Top 10 of 2013

Here are 10 albums I enjoyed in 2013:

1. Chris Potter - The Sirens (ECM)
One of my favorite living saxophonists assembled a new quintet to interpret an album's worth of original compositions inspired by Homer's ancient Greek poem "The Odyssey." The group - featuring Craig Taborn on piano, David Virelles on prepared piano, celeste, & harmonium, Larry Grenadier on bass, Eric Harland on drums and Potter on tenor & soprano saxophones and bass clarinet - marks a return to an acoustic sound after several recordings by his electric group, Underground.

2. Bob Reynolds - Somewhere in Between
Heartfelt original compositions plus arrangements of songs by Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Bon Iver perormed by an top-notch ensemble that includes pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Janek Gwizdala, drummer Eric Harland and Reynold's occasional employer - pop superstar/guitarist John Mayer.

3. Kendrick Scott Oracle - Conviction (Concord)
I had the pleasure of hearing much of this music live on two occassions. Once, several years ago, at the Jazz Standard in New York City and more recently, at the SFJazz Center in San Francisco. On both occassions, and on the record, Scott and his band - John Ellis (reeds), Mike Moreno (guitar), Taylor Eigsti (piano), Joe Sanders (bass) - create an intangilble vibe that translates into some of the most memorable music I've heard in recent years.

4. Terence Blanchard - Magnetic (Blue Note)
Another album of music that I enjoyed initially - and even more so after hearing it performed live. Blanchard continues to produce captivating modern jazz with a group made up of musicians of a younger generation.

5. Matt Ullery's Loom - Wake An Echo (Greenleaf)
Thanks to Dave Douglas and his Greenleaf record label, this Chicago-based bassist/composer's music has found its way to audiences outside of the windy city. The quintet performs inspiring, cinematic soundscapes with a unique front line featuring trumpet and - bass clarinet!

 6. Jon Cowherd - Mercy (Artistshare)
 7. Ben Allison - The Stars Look Very Different Today (Sonic Camera)
 8. Gary Burton New Quartet - Guided Tour (Concord)
 9. Chick Corea - The Vigil (Concord)
10. Bob James & David Sanborn - Quartette Humaine (Okeh)

What music did you enjoy in 2013?

A Tribute to Michael Brecker 6

This past Saturday I went on Bill McCann's "Saturday Morning Edition of Jazz" on WCDB 90.9 FM to once again pay tribute to Michael Brecker. The four hour program marked the sixth year of annual tributes to the late saxophonist.

This year's program featured music from Brecker's nine recordings as a leader as well as his work with the Brecker Brothers, Steps Ahead, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, and Mike Mainieri.

Here's what we played:

“Midnight Mood” (6:22)
Michael Brecker – Nearness of You – The Ballad Book (2001)
Track #4
Composed by Joe Zawinul
Pat Metheny (guitar), Herbie Hancock (piano), Chalie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“Six Persimmons” (6:10)
Steps – Step By Step (1980)
Track #5
Composed by Don Grolnick
Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (piano), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Gadd (drums)

“Naked Soul” (8:43)
Michael Brecker – Tales From The Hudson (1996)
Track #7
Composed by Michael Brecker
Pat Metheny (guitar), Joey Calderazzo (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“I’m Sorry” (8:38)
Blue Montreux – Blue Montreux (1979)
Track #3
Composed by Mike Mainieri
Mike Mainieri (vibes), Warren Bernhardt (keyboards), Steve Khan (guitar), Tony Levin (bass), Steve Jordan (drums)

“Seven Days” (5:32)
Michael Brecker – Nearness of You – The Ballad Book (2001)
Track #10
Composed by Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny (guitar), Herbie Hancock (piano), Chalie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“Sarah’s Touch” (7:31)
Mike Mainieri – Wanderlust (1981)
Track #7
Composed by Mike Mainieri
Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (keyboards), Steve Khan (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)

“Evocations” (5:16)
Brecker Brothers – Out of the Loop (1994)
Track #2
Composed by Michael Brecker & Chris Botti
Randy Brecker (trumpet), George Whitty (piano), Dean Brown (guitar), Larry Saltzman (guitar), Shawn Pelton (drums), Steve Thornton (percussion), Chris Botti & Andy Snitzer (drum, bass & keyboard programming)

“Self Portrait” (7:30)
Steps Ahead - Live In Tokyo 1986
Track #3
Compsed by Mike Mainieri
Mike Maineri (vibes), Mike Stern (guitar), Daryl Jones (bass), Steve Smith (drums)

“Five Months from Midnight” (7:40)
Michael Brecker – Pilgrimage (2007)
Track #2
Composed by Michael Brecker
Pat Metheny (guitar), Brad Mehldau (piano), John Patitucci (bass), Jack DeJohnete (drums)

“Sound Off” (6:05)
Michael Brecker – Time is of the Essence (1999)
Track #2
Composed by Larry Goldings
Pat Metheny (guitar), Larry Goldings (organ), Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums)

“Hawkin’” (6:17)
Horace Silver – The Hardbop Grandpop (1996)
Track #4
Composed by Horace Silver
Claudio Roditi (trumpet), Steve Turre (trombone), Ronnie Cuber (bari sax), Horace Silver (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

“Modus Operandy” (5:27)
Michael Brecker Quindectet – Wide Angles (2003)
Track #9
Composed by Michael Brecker
Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Peter Gordon (french horn), Steve Wilson (flute), Iain Dixon (clarinet & bass clarinet), Charles Pillow (oboe & English horn), Mark Feldman (violin), Joyce Hammann  (violin), Lois Martin (viola), Erik Friedlander (cello), Adam Rogers (guitar),
John Patitucci (bass), Antonio Sanchez (drums), Daniel Sadownick (percussion)

“Quartet No. 2 – Part 2 – Dedicated to John Coltrane” (11:48)
Chick Corea – Three Quartets (1981)
Track #4
Composed by Chick Corea
Chick Corea (piano), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Gadd (drums)

“The Impaler” (7:13)
Michael Brecker – Two Blocks from the Edge (1998)
Track #6
Composed by Jeff “Tain” Watts
Joey Calerazzo (piano), James Genus (bass), Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums), Don Alias (percussion)

“Bullet Train” (4:50)
Mike Mainieri – Wanderlust (1981)
Track #1
Composed by Mike Mainieri
Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (keyboards), Steve Khan (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Manolo Badrena, Sammy Figueroa, Roger Squitero (percussion)

“Liberated Brother” (5:20)
Horace Silver – In Pursuit of the 27th Man (1973)
Track #1
Composed by Weldon Irvine
Randy Brecker (trumpet), Horace Silver (piano), Bob Cranshaw (electric bass), Mickey Roker (drums)

“Sea Glass” (5:49)
Michael Brecker – Michael Brecker (1987)
Track #1
Composed by Michael Brecker
Pat Metheny (guitar), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Charlie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“The Mean Time” (6:57)
Michael Brecker – Pilgrimage (2007)
Track #1
Composed by Michael Brecker
Pat Metheny (guitar), Herbie Hancock (piano), John Patitucci (bass), Jack DeJohnete (drums)

“I Got the Blues In Santa Cruz” (8:05)
Horace Silver – The Hardbop Grandpop (1996)
Track #5
Composed by Horace Silver
Claudio Roditi (trumpet), Steve Turre (trombone), Ronnie Cuber (bari sax), Horace Silver (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

“Funky Sea, Funky Dew” (6:13)
Brecker Brothers – Don’t Stop the Music (1977)
Track #2
Composed by Michael Brecker
Randy Brecker (trumpet), Steve Khan (guitar), Don Grolnick, Doug Riley (keys), Will Lee (bass), Lenny White (drums), Ralph McDonald, Sammy Figueroa (percussion)

“Uptown Ed” (6:36)
Blue Montreux – Blue Montreux (1979)
Track #6
Composed by Michael Brecker
Mike Mainieri (vibes), Warren Bernhardt (keyboards), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Jordan (drums)

“Threesome” (6:28)
Brecker Brothers - Straphangin’ (1981)
Track:  #2
Composer:  Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker (trumpet), Barry Finnerty (guitar), Mark Gray (keys), Marcus Miller (bass), Richie Morales (drums)

“Cabin Fever” (6:59)
Michael Brecker – Tales From The Hudson (1996)
Track #9
Composed by Michael Brecker
Pat Metheny (guitar), Joey Calderazzo (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“The Lady From Johannesburg” (6:05)
Horace Silver – The Hardbop Grandpop (1996)
Track #8
Composed by Horace Silver
Claudio Roditi (trumpet), Steve Turre (trombone), Ronnie Cuber (bari sax), Horace Silver (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Lewis Nash (drums)

“Mr. JJ” (9:51)
Jeff “Tain” Watts – Bar Talk (2002)
Track #4
Composed by Jeff “Tain” Watts
Branford Marsalis (tenor sax), Joey Calderazzo (piano), Eric Revis (bass), Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums)