The 2016 “Best of the Best” List:
A Definitive Guide to Some of the Best New Releases in Jazz for 2016
Alphabetical order: Artist(s) / Title / Label
Melissa Aldana / Back Home / Wommusic
Nik Bartsch’s Mobile / Continuum /ECM
John Beasley / Presents Monk’estra ” Mack Avenue
Michel Camilo and Tomatito / Spain Forever / Verve
Nels Cline / Lovers / Blue Note
Andrew Cyrille Quartet / The Declaration of Musical Independence / ECM
Thornetta Davis / Honest Woman / Self-Release
Orrin Evans / #Knowingishalfthebattle / Smoke Sessions
Chico Freeman 4-Tet / Spoken Into Existence / Jive
Kenny Garrett / Do Your Dance / Mack Avenue
Macy Gray / Stripped / Chesky
Charlie Haden – Liberation Music Orchestra / Time Life (Song for Whales and Other Beings / Impulse
Tigran Hamasyan / Atmospheres / ECM
Mette Henriette / Self-Titled / ECM
Wadada Leo Smith and Vijay Iyer/ A Cosmic Rhythm with Each Stroke/ ECM
Charles Lloyd and the Marvels / I Long to See You /Blue Note
Manu Katche / Unstatic / Ante Prima
Julian Lage / Arclight / Mack Avenue
Bill Laurance / Aftersun / Universal
Pat Metheny / The Unity Sessions / Nonesuch
Harold Lopez-Nussa / El Viaje / Mack Avenue
Greg Porter / Take Me to the Alley / Blue Note
Logan Richardson / Shift / Blue Note
Planet D Nonet / A Salute to Strayhorn / Detroit Music Factory
Herlin Riley / New Direction /Mack Avenue
Ricky Rodriguez Group/ Looking Beyond / Destiny
Alfredo Rodriguez / Tocororo / Mack Avenue
Dr. Lonnie Smith / Evolution / Blue Note
Snarky Puppy / Family Dinner, Volume Two / Universal
Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life / Nihil Novi / Blue Note
Throttle Elevator Music featuring Kamasi Washington / IV / Wide Hive Records
Allen Toussaint / American Tunes / Nonesuch
Anthony Wilson / Frogtown / Goat Hill
Warren Wolf / Convergence / Mack Avenue
The Jazz playlist reflects Judy Adams’ personal recommendations and does not represent those of the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe or Mack Avenue Records.
Detroit Public Radio mainstay, Judy Adams, is a trained pianist, composer and musicologist who hosts a Jazz and contemporary music show on CJAM 99.1FM and guest hosts on WRCJ 90.9FM.
