David “Pulsifier” Lee’s Picks for 2011

Jazz

Monty Alexander & Harlem Kingston Express: Harlem-Kingston Express Live!
Monty Alexander: Uplift

CDs Received by WTJU in 2011

Swingadelic: The Other Duke – Tribute to Duke Pearson
New York Electric Piano: Keys to the City Vol. 2
Phil Ranelin: Perseverance
Malika Zarra: Berber Taxi
Lynne Arriale: Convergence
Mark Sganga: An Evening in Rio
Jambalaya Brass Band: It’s a Jungle Out There
Heavy Tin: ReFused

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Blues

Macy Blackman: Don’t You Just Know It
Tom Rigney and Flambeau: Don’t Fight It
Toby Walker: Shake, Shake Mama
Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton: Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton Play the Blues
Rita Chiarelli: Music From The Big House (Soundtrack)
Marcia Ball: Roadside Attractions

Best of 2009 – Aaron (The Jazz Czar)

1. “Piety Street” – John Scofield (EmArcy)
2. “Folk Art” – Joe Lovano (Blue Note)
3. “Metamorphosen” – Branford Marsalis (Marsalis Music)
4. “Heaven On Earth – Live At The Blue Note” – James Carter (Half Note)
5. “Quartet Live” – Gary Burton (Concord)
6. “Now vs Now” – Jason Lindner (Anzic)
7. “Historicity” – Vijay Iyer (ACT)
8. “Urban Myths” – Joel Harrison (HighNote)
9. “The Bright Mississippi” – Allen Toussaint (Posi-Tone)
10. “Think Free” – Ben Allison (Palmetto)
11. “Out With It” – David Ashkenazy
12. “Big Neighborhood” – Mike Stern
13. “Radiolarians II & III” – Medeski, Martin & Wood

Best of 2009 – Steve Huff

1. “Brewster’s Rooster” – John Surman – Vet baritone sax player returns to jazz forms with allstar cast Abercrombie/DeJohnette/Gress (ECM)
2. “Wait ’til you see her” – John Abercrombie – Mature guitar/violin quartet defining their brand of chamber jazz (ECM)
3. “Radiolarians III” – Medeski, Martin and Wood – More jazz than funk this time the party continues (Indirecto)
4. “The Astounding Eyes of Rita” – Anour Brahem – Jazz oud works with chamber world music (ECM)
5. “Eddie Loves Frank” – Ed Palermo Big Band – Zappa covers with swing (Cunieform)
6. “Five Peace Band Live” – Chick Corea and John McLaughlin – Modern masters at work with contemporary fusion (Concord)
7. “Cartography” – Arve Henriksen – Breathy nordic Supersilent trumpeter somewhere between ambient and jazz (ECM)
8. “Last night the moon came….” – Jon Hassell – Ambient jazz from former Eno collaborator (ECM)
9. “Movements in Colour” – Andy Sheppard – Carla Bley sax sideman with his ECM debut as leader (ECM)
10. “Extra Mile” – Pete McCann – Guitar-led ensmble (Nine-teen Eight Records)

Best of 2009 – Sean Grzegorczyk

1. “Historicity” – Vijay Iyer – moves with assured consistency across a huge swath of musical territory, from a Leonard Bernstein ballad to a particularly hard-hitting version of M.I.A.‘s “Galang”. (Act Music)
2. “Blood form Stars” – Joe Henry – Blood‘s songs start off with traditional blues patterns, but ventures off in uncharted directions. (Anti-)
3. “Coward” – Nels Cline – Working solo in the studio on a plethora of instruments, he delivers an alternately ravishing and rocking session marked by surprising grooves and exquisite textures. (Cryptogramophone)
4. “Think Free” – Ben Allison – unexpected textures of Shane Endsley’s trumpet and Jenny Scheinman’s violin. (Palmetto)
5. “Brewster’s Rooster” – John Surman – the trio of old friends – Surman, DeJohnette, Abercrombie – is joined by bassist Drew Gress (ECM)
6. “For all I Care” – Bad Plus – modern jazz readings of rock standards (Heads Up)
7. “Standards Trio: Reflections’” – Kurt Rosenwinke – superbly played standards (Wommusic)
8. “Things To Come” – Rez Abbasi – Pakistani-American guitarist Rez Abbasi coalesces his rock, jazz and South Asian influences into a melodically and rhythmically complex suite of tracks on his latest sojourn (Sunnyside)
9. “Continuation” – Alex Cline – Working across styles and in longer forms, Cline’s tunes are patient and full of space (ECM)
10. “Lost on the Way” – Louis Sclavis – The melodies are typically byzantine, but fizzing with muscular lyricism, brooding in dark guitar lines or dancing balletically over sombre booming drums (ECM)

Best of 2009 – Gerald Watts

1. “Blueprints Of Jazz Vol. 1″ – Mike Clark (Talking House)
2. “Radiolarians III” – Medeski, Martin & Wood (Indirecto)
3. “Waxed Oop” – Fast ‘N’ Bulbous (Cuneiform)
4. “Ray’s Way” – Ray LeVier (Origin)
5. “Big Neighborhood” – Mike Stern (Heads Up)
6. “Eddy Loves Frank” – Ed Palermo (Cuneiform)
7. “Inter Vivos” – The catholics (Bungle)
8. “Joe’s Strut” – Michael Wolff (Wrong)
9. “Disfarmer” – Bill Frisell (Nonesuch)
10. “Night of the Living Daylights” – The Living Daylights (self produced)

Best of 2009 – Ann Porotti

1. “Heaven On Earth – Live At The Blue Note” – James Carter – Tied for Number 1 of 2009, this CD is all about the strong band, and Carter’s leadership. (Half Note)
2. “Detroit” – Gerald Wilson – magnificent (Mack Avenue)
3. “Historicity” – Vjay Iyer – pianist Iyer’s take on “Somewhere” from West Side Story floats on its thermals (ACT)
4. “The Bright Mississippi” – Allen Toussaint – the other 2009 Number 1 showers us with New Orleans boogie and mood. (Nonesuch)
5. “intervivos” – The Catholics – New to me, the beginning of a beautiful friendship (Bungle )
6. “Spirit” – Cyrus Chestnut – solo piano, elegant restraint within a traditional, gospel repertoire (IPO)
7. “Live At The Village Vanguard” – Martial Solal – on the occasion of Martial Solal’s 80th birthday he gave this solo piano performance @ the Village Vanguard in 2007. Intelligence, discipline, and authentic jazz licks on old chestnuts. Wise and beautiful, the music. (CamJazz)
8. “Obsession, Nights on Key Largo” – Tessa Souter – 2 Recordings in 2009- gorgeous singer, tremendous style (Venus, Motema)
9. “Quartet Live” – Gary Burton – A little sedate, but very unified and cool. (Concord)
10. “Think Free” – Ben Allison – I love this band because Jenny Scheinman plays her violin with them (Palmetto)
11. “Disfarmer” – Bill Frissell – Every new musical corner is a fresh look (Nonesuch)
12. “Apti” – Rudresh Mahnthappa – Presses my world buttons (Inova)

Best of 2009 – Nick Page

1. “Keys in Ascension” – Fabian Zone Trio (CAP)
2. “No Title” – Dr. Lonnie Smith (Palmetto)
3. “The So Then Collection” – Jesse Jones Jr. (self produced)
4. “Dylan Different” – Ben Sidron (Bonsai)
5. “Live at the Blue Note” – Charles Tolliver Big Band (Half Note)
6. “Dark Wood, Dark Water” – Chad McCullough (Origin)
7. “Quiet Nights” – Diana Krall (Verve)
8. “Legendary” – Bob Florence (MAMA)
9. “Movie Song Project” – Royce Campbell Trio (Philology)
10. “The Comet’s Tail: A Tribute to Michael Brecker” – Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge (MAMA)

Best of 2009 – Gary Funston

Jazz

1. “Think Free” – Ben Allison – Some didn’t like it as much as Ben’s Previous cd’s, but its subtle charms grow on you. (Palmetto)
2. “Heaven and Earth” – James Carter – with John Medeski and an all star cast that actually sound like a band (Half Note)
3. “Infernal Machines” – Darcy James Argue – One of several envelope pushing big band cd’s in ’09, with John Hollenbeck’s Eternal Interlude (New Amsterdam)
4. “Eddie Loves Frank” – Ed Palermo – Still irresistable, smart big band arrangements of Zappa comps (Cuneiform)
5. “Extra Mile” – Pete McCann – Fine under-known guitaritst with first rate comps and wide range of styles (self produced)
6. “Urban ….” – Joel Harrison – see Pete McCann…all instrumental this time. (Highnote)
7. “Kif Express” – David Fiuczinsky – crazy Eastern trick-guitar fusion. irresistable. (Fuzelicious)
8. “Brewster’s Rooster” – John Surman – All-star lineup with great writing (ECM)
9. “Afterburn” – Torben Waldorf – guitarist under the influence of Maria Schneider. Lots of instantly likeable tunes. (artistshare)
10. “Radiolarians I, II, and III” – MMW – cheating to list 3 cd’s as one, but lots of great stuff on each cd. Their best in a long time. (Indirecto)

Vocals

1. “Re Visions” – Jen Chapin – She defies category, singing Stevie’s tunes without a net–only bass and sax accompaniment (Chesky)
2. “Pentatonic Wars…” – Otis Taylor – A true original, with Jason Moran and other jazzers contributing to the spooky sounds (Telarc)
3. “Blood From Stars” – Joe Henry – Not jazz, but with jazz sounds. The most unique vocal album of the year (Anti)
4. “Slice O Life-Live” – Brice Cockburn – Not jazz either, just great musicianship and songwriting (Rounder)
5. “Astral Weeks Live” – Van Morrison – You can go home again (Listen to the Lion)
6. “Never Going Back” – Shemekia Copeland – but you don’t want to. What the heck happened in Memphis anyway? (Telarc)
7. “Sweetheart Like You” – Guy Davis – Great story telling, in wide variety of blues and country styles (Red House)
8. “Project A” – Joel Frahm and Bruce Katz – Instrumental, but all songs associated with Aretha. a guilty pleasure (Anzic)
9. “Chioggia Beat” – Jay Pun and Morwenna Lasko – Local duo defies category–instrumentals with stellar cast of local jazz players and others, incl. Johnny Gilmore (self)

Best of 2009 – Professor Bebop

Blues

1. “Already Free” – Derek Trucks – Supremely wonderful guitar: grit, beauty, passion (Victor)
2. “Already Live” – Derek Trucks – The live companion to the above (Victor)
3. “Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs” – Otis Taylor – Trance master of the blues (Telarc Blues)
4. “Twisted” – Rick Estrin & The Nightcats – Solid roadhouse blues and a lot of fun (Alligator)
5. “This Time” – Robert Cray – Some great ballads with a couple of groovy blues (Nozzle)
6. “Living In The Light” – Ronnie Earl – Guitar master still has tremendous power and sensitivity (Stony Plain)
7. “Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears” – Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears – Get the 10″ vinyl, garage soul, crazy! (Lost Highway)
8. “Do It Like We Used To Do” – North Mississippi Allstars – Live, Hill Country Blues retrospective, great dvd too (Songs of the South)
9. “Live at Chan’s, Combo Platter #2″ – Nick Moss & The Flip Tops – Barroom blues, no frills, Lurrie Bell guests (Blue Bella)
10. “Between A Rock And The Blues” – Joe Louis Walker – Great guitarist presents his considerable skill in a variety of blues settings (Stony Plain)

All Genres

1. “Already Free” – Derek Trucks – Supremely wonderful guitar: grit, beauty, passion (Victor)
2. “Chioggia Beat” – Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun – Eclectic, rhythmic, enchanting (Kuchica)
3. “Live” – Five Peace Band – Chick Corea, John McLaughlin revisit fusion (Concord)
4. “Love Filling Station” – Jesse Winchester – Great southern charm (Appleseed)
5. “Heart Beat” – Robert Jospe – Great jazz from local greats! (Random Chance)
6. “Twisted” – Rick Estrin & The Nightcats – Solid roadhouse blues and a lot of fun (Alligator)
7. “Tangled Tales” – Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks – Lazy, jazzy, groovy string band swing (Surfdog)
8. “Roll On” – J.J. Cale – Laid back as an old hound dog on a hot summer day (Rounder)
9. “Blu.black” – Corey Harris – Sweet Music, Hard content, soul/reggae influence (Telarc )
10. “Throw Down Your Heart” – Bela Fleck – Africa sessions where Fleck blends with African styles (Rounder)

Best of 2009 – The Melody Man (Freddy FreeRoamer)

1. “Dedicated To You” – Kurt Elling (Concord)
2. “Lost In Dreams” – Curtis Stigers (Concord)
3. “Revival Of The Fittest” – Eric Alexander (HighNote)
4. “I Remember You” – John Hicks (HighNote)
5. “The Dreamer In Me: Live at Dizzy’s” – Freddy Cole (HighNote)
6. “Wait Till You See Her” – John Abercrombie (ECM)
7. “Desire” – Tierney Sutton (Telarc)
8. “Yesterdays” – Keith Jarrett (ECM)
9. “A Song For You” – Ernestine Anderson (HighNote)
10. “Sketches Of Spain 50th Anniversary” – Miles Davis (Columbia/ Legacy)