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Dan McClenaghan's Best Releases of 2012

By Dan McClenaghan
December 21, 2012
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Scores of excellent CDs were released in 2012. These are some of the finest. Click on the CD titles for more in depth reviews.

Hal Galper Trio—Airegin Revisited

Hal Galper

Airegin Revisited

Origin Records

Pianist

Hal Galper

piano
1938 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Hal Galper has been delving deeply into his rubato explorations of the standards, along with his own distinctive compositions, and each release is better than the last.

Marc Johnson and Eliane Elias—Swept Away

Marc Johnson and Eliane Elias—Swept Away

Marc Johnson / Eliane Elias

Swept Away

ECM Records

An extraordinarily beautiful set. Bassist

Marc Johnson

bass
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Johnson and his musical/marital partner, pianist

Eliane Elias

piano and vocals
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Eliane Elias, joined by drummer

Joey Baron

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Baron and, on of five numbers, by saxophonist

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano, have created a classic.

Brad Mehldau Trio—Where Do You Start?

Brad Mehldau Trio

Where Do You Start

Nonesuch Records

Pianist

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau, along with trio mates, bassist

Larry Grenadier

bass, acoustic
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Grenadier and drummer

Jeff Ballard

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Ballard, released two great CDs this year, one of Mehldau originals and one of covers. Both could be included, but this, the trio's covers outing, grabbed me just a little harder.

Todd Bishop Group—Little PLayed Little Bird

Todd Bishop Group

Little Played Little Bird

Origin Records

Drummer

Todd Bishop

drums
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Todd Bishop is an underground treasure. He doesn't boast the highest of profiles, but he has put out two consecutive great CDs for the Origin Records label: 2009's 69 Annee Erotique and now, this nod to alto saxophonist/free jazz pioneer

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman.

Satoko Fujii/Natsuki Tamura—Muku

Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura

Muku

Libra Records

Trumpeter

Natsuki Tamura

trumpet
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Natsuki Tamura and pianist

Satoko Fujii

piano
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Satoko Fujii haven't been as prolific this year, recording-wise, as they've been in years past, but they've produced a real gem in this duo set, a follow-up to sorts to their previous duo outing, Chun (Libra Records, 2008).

Mark Soskin—Nina Rota

Mark Soskin

Nino Rota

Kind of Blue Records

Mark Soskin

piano
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Soskin is, perhaps, best known as saxophonist

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins' pianist from 1978 to 1991. On this marvelous solo outing, he explores the music of Italian composer Nino Rota, the composer behind Federico Fellini's film soundtracks, as well as the music for Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 movie, The Godfather. Extraordinarily beautiful.

Enfants Terrible—Live at the Blue Note

Enfants Terribles

Live at the Blue Note

Half Note Records

Alto saxophonist

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz, along with bassist

Gary Peacock

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock, drummer Joey Baron and guitarist

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell, delivers an hour of some of the most inspired spontaneity imaginable.

Gato Libre—Forever

Gato Libre

Forever

Libra Records

Gato Libre

" data-original-title="" title="">Gato Libre is trumpeter Natsuki Tamura's acoustic, European-hued quartet. Joined by keyboardist Satoko Fujii—on accordion here—along with bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu and guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura, the sound is old world, with an often modern tint. An enchanting set.

Bobo Stenson Trio—Indicum

Bobo Stenson Trio

Indicum

ECM Records

Swedish pianist

Bobo Stenson

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobo Stenson, along with trio mates

Anders Jormin

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Anders Jormin (double bass) and Jon F?lt, has created another stellar outing. This is one of today's—or any day's—top trios.

Jessica Williams—Songs of Earth

Jessica Williams

Songs of Earth

Origin Records

Jessica Williams

piano
1948 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Jessica Williams keeps going deeper and deeper into her art of the piano. She shines on her solo outings, never more so than here.

Marc Copland—Some More Love Songs

Marc Copland

Some More Love Songs

Pirouet Records

Pianist

Marc Copland

piano
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Copland's trio outings are always mesmerizing affairs, and Some More Loves Songs is no exception.

Same Newsome—Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1

Sam Newsome

Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1

Self Produced

This is soprano saxophonist

Sam Newsome

saxophone, soprano
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Newsome solo, sounding percussive and haunting, driving into enduring classics from pianist

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington and saxophonist

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane.

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