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ACOUSTIC LEVITATION
BEST OF 2020

Dear Readers, Support the writers and musicians by buying from their publisher or their label, and better yet, buy directly from the artists. Keep our independent local book stores and record stores like DowntownMusicGallery.com alive. They fertilize our artistic communities.

Steve Koenig
Editor

* * * * * * * * *

CRAIG NIXON
Beacon, NY
Managing Editor

As it is every year, recordings are a trove of riches. It's always next to impossible to narrow it down ... the first draft gets it down to about 100 recordings. In addition, choosing the best really implies you've heard all the rest. Lifelong record nerd that I am, that was pretty much true in years past, not as much any longer. Of the dizzying myriad choices, these are 15 that particularly moved me this year.

Tim Berne's Snakeoil - The Fantastic Mrs. 10 (Intakt)
timberneintakt.bandcamp.com/album/the-fantastic-mrs-10

The Nels Cline Singers - Share the Wealth (Blue Note)
store.bluenote.com/products/the-nels-cline-singers-share-the-wealth

Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious (ECM)
ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1576244364

Chris Forbes - Film Noir (Unseen Rain)
chrisforbes.bandcamp.com/album/film-noir


Heroes Are Gangleaders - Artificial Happiness Button (Ropeadope) heroesaregangleaders.bandcamp.com/album/artificial-happiness-button

Dave Holland-Zakir Hussain-Chris Potter - Good Hope (Edition) crosscurrentstrio.bandcamp.com/album/good-hope

Quin Kirchner - The Shadows and the Light (Astral Spirits)
quinkirchner.bandcamp.com/album/the-shadows-and-the-light

Charles Lloyd - 8: Kindred Spirits Live from the Lobero Theater (Blue Note) store.bluenote.com/products/charles-lloyd-8-kindred-spirits-live-from-the-lobero

Joao Lobo. Simorgh - Clean Feed (Shhpuma/Les Albums Claus)
cleanfeed-records.com/product/simorgh/

Luís Lopes Humanization 4tet - Believe, Believe (Clean Feed)
cleanfeed-records.com/product/believe-believe/

Simon Nabatov Quintet - Plain (Clean Feed)
cleanfeed-records.com/product/plain/

Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft, Nels Cline - Music from the Early 21st Century (RareNoise) rarenoiserecords.com/releases/music-from-the-early-21st-century/

Samo Salamon & Friends - Almost Alone, Vol. 1 (Samo Records) samosalamon.bandcamp.com/album/almost-alone-vol-1

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Axiom (Ropeadope)
christianscott.bandcamp.com/album/axiom

Marcin Wasilewski Trio with Joe Lovano - Arctic Riff (ECM)
ecmrecords.com/shop/1580804906

* * * * * * * * *

ROBERT F. REIGLE
Long Beach, California
Ethnomusicologist, composer, improviser

BEST ALBUMS OF 2020:  TOP 30!
All issued in 2020, except Huber in 2019.

AFRIQUE de l’Ouest: Archives musicales d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Les années 1970 à Bouaké. Enregistrements et photographies par Bernard Mondet. Edition: Musée d’ethnographie de Genève. Direction éditoriale: Madeleine Leclair. MEG-AIMP117. ville-ge.ch/meg/en/edition_619.php

APNM. Music from the Association for the Promotion of New Music, vol. 1 & 2. Chamber Music; Computer+Electronic Music. 14 composers, including Elaine Barkin, Joel Gressel, and Hubert Howe. New Focus fcr248. newfocusrecordings.com/catalogue

BECKER, John J. (1886-1961). Soundpieces 1-7. Includes first recordings. New World Records No. 80816. newworldrecords.org

BILLONE, Pierluigi (born 1960). "Mani. Giacometti" for violin, viola and violoncello "2 Alberi" for alto saxophone and percussion. Kairos. kairos-music.com

BIRDS. Two albums of Suara Burung (“Bird Sounds”) from Indonesia. Internet Archive, Indonesian Cassette Collection. Suara Burung-Ledekan Sulingan, Ledekan Laut. archive.org/details/suara-burung-ledekan-sulingan-ledekan-laut Suara Burung-Kepodang Poksay Cemani. archive.org/details/suara-burung-kepodang-poksay-cemani

BUTCHER, John (born 1954). Crucial Anatomy. Butcher, Edwards, Sanders. Trost Records. trost.at/artist-last-dream-of-the-morning.html

ENESCU, George (1881-1955). See PIANO, below. 


FIRE ORCHESTRA! Penderecki-Actions for Free Jazz Orchestra. Mats Gustafsson. Rune Grammofon RCD2212. runegrammofon.com

GEDIZLIOGLU, Zeynep (born 1977). Verbinden und Abwenden. Wergo WER-64282. en.schott-music.com/wergo/

GESUALDO, Carlo (1566-1613). Tenebrae. Graindelavoix. Björn Schmelzer. 3 CDs. Glossa GCD-P32116. glossamusic.com/glossa/default.aspx

GRATKOWSKI, Frank (born 1963). Flatbosc & Cautery. With Achim Kaufmann, Wilbert de Joode, and Tony Buck. Recorded live in 2018. Liner notes by Georg Graewe. NoBusiness Records NBCD-133. nobusinessrecords.com/

HOWE, Hubert (born 1942). Harmonic and Inharmonic Fantasies. Centaur CEN-3759. hbdirect.com/album/4112431-hubert-howe-harmonic-and-inharmonic-fantasies-hubert-howe-computer.html

HUBER, Nicolaus A. (born 1939). HARAKIRI; Gespenster; l'inframince; No Exit. First recording of Huber’s notorious “Harakiri.” See Beate Kutschke’s article from 2009 uni-salzburg.at/index.php?id=206768. Coviello Classics COV-91915. covielloclassics.de/Katalog/cov-91915-nicolaus-a-huber-harakiri/

IBARRA, Víctor (born 1978). The Dimension of the Fragile. Works for Ensemble. NEOS 12001. neos-music.com/

KRIEGER, Ulrich (born 1962). the yggdrasil​-​soli. “9 solo pieces to be performed independently or simultaneously in any combination. Conceived and curated by Ulrich Krieger 2006-2014.” Incorporates compositions by Antoine Beuger, Julia Holter, Ulrich Krieger (2), Radu Malfatti, Aniela Perry, Michael Pisaro-Liu, Mar So, and Carter Williams. Streaming and download; limited edition (110 copies) USB flash drive+digital album. Winds Measure Recordings wm47. Sample track: windsmeasurerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-yggdrasil-soli. Links to Information, Essays, and Scores: windsmeasurerecordings.net/catalog/wm47/

LUPI, Johannes (1506-1539): Te Deum & Motets; HELLINCK, Lupus (1493-1541): Missa Surrexit pastor. The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice (conductor). Hyperion Records CDA68304. hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68304

NONO, Luigi (1924-1990). La lontananza nostalgica utopica future. A stunning version played by Marco Fusi in close collaboration with Pierluigi Billone, who worked with Nono’s tapes over several months. “This recording is available in two digital formats: The .mp3 version is identical with the physical CD. The .wav version is an HD binaural recording and comes free with the purchase of a physical CD (download instructions included in the booklet).” Kairos 0015086KAI. kairos-music.com

PENDERECKI, Kryzstof (1933-2020). St Luke Passion (composed in 1966). Kraków Philharmonic Chorus, Warsaw Boys Choir, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, conductor. BIS Records BIS-2287 SACD Hybrid. bis.se/

PENDERECKI, Kryzstof. See Fire Orchestra!, above.

PIANO. Daniel Ciobanu plays Prokofiev, Enescu, Debussy, and Liszt. Highlight: an extraordinary performance of George Enescu’s “Carillon Nocturne,” the slowest ever recorded. The YouTube video of his live performance of the Nocturne, played a bit faster, is also highly recommended. Accentus Music ACC30515, booklet in English, German, French, and Romanian. accentus.com/discs/515/

PIANO. Bells. Anthony Romaniuk. “Fascinated by low sustained notes (known as ‘pedal points’, the descendants of drones) – hence the title Bells – Anthony Romaniuk exceeds the boundaries of classical orthodoxy, ranging from Mozart to Crumb. An incredible compendium of music and emotions that enables us to discover Rameau, Byrd, Beethoven, Debussy, Purcell in a new light. We go from Bartók’s Mikrokosmos to a fascinating medieval melody that he has harmonised like a jazzman.” Alpha Classics ALPHA631. outhere-music.com/en/albums/bells-alpha631

POSADAS, Alberto (born 1967). Poética del laberinto. Cycle for Saxophone Quartet. Sigma Project saxophone quartet. Wergo WER73902. en.schott-music.com/wergo/

SABAT, Marc (born 1965). Gioseffo Zarlino. Harmonic Space Orchestra. Sacred Realism sr-010. sacredrealism.org/label/main.html

SCELSI, Giacinto (1905-1988). Scelsi-Miscellanea (Live), Fontana MIX ensemble. Pranam II; Mantram; Quartetto N.3; Natura Renovatur; Elohim. FontanaMIX. fontanamix.it/fontanamix-live/scelsi-miscellanea/

Scelsi Revisited. Works based around Scelsi’s improvisation tapes, by Ragnhild Berstad, Uli Fussenegger, Georg Friedrich Haas, Fabien Lévy, Tristan Murail, Michael Pelzel, Michel Roth, and Nicola Sani. (2 CDs). Kairos Music 0015030KAI. kairos-music.com/

SEARS, Big Al (1910-1990). “Goin’ Uptown” - The R&B Years. Jasmine Records JASMCD3215. jasmine-records.co.uk

 

SHEPPARD, John (circa 1515-1558). Media Vita. Robert Quinnery, Choir of New College Oxford. Includes world premiere recordings of four works. Linn CKD-632. linnrecords.com/recording-sheppard-media-vita

SNEKKESTAD, Torben (born 1973). The Swiftest Traveler. Snekkestad: trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Agustí Fernández: piano; Barry Guy: double bass. Recorded in 2018. Trost Records TR187. trost.at/

STIEBLER, Ernstalbrecht (born 1934). Für Biliana. Another Timbre at155. anothertimbre.com/stiebler.html

TAIWAN. Folk Music of China, Vol. 5: Aboriginal Folk Songs of Taiwan. Naxos World Music NXW76092-2. naxos.com/

TAYLOR, Cecil (1929-2018). Cecil Taylor at AngelicA 2000 Bologna. Music, poetry, discussion. Two discs and 40-page booklet. I Dischi di Angelica ida-042. aaa-angelica.com/aaa/dischi/


TIBET and CHINA. Musique religieuse chinoise et tibétaine (Chinese and Tibetan Religious Music). Originally released on Disques BAM in 1961. One of the first published recordings of Tibetan music. Internet Archive, Community Audio collection, added in 2020. archive.org/index.php

* * * * * * * * *

STEVE KOENIG
New York

PERFORMANCES: Pre-Covid CONCERTS

Triple Bill: Laurent David, solo el b. Joe McPhee, reeds, brass; Raf Vertessen, dr. Lele Dai, solo sewing machine. Downtown Music Gallery, NY. February 23, 2020. laurentdavid.bandcamp.com, joemcphee.com, downtownmusicgallery.com

Triple Bill: Nick Fraser, dr; Tony Malaby, tenor; Brandon Lopez, b. Cheryl Pyle, fl; Robert Dick, fl. Erin Rogers, solo sax. Downtown Music Gallery, NY. February 16, 2020. nickfraserthedrummer.com, robertdick.net, erinmrogers.com, downtownmusicgallery.com

Kaze. Satoko Fujii, p; Kappa Maki, tpt; Christian Bezos, tpt; Peter Menard, dr. February 11, 2020. Roulette, Brooklyn. satokofujii.com, roulette.org

Voices: Odeya Nini. The Chutneys (Gelsey Bell, voc; Chris Cochrane- el gtr; Fast Forward– perc). thechutneys.bandcamp.com/album/home, odeyanini.com, roulette.org

PERFORMANCES: Pre-Covid THEATER

Wozzeck by Alban Berg. Peter Mattei (Wozzeck), Elza van den Heever (Marie). Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Animations by William Kentridge. Set by Sabine Theunissen. Metropolitan Opera, NY. metopera.org

Fires In The Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith. Michael Benjamin Washington. Saheem Ali, dir. Washington played brilliantly the 25 real characters in this tale of what I call “The Troubles,” in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He equaled or perhaps even surpassed the magnificence of Smith’s own performance decades ago. Signature Theatre, NYC. annadeaveresmith.org, signaturetheatre.com

Grand Horizons by Bess Wohl. Leigh Silverman, dir. Second Stage Theater. Helen Hayes Theater, NY. besswohl.com, 2st.com

The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall. Steve H. Broadnax III. Cast: Nicco Annan, Sheldon Best, Cecil Blutcher, Korey Jacks. Signature Theatre, NY. katorihall.com, signaturetheatre.org

Così Fan Tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Phelim McDermott, production. Harry Bicket, cond. Cast: Nicole Car, sopr; Serena Malfi, mz; Ben Bliss, t; Adam Plachetka and Gerald Finley, bass-baritones; Heidi Stober, sopr. Metropolitan Opera, NY. metopera.org

FILM

The Boys In The Band by Mart Cowley. Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Banjamin Washington, Tuc Watkins. Joe Mantello, director. netflix.com

Summer of ’85. Written and directed by François Ozon, partly based upon the novel Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers. Félix Lefebvre (Alexis), Benjamin Voisin (David). US distributor: musicboxfilms.com. Trailers and reviews on YT.

ONLINE WEBINARS, ZOOMINARS, STREAMED PERFORMANCES, courtesy of Covid-19. There’s a lot of events here, but then again, I was home a LOT.

Art/ A Sacred Emblem: Trefoil in Early Korean Metalwork and Beyond with Dr. Minjee Kim. Video at koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1364-a-sacred-emblem-trefoil-in-early-korean-metalwork-and-beyond-with-dr-minjee-kim

Art/ Inside Vincent’s Creative Process: Van Gogh and Popular Culture, lecture by art historian Michael Lobel, Professor, Art History at Hunter College. hunter.cuny.edu/news/hunterhome-inside-vincents-creative-process-van-gogh-and-popular-culture/?news-feed=hunter-at-home-videos&source=24913

Ludwig van Beethoven. Barenboim’s Beethoven Marathon. November 15, 2020, 8am-8pm. medici.tv

Ludwig van Beethoven. Dover Quartet. Complete Cycle, Part 1. Op18/2, Op59/3, Op135/16. People’s Symphony Concerts Online. December 5, 2020. doverquartet.com, pscny.org

Leonard Bernstein. “Make Our Garden Grow.” Heartbeat Opera. heartbeatopera.org


Buyer & Cellar
by Jonathan Tolins. Michael Urie, actor. donate.broadwaycares.org/campaign/covid-19-emergency-assistance-fund/c276873, broadway.com/buyerandceller

Cooper-Moore, piano. July 17, 2020. aumfidelity.com/cooper-moore.html, artsforart.org

The Noël Coward Foundation Present: A Marvellous Party. actorsfund.org (US), actingforothers.co.uk/donate (UK)

Whit Dickey, drums; Rob Brown, alto saxophone; Brandon Lopez, bass. July 1, 2020. aumfidelity.com/dickey.html

The Dolphin in the Mirror: Reflections on Dolphin Intelligence & Communication. Zoom presentation by Diana Reiss, Director of Hunter’s Animal Behavior & Conservation Program. hunter.cuny.edu/news/hunterhome-the-dolphin-in-the-mirror-reflections-on-dolphin-intelligence-communication/?news-feed=hunter-at-home-videos&source=24913

Dover Quartet and pianist Shai Wosner. Haydn SQ Op76/2, Brahms Intermezzo op116/2; Dvorák Piano Quintet 2. People’s Symphony Concerts Online. November 15, 2020. doverquartet.com, shaiwosner.com, pscny.org

Vladimir Feltsman. Schubert: Impromptus, Op142. Beethoven: Seven Bagatelles, Op33. People’s Symphony Concerts Online. November 28, 2020. feltsman.com, pscny.org

Food/ My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes. Book talk with Korean Chef Hooni Kim. koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1377-chef-hooni-kim-with-andrew-friedman

Frankenstein, by Nick Dear, based on the novel by Mary Shelley. Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, alternating roles of the Dr. and his Monster. Danny Boyle, dir. nationaltheatre.org.uk/whats-on, ntlive.com/

Dean Friedman. Singer/songwriter streaming from home. Frankenstein. deanfriedman.com, facebook.com/DeanFriedman/videos/10156982290096464

42nd Street (from London’s West End). Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble (Director), lyrics by Al Dubin and Johnny Mercer and music by Harry Warren. Choreography by Randy Skinner. Tom Lister (Julian Marsh), Philip Bertioli (Billy Lawlor), Clare Halse (Peggy Sawyer), and Bonnie Langford (Dorothy Brock). broadwaycares.org/

Historians of the Jews and the Making of Plague Memory. Professors Joshua Teplitsky and Magda Teter. Fordham University's Center for Jewish Studies. May 6, 2020. news.fordham.edu/event/historians-of-the-jews-and-the-making-of-plague-memory/


History/ The Great Kosher Meat War of 1902: Immigrant Housewives and the Riots That Shook New York City. Book talk with author/historian Scott D. Seligman. Center For Jewish History. December 1, 2020. seligmanonline.com, cjh.org

History/ The Lenape: An Indigenous Peoples Day 2020 Discussion. October 12, 2020. Lenape land includes all of New York City, and spans from western Connecticut to eastern Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley to Delaware. Mr. Hadrien Coumans, Co-founder and Co-director of the Lenape Center. Brooklyn Public Library. bklynlibrary.org/calendar/lenape-indigenous-peoples-virtual-20201012

History/ X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II, talk by Leah Garrett, scholar, professor and Director of Jewish Studies at Hunter College. Hunter@Home. hunter.cuny.edu/news/hunterhome-x-troop-the-secret-jewish-commandos-of-world-war-ii/

Jason Kao Hwang’s Human Rites Trio. Hwang, v; Ken Filiano, b; Andrew Drury, dr. June 10, 2020. jasonkaohwang.com, artsforart.org

Bill Irwin’s On Beckett / On Screen. Bill Irwin, performer and writer. November 17, 2020. Irish Repertory Theatre. bill-irwin.com, irishrep.org

Leoš Janáček. Lecture and performance “Out Of The Mists: From Imagination To Reality.” Zoomed from Philadelphia with Katelyn Bouska, Czech Center, NY. youtube.com/watch?v=J8TIzmtg1S0, new-york.czechcentres.cz

Kaiser Chiefs. Lockdown Session. royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2020/royal-albert-home-kaiser-chiefs/, kaiserchiefs.com

LGBT/ Roosevelt House and the LGBTQ Policy Center at Hunter College. Interview of Eric Cervini, author of The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America, a biography of Frank Kameny. roosevelthouse.hunter.cuny.edu/events/deviants-war-homosexual-vs-united-states-america/

Brandon Lopez, solo bass. May 28, 2020. artsforart.org

A Night In November by Marie Jones. Matthew Forsythe, actor. Matthew McElhinney, director. May 17, 2020. Irish Arts Center, with Culture Ireland. irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=30265, matthewforsythe.co.uk, irishartscenter.org


Lorkin O’Reilly. Scottish singer/songwriter. Irish Arts Center, May 10, 2020. stage.irishartscenter.org/videos/at-home-with-irish-arts-center-lorkin-oreilly

William Parker, bass, composition; Patricia Nicholson, text, movement, composition; Ellen Christi, voice; Jean Carla Rodea, voice. July 3, 2020. artsforart.org

Raga Live Festival. 24 sets of music rooted in Indian classical over the course of 24 hours, presented by Pioneer Works, Brooklyn Raga Massive, NYC Radio Live and the Rubin Museum of Art. ragaslive.org

Dave Sewelson, baritone saxophone; Steve Swell, trombone; William Parker, bass; Marvin Bugalu Smith. drums. July 8, 2020. artsforart.org

William Shakespeare. Lady M. Directed and adapted by Ethan Heard. Felicia Moore,Lady M; Quentin Oliver Lee, Macbeth; Tyler Putnam, Banquo; Jamilyn Manning-White, Taylor-Alexis Dupont, and Sishel Claverie and the Weird Sisters. Heartbeat Opera. heartbeatopera.org

Small Island. Adapted by Helen Edmundson from a novel by Andrea Levy. National Theatre at Home. nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/nt-at-home-small-island

Lisa Sokolov, voice, piano; Jake Sokolov-Gonzalez, cello. July 15, 2020. lisasokolov.com, artsforart.org

Stephen Sondheim. Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration. broadway.com/sondheim90/

Steve Swell’s Kende Dreams, William Parker, bass; Dave Sewelson, baritone saxophone; Michael TA Thompson, drums. December 3, 2020. AFA On_Line Salon. steveswell.com, artsforart.org

Theater of War. The King Lear Project. A dramatic reading of scenes from King Lear as a catalyst for guided discussions about elder care and family dynamics. theaterofwar.com/projects/king-lear-project

Richard Thompson. Live streaming from home. March 29, 2020. richardthompson-music.com

Viral Monologs: The 24 Hour Plays. 24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/

RECORDINGS

Anthology: Return Of The Tokoloshe Men! (Demented Sounds From The 60s Teen Scenes Of Jo'burg, Cape Town, Durban And Beyond!). Rubble RUB6CDBOX13, 6CDs and 88-page book. No website listed.

Asaf Avidan. Anagnorisis. Telmavar TMR008, CD or LP. asafavidanmusic.com

Jon Balke. Discourses. Balke, piano, soundscapes. ECM 2648. ecmrecords.com

Ludwig van Beethoven. Late String Quartets: opp. 95, 127, 131, 132, 135, Grosse Fugue. Brodsky Quartet. Chandos 201143, 3 CDs. brodskyquartet.co.uk, chandos.net

Ludwig van Beethoven. Complete Piano Sonatas. Fazil Say. Warner Classics 0190295380243, 9CDs. fazilsay.com, warnerclassics.com

Luciano Berio. Coro. Cries of London. Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Norwegian RO, Grete Pedersen, cond. BIS 2391, hybrid SACD. bis.se


John Coltrane/Vinny Golia. A Love Supreme Electric: A Salvo Inspired by John Coltrane: A Love Supreme & Meditations. Golia, sax; John Hanrahan, dr; Henry Kaiser, g; Wayne Peet, org; Mike Watts, b. Cuneiform Rune 470/471, 2 CDs or download. cuneiformrecords.com

Bill Evans. Live At Ronnie Scott’s. Evans, p; Eddie Gomez, b; Jack deJohnette, dr. Resonance HCD-2046, 2 CDs or 2LPs. resonancerecords.org

Wesley Fuller. Seven by Seven. Two compositions for computer alone and five for computer with soloists. Neuma 122. neumarecords.org

Kenneth Gaburo Conducts New Music Choral Ensemble. NMCE1. Works by Ben Johnston, Pauline Oliveros, Charles Hamm, Gaburo, Robert Shallenberg, Leslie Bassett, Anton Webern (op.2), Luigi Nono (Sara Dolce Tacera), Olivier Messiaen (Cinq Rechants). Neuma 124. neumarecords.org

Dave Glasser. Hypocrisy Democracy. Glasser, saxes, flute; Andy Milne, p; Ben Allison, b; Matt Wilson, dr. Here Tiz HTM003. daveglasser.com

Gordon Grdina. Resist. East Van Strings, with cellist Peggy Lee, violinist Jesse Zubot and violist Eyvind Kang; Grdina’s Triomates, bassist Tommy Babin and drummer Kenton Loewen. Irabbagast 012. gordongrdinamusic.com, jonirabagon.com

Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York. Entity. Oscar Noriega, Briggan Krauss, Ellery Eskelin, Tony Malaby, Andy Laster, Natsuki Tamura, Herb Robertson, Dave Ballou, Curtis Hasselbring, Joe Fiedler, Nels Cline, Stomu Takeishi, Ches Smith. Libra 214-058. satokofujii.com

Satoko Fujii, p; Natsuki Tamura, tpt. Pentas. NotTwo MW 999-2 satokofujii.com, nottwo.com

Lafayette Gilchrist. Now. Gilchrist, p; Herman Burney, b; Eric Kennedy, dr. Lafayette Gilchrist Music (no catalog no. given) 2 CDs. bakerartist.org/portfolios/lafayette-gilchrist

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten. Til Anna: Confirmations and Abstractions. Solo acoustic bass. Catalytic Sound. Sonic Transmissions Records STR 01, LP or download. ingebrigthkerflaten.bandcamp.com/, catalytic-sound.bandcamp.com

Rich Halley. The Shape of Things. Halley, tenor; Matthew Shipp, p; Michael Bisio, dr; Newman Taylor Baker, dr. Pine Eagle 013. richhalley.com

Jimi Hendrix Experience. Live in Maui. Experience Hendrix/Legacy 19439799031, 2CDs or 3LPs or multichannel Blu Ray. jimihendrix.com, legacyrecordings.com

Jason Kao Hwang Human Rites Trio. Hwang, v; Ken Filiano, b; Andrew Drury, dr. TrueSound TS03. jasonkaohwang.com

Charles Ives. Symphonies 1-4. Gustavo Dudamel, LAPO. Deutsche Grammophon 00028948395057, streaming or download only. deutschegrammophon.com/en/

Keith Jarrett. Budapest Concert. ECM 2700/01, 2CDs. ecmrecords.com

Kaze. Sand Storm. Satoko Fujii, p; Natsuki Tamura, tpt; Christian Pruvost, tpt; Peter Orins, dr; plus Ikue Mori, laptop. Circum/Libra 205. satokofujii.com

Rued Langaard. Complete Works for String Quartet. Nightingale SQ. da capo 6.200004, 3 SACDs. dacapo-records.dk

Allegra Levy. Lose My Number: Allegra Levy Sings John McNeil. Levy, voc; Carmen Staaf, p; Carmen Rothwell, b; Colleen Clark, dr; John McNeil, tpt; Pierre Dørge, uke. SteepleChase SCCD 31900. allegralevy.com, steeplechase.dk


Noa Levy and Shimpei Ogawa. You, Me & Cole. Vocal and acoustic bass, my favorite vocal album this year. Belle Records. noalevylive.com, basshipogw.wixsite.com/shimpeiogawa

Rudresh Mahanthappa. Hero Trio. Mahanthappa, alto; François Moutin, b; Rudy Royston, dr. Whirlwind. WR4780. rudreshm.com

Delfeayo Marsalis’s Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Jazz Party. Troubadour Jazz TJR083119. dmarsalis.com

Joni Mitchell. Archives Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967). 5CDs, book, 8x8 box, inserts. Rhino R2 6-4555. www.rhino.com/

Thelonious Monk. Palo Alto. Rhythm-A-Ning/Impulse! B0032180-02. monkzone.com, impulse-label.com


Claudio Monteverdi. Complete Madrigals. Delitiae Musicae. Marco Longhini, cond. Naxos 8.501505, 15 CDs, all the original 9 booklets with notes, complete texts and English translations in a hardbox. naxos.com

Quinsin Nachoff. Pivotal Arc. Violin Concerto: Nathalie Bonin, v; Mark Helias, b; Satoshi Takeishi, dr; Michael Davidson, vib; wind and string ensemble. String Quartet: Molinari SQ. Pivotal Arc: Nachoff, tenor sax; ensemble. Whirlwind WR4761, CD or LP. quinsin.com

Francis Poulenc. Cto P; Concert champêtre; Trio P Ob Bsn; Son Ob P. Mark Bebbington, p; Jan Latham-Koenig, RPO. Resonus RES10256. resonusclassics.com

Shabaka & The Ancestors. We Are Sent Here By History. Impulse B0031632-02, CD or 2LPs. shabakahutchings.com, impulse-label.com

Franz Schubert. 12 Great Piano Sonatas (d.537, 568, 575, 664, 784, 840, 645, 850, 894, 958, 959, 960). Daniel-Ben Pienaar. Avie AV2425, 5CDs. danielbenpienaar.com, avie-records.com

Dmitri Shostakovich. Symphony 13 “Babi Yar.” Muti, CSO; Alexey Tikhomirov, b; Men pf the Chicaho Symphony Chorus. CSO Resound 8.011901. symphonystore.com/music/cso-resound/

Cory Smythe. Accelerate Every Voice. Kyoko Kitamura, voc; Michael Mayo, voc, loops; Raquel Acevedo Klein, voc; Steven Hrycelak, b, voc; Kari Francis, perc, voc; Smythe , p, electronics. Pyroclastic PR 08. corysmythe.com, pyroclasticrecords.com

Natsuki Tamura, tpt; Satoko Fujii, p; Ramon Lopez, dr. Mantle. nottwo MW 1003-2. satokofujii.com, ramonlopez.com, nottwo.com

Michael Thomas. Event Horizon. Thomas, sax; Jason Palmer, tpt; Hans Glawischnig, b; Johnathan Blake, dr. Giants Step Arts GSA 005, 2 discs. michaelthomasjazz.com, giantsteparts.org


Richard and Linda Thompson. Hard Luck Stories 1972-1982. All their studio albums, outtakes, demos, live, alt mixes. UMC/Universal 7768997, 8CDs, 10x10” box, hardcover book. Remastering much better than the Island Remasters issues. richardthompson.com, umc-music.com

Lucinda Williams. Good Souls Better Angels. Thirty Tigers/Highway 20 H2006. lucindawilliams.com, thirtytigers.com

Matt Wilson. Hug. Wilson, dr, xyl, voc; Jeff Lederer, saxes. cl, pic, voc; Kirk Knuffke, cor, sopr cor, voc; Chris Lightcap, b, el b, 8-string space bass, voc. Palmetto PM2196. mattwilsonjazz.com, facebook.com/PalmettoRecords/. [Health warning: One track contains voice samples of Twitler.]

Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Return To Greendale. Reprise 0093624893868, 2CDs, 2LPs, other formats. [Note: probably best for fans only.] neilyoungarchives.com

Young M.A. Herstory In The Making. Duck Down DDM CD 2943, CD or 2LP. youngmamusic.com, duckdown.com





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