My 10 top CDs of 2009 blow past conventions to enrich jazz, blues, new and unusual music. They’re chosen from almost 1000 I received for review — an abundance of fine releases since November 2008, the full year following Barack Obama’s election to president.
Henry Threadgill Zooid, This Brings Us To, Vol. 1 (Pi) — At age 65, Threadgill’s alto sax, bass flute and compositions are ever-more tart, urgent and exotic.In his first album in eight years, pitch intervals are cast as units sort of like single notes in serialism — but you needn’t know that to be swept up by the dense, swift and wondrously shape-shifting soundscape he casts with guitarist Liberty Ellman, tubaist Jose Davila, fretless acoustic bass guitarist Stomu Takehishi and drummer Elliott Kavee.
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Suddenly feeling very self-conscious about my very conventional choice, but Ramsey Lewis’ Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey was the most wonderful album I heard this year. I’ve tried every which way to describe it here; suffice to say that I never appreciated Ramsey’s gift for lyrical, tender composition or his chops for purebred jazz (though ever mindful of contemporary ideas). My heart is buoyed just thinking about it.
Thanks for the tip on the Digital Primitives. I wasn’t hip to this trio.
Glad you came around on Zooid. I had the same thought about it: swingin’ funky serialism…
Here’s a few that may have just missed the deadline:
David Murray, The Devil Tried to Kill Me
Darius Jones Trio: Man’ish Boy
Han Bennink: Parken
invenio ergo/sum (Eddie Prevost, Ross Lambert, Seymour Wright)
Evan Parker, House Full of Floors
All of these show a new degree of soul shining through artists often accused of harsh academicism. And Darius Jones, who I first saw play with William Hooker, is a new master (Cooper-Moore features on the album). Doesn’t sound like anybody but clearly has digested Coltrane & E. Parker.
Great list, very balanced and well rounded. I try not to take these things personally but it’s great to see the Threadgill and the Lehman albums in particular getting some end of year love. Now if only Liberty Ellman would follow up Ophiuchus Butterfly…
Really nice blog and list of CDs. I used to lead a New York based band called the NY HardBop Quintet. My latest trio CD is out coming out shortly on the TCB label.
Greetings Howard. Thank you for your appreciation of our Mansa America cd. It is an honor for us to be selected to stand among such illustrious company. Best wishes from Fula Flute.
Further abroad: Fula Flute, Mansa America (Completely Nuts), West African Bailo Bah and French Canadian Sylvain Leroux twine tambin flutes with balafon, kora, berimbau, hand drums; steady acoustic modal groove and lots of internal activity, too.
Thanks on the Digital Primitives. I Hope..
Greetings Howard. Thank you for your appreciation of our Mansa America cd. It is an honor for us to be selected to stand among such illustrious company. Best wishes from Fula Flute.