It’s the most jazz-list-y time of the year

Publication: Ottawa Citizen Jazzblog
Author: Peter Hum
Date: December 12, 2011

The jazz punditocracy has been weighing in on top jazz CDs of 2011:

The list from Patrick Jarenwattananon at NPR’s A Blog Supreme skews to the younger end of the jazz talent spectrum. Miguel Zenón (Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook) and Gretchen Parlato (The Lost and Found) get nods, for example, for their 2011 CDs, while Sonny Rollins does not, for example.

On the other hand, at Slate.com, Fred Kaplan thinks the latest Rollins CD, Road Shows Vol. 2, is the year’s best jazz CD. (That was pretty predictable, given that in 2008, when Kaplan ranked Road Shows, Vol. 1 as his No.1, he wrote: “The best jazz album of 2008 is such a clear choice—not just a stunning disc of music but a breakthrough in music history — that I will say this: If any jazz critics out there leave it off their Top 10 lists, don’t trust another word that they say about anything.” Road Shows, Vol. 1 did not make my list that year, but I digress.) No mere bloviator for jazz octogenarians, Kaplan also digs the new-sound-of-jazz CDs from trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (When the Heart Emerges Glistening) and vibraphonist Chris Dingman (Waking Dreams).

The Chicago Tribune‘s Howard Reich agreed with Jarenwattananon, ranking Zenón’s Alma Adentro at the top of his list (which also omits the Rollins CD).

The amazon.com list is 25 entries long and it too favours younger players over older players. (Akinmusire is No. 1, Rollins is not listed.)