No smartass introduction this time: I’m saving all my smartass for 2024, when I think we’ll need all the smartass we can get. With that in mind, let’s hand out some bowling trophies:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
YELLOWJACKETS – Parallel Motion (Mack Avenue)
More than a few veterans contributed wildly creative music this year: Charles Lloyd’s Trios series is both beautiful and haunting, while the Redman/Mehldau/McBride/Blade reunion date LongGone has made some of the “Best Of” lists that have crossed my path. But I’m going back to a band that was created in 1977, when Robben Ford recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante and some like-minded cats to form a fusion outfit that’s still making killer sounds 45 years later. Ford may have moved on, but Ferrante has teamed up with saxman Bob Mintzer, drummer Will Kennedy, and bassist Dane Alderson to keep Yellowjackets at the height of their sub-genre.
BEST VOCAL RELEASE:
SOMI – Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba (Salon Africana)
This was this year’s most difficult choice, thanks to an onslaught of terrific vocal dates by Cecile McLorin Salvant, Carmen Lundy, Jazzmeia Horn, and The Baylor Project. In the end, I went with a young woman I first saw at the 2006 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival. Somi has spent the last few years making sumptuous recordings inspired by the African diaspora that is in her DNA. This time out, she applies her voluminous talents to the catalog of South African vocalist/civil rights activist Zenzile Miriam Makeba. You don’t have to be familiar with Mama Africa’s music to be impressed by the stunning interpretations on Zenzile, but you may be inspired to check out some of Somi’s source material when you’re done.
BEST PARTY DISC:
STEVE GADD / EDDIE GOMEZ / RONNIE CUBER – Center Stage (Leopard)
Germany’s WDR Big Band is one of the most accomplished big units in the genre; it’s also a precision instrument, delivering melodies and charts far beyond human understanding. So imagine my surprise when I hear them going to town on Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes” and Bill Doggett’s “Honky Tonk.” That’s all part of the bodacious party drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Eddie Gomez, and baritone sax legend Ronnie Cuber brings to Center Stage. Cuber passed in October at the age of 81, but he was blowing full steam ahead all through this date. So for your next party, care enough to play the very best!
BEST SOLO OR DUO RELEASE
ORRIN EVANS / KEVIN EUBANKS – Eubanks Evans Experience (Imani Records)
There was a fair bit of competition for this award: Reed wizard Anat Cohen got back together with guitarist Marcello Goncalves for another date of silky Brazilian classics, and if you heard the “Women in Jazz2K 2022” show, you experienced the devilish chemistry between drummer Allison Miller and pianist Carmen Staaf on their Sunnyside release Nearness. But this one goes to two players who don’t have a lot of history in common: Pianist/Composer/Band Leader Orrin Evans and guitarist Kevin Eubanks. Both artists brought original compositions that stretch each other’s instrumental boundaries, and they work together brilliantly on the delightful improvisations “I Don’t Know” and “And They Ran Out Of Bisquits!” Sadly, this session feels like a one-off, so get this brilliant set while it’s still bubbling!
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (First release as a Leader)
JULIETA EUGENIO – Jump (Greenleaf Music)
The really cool thing about this year’s nominees is that they’re all women; the ones who didn’t get the trophy (violinist Susan Reed and sax player Maria Grand) also appeared on “Women in Jazz2K 2022.” Argentinian-born, NYC-based tenor player Julieta Eugenio signed with Greenleaf, so she gets the Dave Douglas Seal of Approval before she plays a note; then she cranks out a set of righteous originals along with bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Jonathan Barber. To whoever insisted there aren’t enough women jazz musicians to build festivals around, you’d better find out ASAP because Eugenio is one of a growing army of women jazzers who are demanding their share of the spotlight.
LOCAL HERO AWARD (Best Local/Regional Release)
MICHAEL BENEDICT JAZZ VIBES – 1-2-3 Go! (Planet Arts)
Past winners Bright Dog Red and Keith Pray both put out kickass releases that stepped outside their comfort zones – BDR by tightening the focus on their hip hop/jazz/electronics gumbo, and Pray stepping away from the alto sax and sitting down at an organ! But vibes master Michael Benedict nosed them out with a new iteration of Jazz Vibes that expands the rhythm section and adds a second foil in flautist Patricia Julien; the latter contributed original compositions “Captain Hook” and “Lovely Would Be Nice” to a glowing program that includes four (Count ‘em four!) Gary McFarland compositions and some riveting originals from keyboardist Dave Gleason. Greater Nippertown jazz just keeps getting better!
As usual, there was a massive stack of discs to consider for these awards and for the Top 10 Jazz2K Releases of 2022. And, also as usual, there can be only 16 for the final show in the Extravaganza. As such, we present (not in the order they appear) “The Rest of The Best”:
- BEN ALLISON – Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley (Sunnyside)
- BILLY DRUMMOND & FREEDOM OF IDEAS – Valse Sinistre (Cellar Music Group)
- BLUE MOODS – Myth & Wisdom (Positone)
- BRIGHT DOG RED – Under The Porch (Ropeadope)
- CARLOS HENRIQUEZ – The South Bronx Story (Tiger Turn)
- CHARLES LLOYD – Trios: Sacred Thread (Blue Note)
- CLUB D’ELF – You Never Know (Face Pelt Records)
- CONNIE HAN – Secrets of Innana (Mack Avenue)
- CONRAD HERWIG – The Latin Side of Mingus (Savant)
- JOEY ALEXANDER – Origin (Mack Avenue)
- JOHN YAO’S TRICERATOPS – Off-Kilter (See Tao Recordings)
- NICHOLAS PAYTON – The Couch Sessions (Smoke Sessions)
- REDMAN / MEHLDAU / McBRIDE / BLADE – LongGone (Nonesuch)
- REMY LE BOEUF’S ASSEMBLY OF SHADOWS – Architecture of Storms (Soundspore)
- STEVE TURRE – Generations (Smoke Sessions)
- TROY ROBERTS – Nu-Jive: Nations United (Toy Robot Music)
NEXT TIME: We count ‘em down! Be there. Aloha.
“The Jazz2K Holiday Extravaganza” (featuring “Women in Jazz2K 2022”, “The Rest of The Best”, “The Jazz2K Awards” and the Top 10 Jazz2K Releases of 2022) is happening all this month! Check it out Saturday night @ Midnight – replaying Monday night @ 10p – on WVCR 88.3 / Albany, NY, and in 2023 on www.mixcloud.com!
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