving than this CD from a project which features Wiley investigating the roots and legacies of African American prison spirituals encompassing folk, blues, and gospel. Wiley researched the songs and stories from the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana, from the 1950s onward, listening to recordings. Pairing original compositions with Howard's arrangements of traditional songs, a 9-piece ensemble including strings and vocals presents these highly unique jazz compositions. The music unites the sounds of jazz, gospel and blues. The CD features Howard Wiley on saxophone, Jeannine Anderson on vocals, Lorin Benedict on vocals, David Ewell on bass, Devin Hoff on bass, Geechi Taylor on trumpet, Sly Randolph on drums, Yerdua Cesear on violin, Vivian McBride on violin, and special guests, Danny Armstrong on trombone, Faye Carol on vocals, and David Murray on saxophone. Full of heartfelt solos, stunning arrangements, and classic call and response, this is powerful and profound music that speaks of despair and loss but also of hope. I highly recommend this CD.
 Joey DeFrancesco, Live: The Authorized Bootleg - Joey DeFrancesco had finished a brilliant four night engagement at Yoshi's in Oakland where Joey's regular trio (Joey on B3, Jake Langley on guitar and Byron Landham on drums) was joined by tenor sax titan George Coleman. Afterwards the sound man told Joey he had taped it and asked him if he wanted to hear it. Joey took it home and listened and said "THAT is my next record". Live: The Authorized Bootleg, opens with a bang with "Cherokee", Coleman opens with an engaging solo intro and then ups the tempo when he brings in the band and continues to tear it up with about four minutes of amazing choruses. Then Joey answers with a blistering solo of his own, quoting a bit of Coleman's solo back to him. There are displays of musical brilliance throughout. We are only treated to one track with guest vocalist Colleen McNabb who joins the trio and sweetly sings the ballad "I'm in the Mood for Love", but I am sure we'll be hearing much more from her in the future. It's great to hear this music featuring George Coleman, who is one of the great tenors of all-time, and has never seemed to get the notice he deserves. The recording is first rate and the performance is five stars across the board. [click here for a Jazz Police review ].
 Frank Vignola, Vignola Plays Gershwin - On his 12th CD as a leader, guitarist Frank Vignola demonstrates his remarkable versatility while paying affectionate tribute to the Gershwin songbook and Django Reinhard at the same time. With Joe Ascione on drums, Tom Kennedy on bass, and Corey Christiansen on rhythm guitar, Vignola Plays Gershwin features original interpretations of 14 classic tunes. I must admit that when I first listened to it I liked it, but was not dazzled. But I have found myself listening to this quite a bit. I listen to a lot of music in the car and this one stayed in the player for a long time. The recording was done in one day and most of them are first takes, so it retains the kind of spontaneity you usually only get with live performance. Vignola's interpretation of "Summertime" is inspired. Like the best of jazz albums, it is fresh and very accessible without being 'dumbed-down'.
 Chris Gestrin, After the city has gone : quiet - Vancouver pianist Chris Gestrin spent three days in the studio recording in nine different duos and trios that combine elements of jazz, classical, ambient, and world music. Chris Gestrin on piano, prepared piano, and percussion, performs solos and joins with other musicians in varied combinations of instruments including cello, saxophones, guitar, dobro, trumpets, trombone, violin, shakuhachi (a traditional Japanese bamboo flute), percussion, and drums. Apart from a few compositions, all the music was completely improvised. This beautifully detailed recording was released on a double hybrid CD/SACD with multi-channel mix. The sound is amazing - this would be a great test disc for a high-end audio system because of the variety and quality of sound and the use of space. This music requires attention as it paints a varied aural landscape that moves from stark simplicity to beguiling complexity to stunning beauty. On piano, Gestrin seems to be influenced by Keith Jarret, and his prepared piano work is reminiscent of the brilliant French pianist Benoît Delbecq. This is artful chamber jazz that deserves serious consideration. |
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 Tuesday, 14 October 2008
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