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Mike Jurkovic's Best Releases of 2017: Pianos Lead the Way

By Mike Jurkovic
December 30, 2017
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There are some years when certain artists and their instrument stand tallest among the tall. This year it was piano players. Established names, exciting discoveries. Creation music for repeated listening, relentless invention, insight, humor, new equations. Each with a particular turn, a defining touch, that takes you past the chaos of our harshest days.

Django Bates

piano
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Bates
The Study of Touch
ECM Records

Vijay Iyer

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Vijay Iyer Sextet
Far From Over
ECM

John Daversa

trumpet
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">John Daversa
Wobbly Dance Flower
BFM Jazz

Emmet Cohen

piano
b.1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Emmet Cohen
Master Legacy Series Vol. 1 Featuring Jimmy Cobb
Cellar Live

Benedikt Jahnel

piano
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Benedikt Jahnel Trio
The Invariant
ECM Records

Victor Gould

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Gould
Clockwork
Fresh Sound New Talent

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk
Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960
Sam Records/Sage

Colin Vallon

piano
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Colin Vallon Trio
Danse
ECM Records

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans Trio
Another Time: The Hilversum Concert
Resonance Records

Anouar Brahem

oud
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Anouar Brahem
Blue Maqams
ECM Records

Andrea Claburn

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrea Claburn
Nightshade
Lot 49 Labs

Jack DeJohnette

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack DeJohnette,

Ravi Coltrane

saxophone, tenor
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Ravi Coltrane,

Matthew Garrison

bass, electric
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Garrison
In Movement
ECM Records

Marc Copland

piano
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Copland
NightFall
Inner Voice Jazz

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Django Bates Concerts

Oct 26 Sun

Conservatorio di Milano – Sala Giuseppe Verdi

Conservatorio Di Musica Giuseppe Verdi
Milano, Italy

Nov 2 Sun

National Concert Hall

National Concert Hall
Dublin, Ireland

Nov 6 Thu

Koninklijke Schouwburg

Koninklijke Schouwburg
Den Haag, Netherlands

Nov 8 Sat

Christuskirche Mannheim

Christuskirche Mannheim
Mannheim, Germany

Nov 15 Sat

Bulgaria Concert Hall

��ѧݧ� "��ݧԧѧ�ڧ�" / Bulgaria Hall
Sofia, Bulgaria

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