The J-Spot Best Albums Of 2010

Well folks, there was a fantastic crop of jazz albums this year.  It was difficult to narrow it down to the best ten, and the order in which they appear could easily have been altered, but here they are beginning with number ten!

I should note that this list was not compiled based on sales, airplay, or the popular vote, but good old fashioned subjective opinion.  The following are my ten personal favorite albums from this past year.  Feel free to agree/disagree or post your own top ten in the comments section.

10.  Chucho's Steps - Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers

Nothing that the 69 year old Valdés does should surprise us anymore, however this album may stand as one of his greatest ever.  Chucho's Steps takes latin jazz to another level on this record.  While paying hommage to legends like Joe Zawinul, and John Coltrane, Chucho never loses forward momentum in looking backwards.

9.  Abu Nawas Rhapsody - Dhafer Youssef

Powered by a formidable group featuring Canadian bassist Chris Jennings, Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan, and Avishai Cohen alum Mark Guiliana on drums, Youssef pushes the boundries of jazz.  Employing a wide arsenal of serpentine melodies, off kilter rhythms and haunting vocal lines, the Tunisian born Youssef is forcing the music community to stand up and take notice.

8.    Boom Tic Boom - Allison Miller

Allison Miller's Trio Featuring Myra Melford on Piano, and Todd Sickafoose on the bass deliver chemistry across a variety of styles on this album.  Whether it's the E.S.P. like unity on Melford's rhythmically unconventional yet unmistakeably lyrical "Be Melting Snow" or grooving deeply in the pocket on Mary Lou Williams' "Intermission", this group finds a way to impress on each and every track.

7.    Alive - Phronesis

Led by Copenhagen born Jasper Høiby, and backed by lyrical pianist Ivo Neame, and highly charged drummer Mark Guiliana, Phronesis delivers an explosive live album that has thrust them into the spotlight in the european jazz community.  If you haven't heard Phronesis' yet, you owe it to yourself to check these guys out, you won't be disappointed.

6.    Ten - Jason Moran

Celebrating ten years of his Bandwagon trio with drummer Nasheet Waits and bassis Tarus Mateen, Moran offers yet another creative masterpiece with this record.  Paying respect to Thelonious Monk and the masters of stride piano by whom he was influenced, while delivering fresh insights (and heavy, heavy swing) to the jazz idiom.

5.    Spirals - Nordic Connect

Canada's Jensen sisters, Ingrid and Christine, along with drummer John Wikan, Bassist Mattias Welin and pianist Maggie Olin return to their scandanavian ancestry with the serenely post-modern album Spirals. This record features well constructed tunes and impeccable playing by each member.

4.    Highway Rider - Brad Mehldau

A bit of an unexpected departure from pianist Brad Mehldau, Highway rider is a masterpiece in terms of composition, arranging, and orchestration.  Seamlessly blending classical orchestration with his quintet of Jeff Ballard and Matt Chamberlain on drums, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Joshua Redman on saxophones, Mehldau creates a narrative arc that could easily have been written to accompany a film.

3.   Chamber Music Society - Esperanza Spalding

The Highly anticipated follow up to Spalding's breakthrough self-titled album takes a new direction, but certainly doesn't disappoint.  Esperanza brings us a blend of chamber ensemble music fused with jazz, and the latin music of her roots that is thoughtful and quirky without ever being clichéd.  From the beautiful acoustic duet of Jobim's "Inutil Paisagem" with Gretchen Parlato, to her serpentine "Knowledge of Good and Evil", Spalding shows off her impressive range as a musician and composer.

2.    Pendulum - Franz Von Chossy

Relative newcomer to the jazz scene, Von Chossy is making his presence known. While employing a high degree of virtuosity, perhaps the most impressive aspect to the young German's playing is the way he lets tunes evolve organically, leaving plenty of space for his bandmates to wander. This album presents a strong classical element while remaining faithfull to the jazz tradition. Each and every track offers something new and interesting, a must have album for fans of modern european jazz.

1.  Pathways - Dave Holland Octet

Dave Holland has done it again.  Returning to his impressive quintet of over ten years (plus a few equally impressive additions) Holland has released yet another masterpiece.  Walking an intreguing line between combo and big band, this group offers supreme versatility and an uncompromising sense of groove.  Despite containing a fair ammount of older material, Pathways is a shining example of what a modern jazz ensemble can acheive when the musicianship is high enough.  Hands down my favorite album of 2010!

There you have it, The J-Spot best of 2010. Let me know what you think either in the comments section or at J-spot(at)CJLO.com