Top Releases of 2013

[CraigP]

Here's my top 10 of the year, to hopefully get some conversation started:

Mary Halvorson Septet - Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12)

Convergence Quartet – Slow & Steady (No Business)

Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet & 7-tette – Navigation (The Complete Firehouse 12 Recordings) (Firehouse 12)

Drew Gress – The Sky Inside (Pirouet)

Craig Taborn – Chants (ECM)

Alexander Hawkins – Song Singular (Babel Label)

Ralph Alessi – Baida (ECM)

Satoko Fujii Trio – Spring Storm (Libra)

Francois Houle/Havard Wiik – Aves (Songlines)

Nate Wooley – (Sit In) The Throne of Friendship (Clean Feed)

I've got some explanation for each choice, and some honorable mentions, posted on my blog.

Edited December 11, 2013 by CraigP

[xybert]

I'm still waiting for the new Ben Allison and the new Taylor Ho Bynum but i won't be getting either until Christmas day. Here's my top ten, just based on what i've genuinely gotten the most enjoyment from, not what i necessarily think is technically 'the best' or what will go down in history.

Gary Burton - Guided Tour

JD Allen - Grace

Trio 3 + Jason Moran - Refraction, Breaking Glass

Nicole Mitchell - Aquarius

Jonathan Finlayson - Moment and the Message

Mary Halvorson - Illusionary Sea

Eri Yamamoto - Firefly

Harris Eisenstadt - Golden State

Wayne Shorter - Without a Net

Peter Evans - Zebulon

For the sake of context, the other 2013 new releases i have purchased and spent time with are:

Antonio Sanchez - New Life

Chick Corea - the Vigil

The Claudia Quintet - September

The Convergence Quartet - Slow and Steady

Ethan Iverson - Costumes Are Mandatory

Harris Eisenstadt - The Destructive Element

John Hollenbeck - Songs I Like A Lot

John Zorn - Dreamachines

Made To Break - Provoke

Marty Ehrlich - A Trumpet in the Morning

Miles Davis - The Bootleg Series Vol 2

Nate Wooley - (Sit In) The Throne of Friendship

Rob Mazurek - Skull Sessions

SFJazz Collective - The Music of Chick Corea...

Steve Coleman - Functional Arrythmias

Most of these 'other' albums could easily be in my top ten. Another great year to my ears.

[xybert]

Here's my top 10 of the year, to hopefully get some conversation started:

Nate Wooley – (Sit In) The Throne of Friendship (Clean Feed)

Well, for the sake of conversation, I've struggled a bit with this Wooley album. I'm really only just now getting to the point where i'm really enjoying it. It's done my head in because everything is in it's right place but i've just struggled to warm to it. It's like i'm listening to autism or something. It's been a real slow grower for an album that i thought would be a no brainer hit for me.

[Clunky]

Here's my top 10 of the year, to hopefully get some conversation started:

Mary Halvorson Septet - Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12)

Convergence Quartet – Slow & Steady (No Business)

Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet & 7-tette – Navigation (The Complete Firehouse 12 Recordings) (Firehouse 12)

Drew Gress – The Sky Inside (Pirouet)

Craig Taborn – Chants (ECM)

Alexander Hawkins – Song Singular (Babel Label)

Ralph Alessi – Baida (ECM)

Satoko Fujii Trio – Spring Storm (Libra)

Francois Houle/Havard Wiik – Aves (Songlines)

Nate Wooley – (Sit In) The Throne of Friendship (Clean Feed)

I've got some explanation for each choice, and some honorable mentions, posted on my blog.

These all took interesting. Other than the Taylor Ho Bynum which I have on order , I've heard none of these. All artists have been on my radar to some extent in recent years so no doubt some will come my way in 2014.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I'm slow - I've only bought two albums that have come out this year, and I can unhesitatingly recommend them

Illinois Jacquet & Leo Parker - Toronto 1947 - Uptown

Fode Baro - La verite - Lusafrica

MG

[cayetano]

These are my 2013 favorites:

1. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Two Mississippi Moonchile (Constellation)
2. Mary Halvorson, Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12)
3. Fire! Orchestra, Exit! (Rune Grammofon)
4. John Tchicai, Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness Records)
5. Matthew Shipp, Piano Sutras (Thirsty Ear)
6. RED Trio, Rebento (NoBusiness Records)
7. Mike Reed's People Places & Things, Second Cities Volume 1 (482 Music)
8. Kris Davis, Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear)
9. Taylor Ho Bynum, Navigation (Firehouse 12)
10. Adam Lane, Absolute Horizon (NoBusiness Records)
11. Lotte Anker, Birthmark (Clean Feed)
12. Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House, Strong Place (Intakt)

http://oscuraeralanoche.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/mi-lista-de-favoritos-de-2013.html

And these are, in no particular order, my 2013 honorable mentions, not the main list but all strongly recommended:

- Josh Abrams, Unknown Known (Rogueart)
- Trio 3 + Jason Moran, Refraction-Breakin' Glass (Intakt)
- Angelica Sanchez / Wadada Leo Smith, Twine Forest (Clean Feed)
- Humanization 4tet, Live In Madison (Ayler)
- Black Host, Life in the Sugar Candle Mines (Northern Spy)
- Borah Bergman / Kidd Jordan, Vita Brevis (Some Real Music)
- Hera with Hamid Drake, Seven Lines (Multikulti)
- Evan Parker / Peter Evans, Rocket Science (More is More)
- Samuel Blaser / Benoit Delbecq / Gerry Hemingway, Fourth Landscape (Nuscope)
- Harris Eisenstadt, The Destructive Element (Clean Feed)
- Alexander Hawkins, Song Singular (Babel)
- Alexander Hawkins, Step Wide Step Deep (Babel)

Edited December 12, 2013 by cayetano

[kh1958]

Jazz:

Ben Allison, The Stars Look Very Different Today

Shelley Carroll/Marchel Ivery--I Heard That

Dezron Douglas, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live)

Billy Harper and Randy Weston, The Roots of the Blues (Sunnyside)

Mike Ladd and Vijay Iyer, The Veteran's Dreams Project (Pi)

Charles Lloyd and Jason Moran, Hagar's Song (ECM)

Rudresh Mahanthappa, Gamak (ACT)

Charnett Moffett, The Bridge (Motema)

Omaha Diner (Bobby Previte, Charlie Hunter, Skerik, Steven Bernstein)

Simona Premazzi, The Lucid Dreamer (Inner Circle)

David Schnitter, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live)

Tyler Mitchell, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live)

Wayne Shorter, Without a Net (Blue Note)

Lonnie Smith, In the Beginning (Pilgrimage)

Trio 3 and Jason Moran, Refraction-Breakin' Glass (Intact)

Diego Urcola, Mates (Sunnyside)

Barney Wilen, Moshi Too (Sonorama)

Blues:

Buddy Guy, Rhythm and Blues (Silvertone)

Magic Sam, Live at the Avant Garde (Delmark)

Edited December 12, 2013 by kh1958

[mjazzg]

In no particular order, except the Matana Roberts which has had the by far the greatest impact

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter 2, Mississippi Moonchile [Constellation]

Joe McPhee/Evan Parker - What if/They both could fly [Rune Gramofon]

Michel Edelin Quartet - Resurgence [Rogue Art]

Frank Rosaly - Cicada Music [Delmark]

The Necks - Open [Rer Megacorp]

Nicole Mitchell - Engraved in the wind [Rogue Art]

Joelle Leandre - Wols circus

Josh Abrams quartet - Unknown knowns [Rogue Art]

Tim Berne's Snakoil - Shadow man [ECM]

Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Electro-Acoustic Ensemble - the space between [Delmark]

edit: to add box set of the year Peter Brotzmann - Long story short

Edited December 11, 2013 by mjazzg

[BillF]

I only have one 2013 album, which is excellent:

[king ubu]

Got a rather long list this year ... lots of good stuff. Still waiting for some (the Jacquet/Parker and Pearson Uptowns, the Bud Powell Birdland 1957, the Kidd Jordan from NoBusiness) and some have just arrived (Parker/Guy/Lytton and Melodic Art-tet on NoBusiness, the Nicole Mitchell on Delmark). Will try and post a list by the very end of the year.

[CraigP]

Cayetano posted this one on his or her list:

8. Kris Davis, Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear)

This one got completely by me; in fact, I've never seen a reference to it before now. Can't wait to hear it, as she's one of my current favs. Still mystified as to how I missed it; I don't remember seeing it through any of the mail order places such as DMG, Squidco or JazzLoft.

[cayetano]

Cayetano posted this one on his or her list:

8. Kris Davis, Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear)

This one got completely by me; in fact, I've never seen a reference to it before now. Can't wait to hear it, as she's one of my current favs. Still mystified as to how I missed it; I don't remember seeing it through any of the mail order places such as DMG, Squidco or JazzLoft.

Also a fav for me. Second solo piano in her discography, a great step forward imho.

By the way, I like your list and your blog (it's linked in mine).

Edited December 11, 2013 by cayetano

[CraigP]

Cayetano posted this one on his or her list:

8. Kris Davis, Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear)

This one got completely by me; in fact, I've never seen a reference to it before now. Can't wait to hear it, as she's one of my current favs. Still mystified as to how I missed it; I don't remember seeing it through any of the mail order places such as DMG, Squidco or JazzLoft.

Also a fav for me. Second solo piano in her discography, a great step forward imho.

By the way, I like your list and your blog (it's linked in mine).

Thanks, and I returned the favor on my blog!

[ATR]

Although I see a lot of music there I haven't heard that could be excellent, I'm discounting any list that doesn't include Barry Guy New Orchestra Small Formations, 'Mad Dogs' on not two. It's a five disc set, maybe people just haven't heard it. Extraordinary release. Also the duets of Roscoe Mitchell with Tyshawn Sorey and special guest Hugh Ragin on Wide Hive are ear opening.

Edited December 11, 2013 by ATR

[king ubu]

I've been eyeing that ... checking options, ebay (from multikulti) makes most sense. Thought it was OOP already!

Anyway, I'm not much of a fan of such absolutist statements, with all due respect. The same could be said about any list that doesn't include the Brötzmann/Wels 5CD set released early in the year on Trost. Would be just as true - and just as silly.

[CraigP]

Yes, I would have loved to pick up Mad Dogs, but everyone has their limits with respect to budget, unfortunately. That goes for many other releases as well.

[cayetano]

Or the William Parker Wood Flute Song on Aum. I got the three (Parker, Brotzmann, Guy) and the Mad Dogs it's not even my favorite box, I like a lot some things but I think the whole box is not so great.

Edited December 11, 2013 by cayetano

[Chuck Nessa]

I must have about 50 (as yet unplayed) cds here. I might catch up with the 2013 issues in a few months.

[Steve Reynolds]

Don't know what isn't great on Mad Dogs

Both that and Wood Flute Songs start my 2013 best of

[cayetano]

I'm a great fan of Barry Guy New Orchestra, but the box is not so great imho because is that band only in a few pieces, Parker/Guy/Lytton and other formations are outstanding, but I missed the whole formation, only my point of view.

[Chuck Nessa]

Although I see a lot of music there I haven't heard that could be excellent, I'm discounting any list that doesn't include Barry Guy New Orchestra Small Formations, 'Mad Dogs' on not two. It's a five disc set, maybe people just haven't heard it. Extraordinary release. Also the duets of Roscoe Mitchell with Tyshawn Sorey and special guest Hugh Ragin on Wide Hive are ear opening.

Thanks. I have not mentioned the Roscoe release 'cause it would seem self serving. It is a fine recording.

[Shawn]

Not jazz, but for what it's worth...

Top 10:

1. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)

2. Purson - The Circle and the Blue Door

3. Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle

4. Haken - The Mountain

5. Riverside - Shrine Of New Generation Slaves

6. Black Sabbath - 13

7. Deep Purple - Now What?!

8. Sound Of Contact - Dimensionaut

9. Big Big Train - English Electric: Part Two

10. Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Archival releases:

King Crimson - The Road To Red

Jethro Tull - Benefit (Steven Wilson remix)

Flash - In Public (unreleased live recording from 1973)

Rush - Vapor Trails Remixed

Yes - Close To The Edge (Steven Wilson remix)

[John Litweiler]

Occupy The World by Wadada Leo Smith was at the top of my list.

Invariably a few days after I've had to compile 10-best-of-the-year lists, I remember some of the best CDs had slipped my mind.

[jeffcrom]

I don't buy as many new releases as a lot of folks here. I agree with several listed above; there many others I haven't heard. But here are a few that haven't been mentioned yet that would be on my list:

Steve Lacy/Joe McPhee - The Rest (Roaratorio)

Wooden Joe Nicholas - Rare and Unissued Masters 1945-1949 (American Music)

Thelonious Monk - Paris 1969 (Blue Note) - warts and all.

These are all first releases (more or less) of music recorded some time back. I have actually bought some newly-recorded albums this year, but they've all been mentioned, except for:

Panorama Jazz Band - Dance of the Hot Earth (PJB). I'm not sure this would actually make my top ten, but it's pretty close.

[GA Russell]

(in order)

Carla Bley - Trios

Art Pepper - Live at the Winery

Marquis Hill - The Poet

Tommy Flanagan and Jaki Byard - The Magic of 2

Michael Pedicin - Why Stop Now Ubuntu

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet - LifeTimes

Matt White - The Super Villain Jazz Band

Imer Santiago - Hidden Journey

Russ Nolan - Tell Me

Matthias Bublath - Oceans

also

Joel Behrman - Steppin Back

The Ian Carey Quintet + 1 - Roads & Codes

The Caroline Davis Quartet - Live Work & Play

Anthony Branker & Word Play - Uppity

Pharez Whitted - For the People

Edited December 12, 2013 by GA Russell