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Attarian's Dozen: Twelve Superb Releases That Made 2021 Tolerable

By Hrayr Attarian
December 28, 2021
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The year 2021 started full of hope yet it did not live up to its promises. Musically, however, it saw the release of several outstanding recordings. Below are a dozen that helped kept me sane and grounded throughout the year.

Featured are the two mammoth and stimulating boxsets from saxophonist and improviser par excellence

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman and ingenious composer and bassist

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker, the late organ giant

Dr. Lonnie Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1942 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. Lonnie Smith's swan song, and drummer

Gustavo Cortiñas

drums
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Gustavo Corti?as's musical exploration of Eduardo Galeano's "Open Veins of Latin America." In addition, from the United Kingdom,

Sons of Kemet

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Sons of Kemet's provocative and timely album made the list as well as saxophonist

Jon Raskin

saxophone, baritone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Raskin's socially conscious collaboration with Flatland Quartet. Others include innovative bandleader and saxophonist

Anna Webber

saxophone, tenor
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Anna Webber's masterpiece, ingenious composer and trumpeter

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith's celebration of Chicago and saxophonist

Kenny Garrett

saxophone, alto
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Garrett's exploration of musical roots. Pianist

Sylvie Courvoisier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier and guitarist

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson's intimate and adventurous duet and two very personal works by saxophonist

Maria Grand

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Grand and vocalist

Jen Shyu

vocals
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Jen Shyu round up the list.

Anna Webber

saxophone, tenor
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Anna Webber
Idiom
Pi Recordings

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman
Brass and Ivory Tales
Fundacja Slucha

Sons of Kemet

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Sons of Kemet
Black to the Future
Impulse!

Dr. Lonnie Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1942 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. Lonnie Smith
Breathe
Blue Note

Sylvie Courvoisier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier &

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson
Searching for the Disappeared Hour
Pyroclastic

Gustavo Cortiñas

drums
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Gustavo Corti?as
Desafio Candente
Woolgathering

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith
The Chicago Symphonies
TUM

Kenny Garrett

saxophone, alto
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Garrett
Songs From The Ancestors
Mack Avenue

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker
Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World
AUM Fidelity

The Flatlands Collective

" data-original-title="" title="">The Flatlands Collective
Songs From the Urban Forest
Gold Lion

Maria Grand

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Grand
Reciprocity
Biophilia

Jen Shyu

vocals
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Jen Shyu
Zero Grasses: Ritual for the Losses
Pi Recording

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