Dec 27 2012
Bird is the Worm Best of 2012: Albums 16-20
Today’s post reveals the 16th through the 20th Bird is the Worm albums of the year.
For each album considered for inclusion, I was looking for it to hit me right in my heart, provoke a strong emotional reaction. I was also looking for it to engage my brain, provide some intrigue or fascination with the music being presented. Extra points were awarded for doing Something Different or building on a premise that embraced the best qualities of creativity. Strong musicianship alone is not enough. Many solid albums didn’t make the list. It literally pains me when I see some of the albums that weren’t included. But I listen to a lot of music, and one of the rare downsides to encountering so much great Jazz is that some of it won’t receive the recognition it deserves. So there you have it.
There is a link to a more formal review following each entry. The text that accompanies each album isn’t a review so much as reminiscences of aspects of the recording I liked when I first heard it and how I still feel about it now. I wasn’t looking to sum any of them up… that’s what reviews are for. Most reviews are accompanied with embedded audio so you can hear some of the music, as well as personnel and label information, links to artist, label, and retail sites, and anything else that seemed relevant/helpful to me at the time.
Let’s begin…
*****
16. Todd Marcus – Inheritance
I’ve always had a thing for bass clarinet. A deep soulful sound that likes to spill messy notes that are fuzzy at the edges. Marcus shows that need not always be the case. Displaying the instruments ability to sound crisp and clear, Marcus swings through a set of modern tunes that are equally joyful and engaging. Slight influence of Middle East music just adds to the intrigue. Straight-ahead jazz, but nothing straight-forward about it. An album that keeps getting better to my ears with each subsequent listen.
Released on the Hipnotic Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
*****
17. Jacob Garchik – The Heavens
Garchik’s nine-part suite for trombone choir, with each part performed by himself solo, should alone be enough to earn him a slot somewhere on a Best Of list… but that, in the process, he created a supremely listenable album from the seed of a tricky premise just makes the feat all the more remarkable. Soulful, joyous, and celebratory. Modern jazz that will appeal to fans up and down the continuum.
The album is Self-Produced, released on Garchik’s own Yestereve Records.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
*****
18. Jessica Lurie – Megaphone Heart
This was the album I’d been waiting for from Lurie. Her mix of Seattle-infused rainy-day jazz and Balkan folk always appealed to me personally, and spoke of the innovation and originality so relevant to a discussion of Jazz’s best qualities. But as much as I enjoyed Shop of Wild Dreams and Licorice & Smoke, there was something slightly uneven about them. On Megaphone Heart, Lurie offers up an expanded tunefulness that elevates this recording to a higher plateau. And that she does this without losing her edge or compromising her voice just goes to show how substantive her music development is. It’s fun to listen in as a musician’s sound develops, and even better when the result is as special as this album is. Honestly, I’ll probably go back and re-tag my original review of this album to be included in the Something Different review series. This album and artist totally nail the inclusion criteria. The title-track still sends chills up my spine.
The album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
*****
19. Florian Hoefner Group – Songs Without Words
Of all the albums in my Top 30, this one here may be the recording most focused on jazz composition as songs. Aside from a free-form opening track, the other album tracks have some conventional forms for composition bookends and the melodies are all wheat-no chaff, and give just the right whiff of pop-music sensibility. Length of album tracks aren’t too short, nor too long. And it’s the thoughtful care Hoefner put into the creation of these melodies that makes this a signature album. Complex emotions are made deceptively simple, and a recording that gives plenty of opportunity to hum along is also one that will stimulate some serious thought.
Released on the Origin Arts label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
*****
20. Rebecca Trescher’s Hochzeit Null11 – Sud
I keep waiting for the spark to die on this album, but it just won’t quit. Led by Trescher’s woodwinds, this plays Music To Prowl To. Ominous, dangerous, and an obvious weight to its punch. Yet just when things get all heavy, Trescher floats a sublime melody through the room, and everything is beautiful. Contemplative to be sure, but it’s also got an emotional subtext that’s subtle, but makes its presence known. Fans of Marty Ehrlich should be all over this recording. Sweetly unconventional.
Released on the Metropol Musik label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
*****
Tomorrow I’ll reveal the Bird is the Worm numbers 11-15 2012 albums of the year.
Cheers.
Jan 1 2013
The Best of 2012
Welcome to the Best of 2012.
For each album considered for inclusion, I was looking for it to hit me right in my heart, provoke a strong emotional reaction. I was also looking for it to engage my brain, provide some intrigue or fascination with the music being presented. Extra points were awarded for doing Something Different or building on a premise that embraced the best qualities of creativity. Strong musicianship alone is not enough. Many solid albums didn’t make the list. It literally pains me when I see some of the albums that weren’t included. But I listen to a lot of music, and one of the rare downsides to encountering so much great Jazz is that some of it won’t receive the recognition it deserves. So there you have it.
There is a link to a more formal review following each entry. The text that accompanies each album isn’t a review so much as reminiscences of aspects of the recording I liked when I first heard it and how I still feel about it now. I wasn’t looking to sum any of them up… that’s what reviews are for. Most reviews are accompanied with embedded audio so you can hear some of the music, as well as personnel and label information, links to artist, label, and retail sites, and anything else that seemed relevant/helpful to me at the time.
The Top Albums of 2012:
1. Adam Fairhall – The Imaginary Delta
Released on the SLAM Productions label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
2. Amit Friedman – Sunrise
Released on the Origin Arts label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
3. Omer Avital – Suite of the East
Released on the Anzic Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
4. Matt Ulery – By a Little Light
Released on the Greenleaf Music label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
5. Jeremy Siskind – Finger-Songwriter
This album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
6. Lynne Arriale – Solo
Released on the Motema Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
7. Peggy Lee Band – Invitation
Released on the Drip Audio label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
8. Erik Jekabson – Anti-Mass
The album is Self-Produced, released under Jekab’s Music.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
9. Marc Bernstein – Good People Music
Released on the Blackout Music label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
10. Blommor Inomhus – Blommor Inomhus
This album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
11. Pete Robbins – Live in Basel
The album is Self-Produced, released on Robbin’s Hate Laugh Music label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
12. Todd Bishop Group – Little Played Little Bird
Released on the Origin Arts label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
13. Martin Hoper – The Bride
Released on the Hoob Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
14. Andy Clausen – Wishbone Suite
Released on the Table & Chairs Music label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
15. Jesse van Ruller Chambertones Trio – The Ninth Planet
Released on the C-String Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
16. Todd Marcus – Inheritance
Released on the Hipnotic Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
17. Jacob Garchik – The Heavens
The album is Self-Produced, released on Garchik’s own Yestereve Records.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
18. Jessica Lurie – Megaphone Heart
The album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
19. Florian Hoefner Group – Songs Without Words
Released on the Origin Arts label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
20. Rebecca Trescher’s Hochzeit Null11 – Sud
Released on the Metropol Musik label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
21. Jeremy Udden – Folk Art
Released on the Fresh Sound Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
22. Sunny Kim – Painters Eye
Released on the Sunnyside Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
23. Piet Verbist – Zygomatik
Released on the Origin Arts label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
24. Jean Lapouge – Des Enfants
Released on the Musea Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
25. Chambr – Freewheel
Released on the F-IRE Collective label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
26. Motian Sickness: The Music of Paul Motian – For the Love of Sarah
The album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
27. Miguel Zenon / Laurent Coq Quartet – Rayuela
Released on the Sunnyside Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
28. Dialogues Trio w/Julian Siegel – Twinkle Twinkle
Released on the Babel Label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
29. Threads Orchestra – Ranch
The album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
30. Beppe di Benedetto 5tet – See the Sky
Released on the TRJ Records label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
An Addendum:
Because it is difficult find everything in a timely fashion and listen to it all, the following two albums would have certainly been included somewhere on the Best of 2012 list had they had my attention at the time I put it together.
You can read more about it here (LINK).
31. Anne Paceo – Yokai
Released on the Laborie Jazz label.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
32. Oskar Schönning – The Violin
The album is Self-Produced.
A Bird is the Worm review here.
These lists are tough.
Cheers.
-Dave
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By davesumner • Recap: Best of 2012 • 0 • Tags: Adam Fairhall, Amit Friedman, Andy Clausen, Anne Paceo, Anzic Records, Babel Label, Beppe di Benedetto, Blackout Music, Blommon Inomhus, C-String Records, Chambr, Drip Audio, Erik Jekabson, F-ire Collective, Florian Hoefner, Fresh Sound New Talent label, Greenleaf Music, Hipnotic Records, Hoob Records, Jacob Garchik, Jazz - Best of 2012, Jean Lapouge, Jeff Cosgrove, Jeremy Siskind, Jeremy Udden, Jesse van Ruller, Jesse van Ruller Chambertones Trio, Jessica Lurie, Julian Siegel, Laborie Jazz, Laurent Coq, Lucas Pino, Lynne Arriale, Marc Bernstein, Martin Hoper, Matt Ulery, Metropol Musik, Miguel Zenón, Motema Records label, Musea Records label, Nancy Harms, Omer Avital, Origin/OA2 Records, Oskar Schonning, Peggy Lee, Pete Robbins, Piet Verbist, Rebecca Trescher, Self-Produced, SLAM Productions, Sunny Kim, Sunnyside Records, Table and Chairs Music, Threads Orchestra, Todd Bishop, Todd Marcus, TRJ Records