Alphabetical order: Artist(s) / Title / Label
The Bad Plus / Inevitable Western / Okeh
This is the 10th studio recording from this piano, bass, drum trio that defies categorization. The music blends many styles but still comes up Jazz in the end.
Kenny Barron and Dave Holland / Conversations / Impulse
The intimacy of the piano/bass duet is augmented by the immense talents of these two Jazz masters. Their confident, relaxed approach creates a satisfying experience with a mix of originals, and classics by Monk, Bird and Strayhorn.
Kris Bowers /Heroes and Misfits / Concord
Kris Bowers is a young Classical and Jazz trained pianist who explores various styles, emotions, textures, instrumentation, and much more on his debut release, which is one of the most exciting Jazz albums of the year.
Nels Cline and Julian Lage / Room / Mack Avenue
Guitar specialists, Nels Cline, of Wilco fame and music prodigy, Julian Lage, who plays with Gary Burton’s band, among others, are getting their share of accolades these days. On Room, they juxtapose genres and various aesthetics with harmonic tension, melodic beauty and superb playing.
Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden / Last Dance / ECM
These musical friends recorded together many times over the years but this was their last “dance” as we lost Mr. Haden in 2014. The music shows how intuitively they complemented each other – creating a perfect artistic relationship in sound.
Pat Metheny Unity Group / Kin / Nonesuch
The 2014 Unity Group is a supersized version of the original 2012 group.The familiar “Metheny group” sound is intact while creating a more expansive “orchestral” feel. The new line up features multi-isntrumentalist Giulio Carmassi and saxophonist Chris Potter.
Thievery Corporation / Saudade / ESL
Washington D.C.’s influential music collective led by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton presents an album dedicated to the classic Bossa Nova style and the Saudade, which are songs of longing. The result is a soothing down-tempo mood from a long list of guest artists.
Throttle Elevator Music / Area J / Wide Hive
San Francisco’s Wide Hive label’s house band is out with their second “Throttle” project fusing Funk, Punk, Soul and Jazz into a powerful, driving sound that’s part ultramodern and part retro.
The David Ullmann 8 / Corduroy / Little Sky Records
This is New York based guitarist, David Ullmann’s third album, featuring an octet performing contemporary Jazz at its finest.
Marcin Wasilewski Trio w/ Joakim Milder / Spark of Life / ECM
The European trio led by Polish pianist, Wasilewski, plays fluid, meditative Jazz with clear melodic ideas over lush chords – combining their own compositions with music by The Police, Herbie Hancock and others.
Pianist Marcin Wasilewski
© Gildas Boclé – ECM Records
Photo: Amazon.com
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.
*The Jazz playlist reflects Judy Adams’ personal recommendations and does not represent those of the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe or Mack Avenue Records.
