I usually try to hold off on posting my top 10 recordings of the year until Francis Davis's authoritative round-up poll, which includes my votes, appears on npr.org, but the pressure is mounting as Christmas shopping days run out.That stated, here is this year's list:
José James – Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music Of Billie Holiday (Blue Note)
Fred Hersch – Solo (Palmetto)
Maria Schneider Orchestra – The Thompson Fields (ArtistShare)
Myra Melford – Snowy Egret (Enja)
Dave Douglas Quintet – Brazen Heart (Greenleaf Music)
Jacky Terrasson – Take This (Impulse!)
Vijay Iyer Trio – Break Stuff (ECM)
Mathias Eick – Midwest (ECM)
Mary Halvorson – Meltframe (Firehouse 12)
Enrico Rava Quartet – Wild Dance (ECM)