+ ANDREW GILBERT'S TOP TEN JAZZ RELEASES OF 1996 +
(in no particular order)
 1. Sonny Rollins, "Silver City: A Celebration of 25 Years on Milestone" (Milestone)
This two-CD anthology drawn from Sonny Rollins' 20 Milestone albums makes a pretty damn strong case for Newk as the greatest living tenor saxophonist.
2. Carol Sloane, "The Songs Sinatra Sang" (Concord)
With gorgeous arrangements, first class accompaniment and classic tunes sung by one of jazz's most swinging, sultry voices, Carol Sloane delivers a tribute as classy and evocative as anything ever recorded by ol' Blue Eyes.
3. Stan Getz, "East of the Sun: The West Coast Sessions" (Verve)
Those Verve vaults keep disclosing treasures: in this case a three-CD set from 1956 of Getz at his most lyrical with a great L.A. rhythm section featuring Lou Levy (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass) and Shelly Manne or Stan Levey (drums).
4. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, "I, Eye, Aye" (Rhino)
Some of the brightest moments ever captured (live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1972) by jazz's most far-flung, multi-hued improvisor, playing the hell out of the tenor, manzello, stritch, flute and "other stuff."
5. Sun Ra, "The Singles" (Evidence)
Even diehard Ra acolytes will be amazed at the various and sundry obscurities collected on these two discs, first released and sold in batches of 50 at concerts.
6. The Gerry Wiggins Trio, "Soulidarity" (Concord)
With the great Andy Simpkins on bass and Paul Humphrey on drums, 74-year-old pianist Gerald Wiggins delivers a supremely tasteful, swinging set in which every note falls just where it ought to.
7. "Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981" (Galaxy)
With the fine bebop pianist Duke Jordan, bassist David Williams and drummer Carl Burnett on stage for inspiration, the legendary alto saxophonist Art Pepper, a few years into his remarkable comeback, consistently hits a breathtaking level of intensity and expressiveness on these two discs.
8. Gerry Gibbs Sextet, "The Thrasher" (Qwest)
Zany, hard-blowing, kinetic music from percussionist Gibbs (son of the great bebop vibraphonist Terry Gibbs) with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (son of that other Coltrane), vibraphonist Joe Locke, violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Darek Oles and Billy Childs or Uri Caine on piano.
9. "Benny Carter Songbook" (MusicMasters)
An all-star cast of vocalists interpreting the songs of Benny Carter — Weslia Whitfield turns in a gem on his best known tune "When Lights Are Low" — with the ageless 89-year-old alto man contributing his own masterful work.
10. Rosemary Clooney, "Love" (Reprise)
Lush, sumptuous arrangements by Nelson Riddle on 12 ballads (and two bonus tracks) make this lost classic from 1961 one of Rosemary Clooney's most affecting works. |
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