The best of the rest
- Nels Cline - New Monastery: Part of the fun of guitarist Cline's work is getting to answer the question "What next?!" This time around it's almost straight-ahead jazz in the form of a tribute-of-sorts to one of his heroes, Andrew Hill. While Cline takes Hill's compositions as starting points, that's all they are - Cline lets his muse and his band take things in wild new directions from there. It's safe to say that I'm going to be chewing on this one for some time.
- Kenny Garrett - Beyond The Wall: While it doesn't reach the heights that Standard of Language reached, Beyond The Wall comes pretty damned close. Holding it back are some unfortunate uses of vocals that, frankly, completely grate on this listener's nerves such as in "Qing Wen," where the title phrase is repeated so often that it's nearly impossible to ignore and enjoy Garrett's impressive sax playing. Were it not for a few tracks like that, this would have been a near-perfect album.
- Brad Mehldau - House On Hill: I'm a Mehldau fan, and as such, this wound up getting plenty of play and wound up a favorite of the year. Despite that, something's missing, something vital, and seeds of that were sown in this trio's previous outing, Anything Goes, which also lacked a certain something. Both albums were recorded in the same sessions and as such, these are, in a way, "outtakes," if that name can apply in a case like this. Following these sessions, drummer Jorge Rossy left the band to be replaced by Jeff Ballard, who recorded with continuing bassist Larry Grenadier and pianist Mehldau to produce last year's fantastic Day Is Done. So what is missing? Fire, burning amibition, I don't know... it's just not quite as vital feeling. Maybe it's just that much of the material feels so similar. I'm painting a much worse picture of it than I should - this is, after all, being listed among my very favorite albums of the year. That's the thing - it still is. All of the elements of a typical Mehldau album are there - his chunky, complicated chording, the fantastic drumming, thoughtful bass lines making their own melodies... but as an entire piece, the album just lacks that great oomph that makes me go damn when it's finished that so much of his other material has.
Article comments
1 - Triniman
Interesting list.
Any thoughts about last year's Dave Holland and Ray Russell discs?
2 - Pico
I had high hopes for the Kenny Garrett, too, but they were dashed a tad by overusing the wordless vocals. Good call.
I like the David S. Ware too, as well as Sound Grammar (you were right, Saleski).
Speaking of Marsalis, Delfeayo had a 2006 release called Minions Dominion that you should check out sometime. Very solid post-bop with an all-star crew.
Good list, Tom.
3 - El Bicho
I'll add Joey DeFrancesco: Organic Vibes.
Great call on Braggtown. My knowledge of current is limited, but is there anyone else as consistent as BMQ? I enjoyed Eternal a lot and their live DVD of A Love Supreme