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C. Michael Bailey’s Best Recordings of 2017

By C. Michael Bailey
December 5, 2017
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This year marks my 20th contributing to AAJ. Twenty years ago, I was 38 years old looking for an outlet for my music writing that had somehow avoided me until I came across an opportunity disguised as a call for articles from one Michael Ricci in Philadelphia. I emailed my review of

Art Pepper

saxophone, alto
1925 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Pepper's San Francisco Samba (Contemporary, 1997) and I have been contributing to AAJ since.

That said, I want to tip my hat to my fellow All About Jazz colleagues. Thank you for allowing this simple country druggist among you.

My Best Recordings of 2017 consists of 12 releases (one for each month). Nine of these are dedicated to jazz vocals/instrumentals and the remaining three to archival offerings.

Low Society various b.2007 " data-original-title="" title="">Low Society Sanctified (Rezonate Records)	Lyn Stanley vocals " data-original-title="" title="">Lyn Stanley The Moonlight Sessions, Volumes 1 & 2 ( A.T. Music, LLC)	Kuniko " data-original-title="" title="">Kuniko Bach: Solo Works for Marimba (Linn Records)
Cheryl Bentyne vocals b.1954 " data-original-title="" title="">Cheryl Bentyne Rearrangements of Shadows: The Music of Stephen Sondheim (Artist Share Records)	Kellye Gray vocals b.1954 " data-original-title="" title="">Kellye Gray Rendering GRR8 Records	Cecile McLorin Salvant vocals b.1989 " data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue Records)
Andrea Claburn vocals " data-original-title="" title="">Andrea Claburn Nightshade (Lot 49 Labs)	Robyn Spangler vocals " data-original-title="" title="">Robyn Spangler Something Cool: The Billy Barnes Sessions (O.P. Records)	Tash Sultana Notion EP (Mom & Pop Records)
Thelonious Monk piano 1917 - 1982 " data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (Sam Records)	Wes Montgomery guitar 1923 - 1968 " data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery Smokin' in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (Resonance Records)	Art Pepper saxophone, alto 1925 - 1982 " data-original-title="" title="">Art Pepper West Coast Sessions, Volumes 1-6 (Omnivore Records)

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