Every year, for the past five years (more or less), I’ve compiled a list of my best albums of the year, viewed from the context of my jazz show on George FM. I like a lot of CDs that I would never play on that show, hence there are several that get left off the list. This is an ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’ list rather than a ‘Dubber’ list.
The personal list is just way too hard.
Trouble is… so is the reduced ‘Jazz-Show-Only’ list this time around. Last year, I have to confess, I struggled to find 20 albums I would happily put into a ‘best of’ list. This year, I have the opposite problem. Still, there are far worse problems to have than owning too many really enjoyable CDs.
Here’s my shortlist:
Van Morrison – What’s Wrong With This Picture (Blue Note)
Twinset – Mystical Soul (LOOP)
Rickie Lee Jones – The Evening of My Best Day (V2)
Mitchell & Dewbury – Rapping With The Gods (Mumo)
Steve Turre – One 4 J (Telarc)
Rima – This World (JCR)
Elvis Costello – North (Deutsche Grammophon)
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Melodius Beats Vol. 1 (Antipodean)
Al Green – I Can’t Stop (Blue Note)
The Crusaders – Rural Renewal (Verve)
Me’shell Ndegeocello – Comfort Woman (Maverick)
DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid – Optometry (Thirsty Ear)
Jazzanova – Remixed (JCR)
Ibrahim Ferrer – Buenos Hermanos (World Circuit)
Truby Trio – Elevator Music (Compost)
Ray Brown – Walk On (Telarc)
Roy Ayers – Virgin Ubiquity (BBE Music)
John Schofield Band – Up All Night (Verve)
The Cinematic Orchestra – Man With A Movie Camera soundtrack (Ninja Tune)
Gerardo Frisina – Hi Note (Schema)
Michel Camilo – Live at the Blue Note (Telarc)
One Million Dollars – Energy State (Sugarlicks)
McCoy Tyner – Land of Giants (Telarc)
Wayne Shorter – Alegria (Verve)
Oumou Sangare – Oumou (World Circuit)
Rosa Passos and Ron Carter – Entre Amigos (Chesky)
Jim Ridl – Door in a Field (Dreambox Media)
Hiromi – Another Mind (Telarc)
RH Factor – Hard Groove (Verve)
Matthew Shipp – Equilibrium (Thirsty Ear)
Nathan Haines – Squire For Hire (FMR)
Jennine Bailey – You Go To My Head (Songbird)
Papo Vazquez – Pirates Troubadours (CuBop)
Ugly Duckling – Taste The Secret (Earshot)
Bob Belden – Black Dahlia (Blue Note)
I already know what my top 5 out of that lot are (you’ll find out if you listen to the show), and there are already a couple I’ve decided to drop from the list. But otherwise, I’m pretty well stumped.
There are, naturally, CDs that should be on the list but aren’t. That has to do with not being able to put things on the list that I haven’t heard… and if I haven’t been sent it, I haven’t heard it. There were a few CDs I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this year that never turned up. I would have liked to be able to talk with some authority about the Erykah Badu album, but I only heard snippets.
I almost went out and bought a copy, but when you get between 6 and 20 CDs sent to you each week (90% of which, I have to say, are unmitigated crap), it’s hard to justify going out and buying them retail. I treat myself to a slab of vinyl at Cian’s store (Conch Records in the Canterbury Arcade on High St) every once in a while, but otherwise – I don’t spend a great deal on music.
Decisions, decisions…
Oh – incidentally, the interview Jubt did with Roy Ayers was just perfect. He’s a clever lad…
