Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Top 10 Plus

Here's my contribution to the Village Voice 2009 Jazz Poll:

Top 10 2009

1. Vijay Iyer Trio – Historicity (ACT)
2. Miguel Zenón – Esta Plena (Marsalis Music)
3. Michael Musillami Trio + 3 – From Seeds (Playscape)
4. Henry Threadgill Zooid – This Brings Us To, Volume 1 (Pi)
5. Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam)
6. Enrico Rava – New York Days (ECM)
7. Jim Hall & Bill Frisell – Hemispheres (ArtistShare)
8. Chris Potter Underground – Ultrahang (ArtistShare)
9. Jon Hassell – Last Night The Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes In The Street (ECM)
10. Dave Douglas – Spirit Moves (Greenleaf Music)

Reissues
1. Louis Armstrong – The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946) (Mosaic)
2. Miles Davis – The Complete Columbia Album Collection (Legacy)
3. Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um 50th Anniversary (Legacy)

Vocal
Lisa Sokolov – A Quiet Thing (Laughing Horse)

Debut
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam)

Latin
Miguel Zenón – Esta Plena (Marsalis Music)

3 comments:

David said...

Thanks a LOT for the tip on Michael Mussalami Trio. I did not know of him or this CD, and this CD "rawks," as the kids say. Awesome.

The Hassel surprises me! I didn't figure you for a fan of his. Good comeback on his part.

Happy New Year!

James Hale said...

The Jon Hassel entry "surprised" even me! I received a download of the recording from ECM really early in the year and didn't pay much attention to it until I got a physical copy, and then it was on my CD player for weeks. I kept thinking it would drop off the list as new stuff came along, but it hung in there. It's quite a magical recording, and I suppose the reason it didn't make other lists is that many people wouldn't consider it "jazz" but it is filled with improvisation and counter-rhythms.

This is the second or third year that a Michael Mussilami CD has been on—or near—my Top 10, and I keep waiting for him to be "discovered" by other critics. His writing is witty and energetic, and he always has a great band with him.

Gaby Warren said...

Here's my list of my favourite 12 recordings of the first decade of the 21st century:

1. Maria Schneider Orchestra – Sky Blue (ArtistShare)

2. Fred Hersch – Leaves of Grass (Palmetto)

3. Andrew Hill – Time Lines (Blue Note)

4. Charles Lloyd – Rabo de Nube (ECM)

5. Darcie James Argue’s Secret Society – Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam)

6. Billy Bang: Vietnam The Aftermath (Justin Time)

7. Nancy King with Fred Hersch – Live At Jazz Standard (MaxJazz)

8. Rob Frayne/Mark Eisenman – Skeezix one and two (Jazz Tunesy)

9. David Braid – Live At The Top Of The Senator (David Braid)

10. Kirk MacDonald – New Beginnings (Radioland)

11. Vijay Iyer – Historicity (ACT Music)

12. Bobby Sanabria and the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (Jazzheads)