[JPL] 2008 Releases of Note - One Man's Jazz CKUW Winnipeg

[Maurice Hogue]

Favourites of 2008   One Man’s Jazz    CKUW Winnipeg

Bruno Råberg: Lifelines (Orbis OMO508)
(Råberg, bass; Ben Monder, guitar; Chris Cheek, saxophones; Ted Poor or
Matt Wilson, drums)    www.brunoraberg.com
**  exceptional compositions, superb performances

Drew Gress: The Irrational Numbers (Premonition 90775/Koch)
(Gress, bass; Tim Berne, saxophone; Craig Taborn, piano; Ralph Aless, trumpet;
Tom Rainey, drums)   www.drewgress.com
**  trips along the edge, never loses its balance, powerful concepts

Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet: Ancestors (Playscape PSR011508)
(Pavone, bass; Jimmy Greene and Tony Malaby, saxophones; Peter Madsen, 
piano;  Gérald Cleaver, drums)   www.mariopavone.com
**  Pavone the essential QB, perfect teamwork, killer solos

Rudresh Mahanthappa: Kinsmen (Pi 128)
(Mahanthappa & Kadri Gopalnath, alto sax; Rez Abassi, guitar; Carlo de 
Rosa, bass;  Royal Hartigan, drums; A. Kanyakumari, violin; Poovalur Sriji, 
mridangam) www.rudreshm.com
** Indo-jazz fusion at its best, great alto playing, Mahanthappa breaking 
new ground

Andrew Robson Trio: Radiola (Lamplight LLR00208) - Australia
(Robson, alto sax; Steve Elphick, bass; Hamish Stuart, drums) 
www.andrewrobson.com
**  captures you from the first notes, alto/bass/drums absolutely simpatico

Satoko Fujii ma-do: Heat Wave (Libra 204-021) - Japan
(Fujii, piano; Natuski Tamura, trumpet; Norikatsu Koreyasu, bass;  Akira 
Horikoshi, drums)  http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~Libra/
**  intensity and beauty and originality, so much to Fujii’s music

Bobo Stenson Trio: Cantando (ECM2023) - Sweden
(Stenson, piano; Anders Jormin, bass; Jon Fält, drums) 
www.myspace.com/bobostenson
** a beautiful recording, kisses your ears

John Escreet: Consequences (Positone PR8042)  - England/US
(Escreet, keyboards; David Binney - alto sax; Ambrose Akinmusire - trumpet; 
Matt
Brewer, bass; Tyshawn Sorey - drums) www.johnescreet.com
** remarkable no-holds barred debut, the new gunslingers on the scene

Michael Bates & Outside Sources: Clockwise (Greenleaf GRE1009) - Canada/US
(Bates, bass; Quinsin Nachoff, tenor & clarinets; Russ Johnson, trumpet; 
Jeff Davis, drums)
www.outsidesources.org
** passion, originality, and more bass-driven pulse

E.S.T.: Leucocyte (Emarcy 1780374) - Sweden
(Esbjörn Svensson, piano; Dan Berglund, bass; Magnus Östrom, drums)
www.est-music.com
** an unintended tribute that pushes an already stretched envelope


Canadian artists’ releases of note:
Michael Bates & Outside Sources  – see above
Erik Hove: Soundclash (Effendi FND084)   www.myspace.com/erikhove
Kris Davis: Rye Eclipse (Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT310) www.krisdavis.com
The Peggy Lee Band: New Code (Drip Audio DA00318)
Lina Allemano Four: Gridjam (Lumo2008-3) www.linallemano.com


Others on my "favourites" shelf:
Charles Lloyd Quartet: Rabo De Nube (ECM 2053)
George Schuller: Like Before, Somewhat After (Playscape 60607)
Bill Frisell: History, Mystery (Nonesuch 435964)
Vijay Iyer: Tragicomic (Sunnyside 1186)
Jamie Baum: Solace (Sunnyside 1193)
Ambrose Akinmusire: Prelude (Fresh Sound New Talent 312)
Dave Douglas: Moonshine (Greenleaf)
Kurt Rosenwinkel: The Remedy (ArtistShare)
Rich Brown’s Rinse The Algorithm: Locutions (ind.) - Canada
Cuong Vu: Vu-Tet (ArtistShare)
Rob Brown: Crown Trunk Root Funk (Aum Fidelity 45)
Donny McCaslin:  Recommended Tools (Greenleaf)

Maurice Hogue
One Man's Jazz
CKUW 95.9 Winnipeg