Happy new year and best wishes to everyone for a brilliant 2019! Before I break the slumber and write some new reviews, I’d like to look back at the best of 2018…
The 2018 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll is out, and Francis Davis let me contribute again this year.
The overview results are here
Davis’ commentary is here
and my contribution is here
My best of 2018 are as follows…
NEW RELEASES
Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret, The Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12)
Cécile McLorin Salvant, The Window (Mack Avenue)
Mary Halvorson, Code Girl (Firehouse 12)
Poline Renou, Matthieu Donarier, and Sylvain Lemêtre, Adieu Mes Très Belles (Yolk)
Tyshawn Sorey, Pillars (Firehouse 12)
Michael Formanek & Elusion Quartet, Time Like This (Intakt)
Sungjae Son, Near East Quartet (ECM)
Dan Weiss, Starebaby (Pi)
Nick Millevoi’s Desertion Trio with Jamie Saft, Midtown Tilt (Shhpuma)
Snowpoet, Thought You Knew (Edition)
REISSUES
John Coltrane, 1963: New Directions (Impulse!)
Alice Coltrane, Carnegie Hall ’71 (Hi Hat)
Keith Jarrett, La Fenice (ECM)
VOCAL
Cécile McLorin Salvant, The Window (Mack Avenue)
DEBUT
WildSonicBlooms, Where We Overlap (Rattle)
LATIN
David Virelles, Igbó Alákorin (The Singer’s Grove) Vol. I and II (Pi) *
* somehow, my vote for David Virelles’ excellent Igbó Alákorin (The Singer’s Grove) Vol. I and II didn’t make it onto the list.