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Jack Bowers' Best Releases Of 2020

By Jack Bowers
December 21, 2020
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Given the angst and turmoil of this most unusual year, I wasn't expecting much in terms of quantity or quality of jazz recordings. Surprise! As it turns out, 2020 was a banner year with a large number of superlative albums regularly arriving for review. A dozen of the best I've heard are named here, and the list could have been much longer. Bravo! to all those who brushed aside seemingly insurmountable obstacles to produce the kind of healing music the world sorely needs in this time of heartbreak and peril. Let's keep it going in 2021!

Vanessa Perica

composer / conductor
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Vanessa Perica Orchestra
Love Is a Temporary Madness
Self Produced

Steve Spiegl

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Spiegl Big Band
The L.A. Sessions at Capitol Studios
Sorcerer Records

Mike Barone

composer / conductor
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Barone Big Band
Brazil
Self Produced

New Horizons Vintage Jazz Band

" data-original-title="" title="">New Horizons Vintage Jazz Band
Plays the Music of Lee Harris: The Brite Side
Self Produced

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol

multi-instrumentalist
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Mehmet Ali Sanlikol
The Rise Up
Dunya Records

Jeremy Levy

composer / conductor
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra
The Planets: Reimagined
OA2 Records

Mark Masters

arranger
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Masters Jazz Ensemble
Night Talk: The Alec Wilder Songbook
Capri Records

Dave Stryker

guitar
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Stryker with

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band
Blue Soul
Strikezone Records

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds Quartet
Day By Day
Cellar Live Records

Jeff Hamilton

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton Trio
Catch Me If You Can
Capri Records

Jon Schapiro

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Schapiro
New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60
Summit Records

Sherrie Maricle

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Sherrie Maricle
DIVA & the Boys
MCG Jazz

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