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Mark Corroto's Best Releases of 2011

By Mark Corroto
December 19, 2011
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Every year, the task of picking the best releases seems to be quite an onerous assignment. This year was especially difficult because, of the four hundred or so discs I listened to, many kept resurfacing for more attention. As I write, I haven't yet spun the new (yes, new) releases by

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler (Stockholm, Berlin 1966 (Hatology)) and

Evan Parker

saxophone, soprano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Parker (At Somewhere There (Barnyard Records)).

What I am saying is, I certainly missed a few killer recordings and that this list of twelve notable releases is incomplete and imperfect. I did love every one of them, though, and I am certainly thankful that jazz artists continue to record and perform authentic music.

Noah Preminger

saxophone, tenor
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Noah Preminger
Before the Rain
(Palmetto)

Animation
Asiento
(Rare Noise)

The Claudia Quintet

" data-original-title="" title="">The Claudia Quintet
What Is The Beautiful?
(Cuneiform

Peter Evans

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Evans Quintet
Ghosts
(More Is More Records)

Harris Eisenstadt

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Harris Eisenstadt
Canada Day II
(Songlines Recordings)

Agusti Fernandez

piano
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Agusti Fernandez
El Laberint de la Memoria
(Mbari Musica)

François Carrier

saxophone, alto
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Fran?ois Carrier Trio + 1
Entrance 3
(Ayler Records)

Wadada Leo Smith's Organic
Heart's Reflections
(Cuneiform Records)

Akira Sakata

saxophone, alto
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Akira Sakata
And That's The Story Of Jazz...
(Family Vineyards Records)

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins
Road Shows, Vol. 2
(Doxy Records)

Greg Ward

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Ward
Phonic Juggernaut
(Thirsty Ear)

Gerry Hemingway Quintet

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Hemingway Quintet
Riptide
(Clean Feed)

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