Happy Holidays! I hadn’t given much thought to a list of 2014 favorites until today when suddenly a few listeners looking for gift ideas wrote to ask if I was going to post a Top Ten. On short notice, here’s a list of the ten most-played releases of the year in Jazz a la Mode, and the five most-played albums featuring vocalists. Happy downloading and/or shopping retail for jazz.
Chris Byars The Music of Duke Jordan Steeplechase Records
Chick Corea Trio Trilogy Concord/Stretch
Steve Davis For Real Positone Records
Wycliffe Gordon The Intimate Ellington Criss Cross Jazz
Jimmy Greene Beautiful Life Mack Avenue
Peter Hand Big Band Out of Hand Savant Records
Jason Moran All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller Blue Note
Miro Sprague Blue Dreaming Light Magnet
Dayna Stephens Peace Sunnyside
Helen Sung Anthem for a New Day Concord Jazz
The vocal department includes the great singers Rene Marie and Gregory Porter, pianists Champian Fulton and Dr. John, and saxophonist-clarinetist Aurora Nealand.
Champian Fulton Change Partners Cellar Live
Dr. John Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch Concord Jazz
Rene Marie I Wanna Be Evil Motema Records
Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses The Lookback Transmission http://auroranealand.com/store/
Gregory Porter Liquid Spirit Blue Note
