The year of Nguyên Lê:
Memorably searing guitar work on Uri Caine’s The Othello Syndrome (Winter & Winter) and Vince Mendoza’s Blauklang (ACT). Not to mention Joel Harrison’s 2007 gem, Harbor (HighNote).
The year of John Abercrombie:
Two compelling sideman appearances with tenor saxophonists, on Adam Kolker’s Flag Day (Sunnyside) and Jerry Bergonzi’s Tenor Talk (Savant).
The year of Dewey Redman:
Following his death in September 2006 — only months after playing on son Joshua’s Back East (Nonesuch) — the offbeat tenor icon resurfaces on Peter Delano’s long-lost and posthumously titled For Dewey (Sunnyside). And don’t miss Farewell Walter Dewey Redman (Capri), the latest tribute recording from the always-dynamic Mark Masters Ensemble.
The year of the Moutin Brothers:
Following up 2007’s Sharp Turns, the best disc yet from François (bass) and Louis (drums), we get two piano trio records with the Moutins as rhythm section: Tigran Hamasyan’s New Era (Nocturne) and Martial Solal’s Longitude (CAM Jazz). Huge generational gap, like-minded piano ferocity.
The year of Marvin Sewell:
Notably quirky guitar appearances on two imperfect vocal albums: Elisabeth Kontomanou’s Back to My Groove (Nocturne) and Cassandra Wilson’s Loverly (Blue Note).
Bold tenor trios:
J. D. Allen, I Am I Am (Sunnyside)
Donny McCaslin, Recommended Tools (Greenleaf)
Worthy piano-vocal duos:
Hank Jones & Roberta Gambarini, You Are There (EmArcy)
Nora McCarthy & John di Martino, Circle Completing (ind.)
Other duos:
Howard Alden & Ken Peplowski, Pow-Wow (Arbors)
Ron Blake (with Michael Cain), Shayari (Mack Avenue)
Garrison Fewell & Eric Hofbauer, The Lady of Khartoum (Creative Nation)
Bill Bruford & Michiel Borstlap, In Two Minds (Summerfold)
Enrico Rava & Stefano Bollani, The Third Man (ECM)
Grupa Janke Randalu, Live (Jazz n Arts)
Ketil Bjørnstad & Terje Rypdal, Life in Liepzig (ECM)
Marilyn Mazur & Jan Garbarek (ECM)
Michael Moore & Fred Hersch, This We Know (Palmetto)
Michel Lambert & Rakalam Bob Moses, Meditation on Grace (FMR)
Luther Thomas & John Lindberg, Spirit of St. Louis (Ayler)
David Murray & Mal Waldron, Silence (Justin Time)
Harvie S & Kenny Barron, Now Was the Time (Savant)
Mark O’Leary & Han Bennink, Television (Ayler)
Aaron Weinstein & John Pizzarellli, Blue Too (Arbors)
Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze, Sira (ObliqSound)
Bebo Valdes & Javier Colina, Live at the Village Vanguard (Calle 54)
Mort Weiss & Ron Eschete, All Too Soon (SMS Jazz)
Trygve Seim & Frode Haltli, Yeraz (ECM)
Joe Morris & Barre Phillips, Elm City Duets 2006 (Clean Feed)
Ron Blake (with Michael Cain), Shayari (Mack Avenue)
Garrison Fewell & Eric Hofbauer, The Lady of Khartoum (Creative Nation)
Bill Bruford & Michiel Borstlap, In Two Minds (Summerfold)
Enrico Rava & Stefano Bollani, The Third Man (ECM)
Grupa Janke Randalu, Live (Jazz n Arts)
Ketil Bjørnstad & Terje Rypdal, Life in Liepzig (ECM)
Marilyn Mazur & Jan Garbarek (ECM)
Michael Moore & Fred Hersch, This We Know (Palmetto)
Michel Lambert & Rakalam Bob Moses, Meditation on Grace (FMR)
Luther Thomas & John Lindberg, Spirit of St. Louis (Ayler)
David Murray & Mal Waldron, Silence (Justin Time)
Harvie S & Kenny Barron, Now Was the Time (Savant)
Mark O’Leary & Han Bennink, Television (Ayler)
Aaron Weinstein & John Pizzarellli, Blue Too (Arbors)
Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze, Sira (ObliqSound)
Bebo Valdes & Javier Colina, Live at the Village Vanguard (Calle 54)
Mort Weiss & Ron Eschete, All Too Soon (SMS Jazz)
Trygve Seim & Frode Haltli, Yeraz (ECM)
Joe Morris & Barre Phillips, Elm City Duets 2006 (Clean Feed)
Solo recordings:
Kyle Brenders, Flows and Intensities (ind.)
Bobby Few, Lights and Shadows (Boxholder)
Jon Balke, Book of Velocities (ECM)
Toumani Diabate, The Mandé Variations (World Circuit/Nonesuch)
Marilyn Crispell, Vignettes (ECM)
Jacob Anderskov, Panta Rhei (ILK)
Larry Ham, Just Me, Just You… (Arbors)
Henry Grimes, Solo (ILK)
Kyle Brenders, Flows and Intensities (ind.)
Bobby Few, Lights and Shadows (Boxholder)
Jon Balke, Book of Velocities (ECM)
Toumani Diabate, The Mandé Variations (World Circuit/Nonesuch)
Marilyn Crispell, Vignettes (ECM)
Jacob Anderskov, Panta Rhei (ILK)
Larry Ham, Just Me, Just You… (Arbors)
Henry Grimes, Solo (ILK)
Debuts:
Eric McPherson, Continuum (Smalls)
Nick Vayenas, Synesthesia (World Culture)
Jason Adasiewicz, Roll Down (482 Music)
Paul Hanson, Frolic in the Land of Plenty (Abstract Logix)
Nathan Eklund, The Crooked Line (Jazz Excursion)
Ryan Blotnick, Music Needs You (Songlines)
Massimo Biolcati, Persona (Obliqsound)
Alon Yavnai, Travel Notes (ObliqSound)
Ambrose Akinmusire, Prelude (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Warren Wolf, Raw (ind.)
Steve Treseler, Resonance (ind.)
Jon Irabagon’s Outright! (Innova)
Noah Preminger, Dry Bridge Road (Nowt)
Brinsk, A Hamster Speaks (Nowt)
U. Shrinivas, Samjanitha (Dreyfus)
Bill Cantrall, Axiom (Upswing)
Mary Halvorson Trio, Dragon’s Head (Firehouse 12)
The Stance Brothers, Kind Soul (ObliqSound)
Becca Stevens, Tea Bye Sea (ind.)
Andrew Raffo Dewar, Six Lines of Transformation (Porter)
John Escreet, Consequences (Posi-Tone)
Sharel Cassity, Just for You (DW)
Sean Conly, Re:Action (Clean Feed)
Nick Vayenas, Synesthesia (World Culture)
Jason Adasiewicz, Roll Down (482 Music)
Paul Hanson, Frolic in the Land of Plenty (Abstract Logix)
Nathan Eklund, The Crooked Line (Jazz Excursion)
Ryan Blotnick, Music Needs You (Songlines)
Massimo Biolcati, Persona (Obliqsound)
Alon Yavnai, Travel Notes (ObliqSound)
Ambrose Akinmusire, Prelude (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Warren Wolf, Raw (ind.)
Steve Treseler, Resonance (ind.)
Jon Irabagon’s Outright! (Innova)
Noah Preminger, Dry Bridge Road (Nowt)
Brinsk, A Hamster Speaks (Nowt)
U. Shrinivas, Samjanitha (Dreyfus)
Bill Cantrall, Axiom (Upswing)
Mary Halvorson Trio, Dragon’s Head (Firehouse 12)
The Stance Brothers, Kind Soul (ObliqSound)
Becca Stevens, Tea Bye Sea (ind.)
Andrew Raffo Dewar, Six Lines of Transformation (Porter)
John Escreet, Consequences (Posi-Tone)
Sharel Cassity, Just for You (DW)
Sean Conly, Re:Action (Clean Feed)
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