A Tale of God's Will (Requiem for Katrina), Terence Blanchard (Blue Note) - The New Orleans trumpeter revisits the tragedy of his hometown in a masterpiece not unlike one by Picasso - not because it's abstract, but because it examines every aspect of the fallout from Hurricane Katrina (anger, grief, sadness, despair, hope, frustration) at one time.
Sky Blue, Maria Schneider (ArtistShare) - The most praised disc of 2007 was evidence beyond the shadow of a doubt that Schneider is the single best arranger and large bandleader, and one of the two or three best composers, of our time. Indeed, her work in orchestrating classic sounds, new-fangled techniques and instruments, and even a little bit of smooth jazz and electronica may, as Francis Davis suggested, have cemented her place in the all-time jazz pantheon.
The Angola Project, Howard Wiley (self-released) - 2007 was also a year in which jazz engaged with various folk musics, but none more evocative than Wiley's re-envisioning of the <i>Angola Prison Spirituals</i> and <i>Work Songs</i> field recordings of the '50s and '60s. It was full of the fervor of gospel, blues, field hollers and work songs, and the overall misery of life in America's last plantation.
Block Ice and Propane, Erik Friedlander (SkipStone) - Likely you heard a bit of this one in the Apple commercials in the last few months of 2007. Friedlander plays the cello pizzicato style, so that it sounds like a thick-stringed guitar, as he recalls his childhood summers crisscrossing the country in a camper. Another piece of Americana like The Angola Project, but this one with a lonesome nostalgia that inspired less heartbreak and more wistful smiles.
Above and Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids, Billy Bang Quintet with Frank Lowe (Justin Time) - Lowe's (who died a few months after this album of lung cancer) last recording with the avant-garde violinist was a 2003 concert that seemed to sum up the duo's 25 years of work together - indeed, its release was Lowe's last request. He's down to one lung and blowing like hell anyway, and Bang is running the marathon with him and pulling out all the tricks. Their version here of "Nothing But Love" is one of the great tracks of the year.
Jazz Cycles, Manhattan New Music Project (MNMP) - Paul Nash flew under my radar for God knows how long. He died in 2005, but his final set of compositions, Jazz Cycle, carries him on well. The careful, deliberate melodic invention sticks with you even when you think it's buried in an avalanche of new music.
Michael J. West is a writer, editor, and dilettante jazz critic in Washington, D.C. In addition to BlogCritics, he writes for JazzTimes, Washington City Paper, and AllAboutJazz.com. He occasionally writes at Pop Musicology, too. He's very cute. His mother told him so. And he is not at all related to Adam West, Michael J. Fox, or any of the other similar-and-famous names that you might bring up because you're so original!
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
» On Eminem In Court May 30 by shelly jhon: jason keep up the good work and give good infarmaintocn
» On Music DVD Review: Dio - Holy Diver Live by Glyn (Zaphod) Evans: Yep! A super concert DVD to be sure. I especially liked Simon Wright's drums over Holst solo. Very c...
Michael J. West is a writer, editor, and dilettante jazz critic in Washington, D.C. In addition to BlogCritics, he writes for JazzTimes, Washington City Paper, and AllAboutJazz.com. He occasionally writes at Pop Musicology, too. He's very cute. His mother told him so. And he is not at all related to Adam West, Michael J. Fox, or any of the other similar-and-famous names that you might bring up because you're so original! 
![Maria Schneider - Sky Blue [Standard Edition] CD -(Wallet style packaging with one booklet)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5153YkJEhTL._SY90_.jpg "Maria Schneider - Sky Blue [Standard Edition] CD -(Wallet style packaging with one booklet)")
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this article
The Eubanks is probably my #2 jazz album, too. Very, very inventive and stands up well over many listens.
I had high hopes for Mistico and they were fulfilled...via Hunter's latest Groundtruther record with Previte and Medeski.
Both you and Saleski are trumpeting that Terresson, which is plenty enough impetus for me to try it out.
And I can't believe I missed out on an Abercrombie release.
Enjoyed the list and look forward to more of your reviews in 2008.