It’s the time of year to look back and see what we liked and what we missed. It’s a hard job keeping up with all the releases throughout the year – but, of course, somebody’s gotta do it. So first, quick takes on some of the recordings from this past year that just didn’t get to the full review stage but merit a good listen. Then, on to some of the year’s best.
CHICAGO AND FRIENDS – ‘LIVE AT 55’: It’s been over a half-century since Chicago Transit Authority helped change music forever, ushering in jazz-rock alongside Blood Sweat and Tears, Chase, Tower of Power and others. On Live at 55, the remaining founding members of Chicago – Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow – along with their touring band are joined by the likes of Robert Randolph, Steve Vai, Judith Hill and other special guests. It may be impossible to recapture the magic of those early days, but the band still rocks. Live at 55 includes most of the band’s audacious debut, along with latter-day hits, recorded live in November 2024. If the guests are the draw, including an exquisite “Wishing You Were Here” with Voiceplay, the sound is the big drawback: Loughnane’s trumpet is prominent but curiously thin, Pankow’s trombone is too far in the background and Ray Herman’s sax is mostly missing in action – pretty inexcusable for a modern recording by the original rock band with horns.
ALICIA WITT – ‘I THINK I’M SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH YOU’: A late entry into the season’s holiday offerings, a mix of traditional favorites and newly-penned tunes by the actor/singer/pianist. I Think I’m Spending Christmas With You concludes with a paean to the least-appreciated day of the year, “December 26th.”
What more could we want? Well, see below for my Best of 2024 list:
ELIOT ZIGMUND QUARTET – ‘GOLDEN’: Drummer Eliot Zigmund and his band – pianist David Janeway, bassist David Kingsnorth and trumpeter Rick Savage – engage in some fine playing on this set of originals, plus one Monk tune and one by Ray Noble. “Blues-E” is a showcase for Kingsnorth and Savage, while the preceding “Remediation” features Janeway, Savage and the leader. The solos are fine if occasionally overlong, but it’s the ensemble playing that draws in the listener on tracks like the opening “Fully Vaxxed” and “Maybe Tomorrow.” “New Waltz” may be the most affecting, with Janeway on Rhodes and Savage on muted trumpet, though Noble’s “The Touch of Your Lips” with Savage on flugelhorn is a very close second.
MARILYN CRISPELL – ‘AMARYLLIS’; ANNETTE PEACOCK – ‘AN ACROBAT’S HEART’: With the return of and increasing emphasis on quality vinyl, you could have bet ECM would be in the mix. Once self-billed as “The most beautiful sound next to silence,” the label has embarked on an ambitious program to re-release a number of its recordings on vinyl. Two of the more recent efforts are by pianist Marilyn Crispell and pianist-vocalist Annette Peacock. Crispell’s trio album is from 2001 and features the exquisite rhythm team of the late Paul Motian and Gary Peacock (yes, Annette’s former husband) in a set of chamber jazz that sounds familiar yet original – an interesting trick. An Acrobat’s Heart features the unique vocals and piano of Peacock performing her own compositions with the acclaimed Cikada String Quartet. Her piano is at the center, while the strings provide perfect accompaniment, and her always interesting voice slips and slides around the words and the music. The warmth of the vinyl complements both albums, but especially An Acrobat’s Heart, a truly stunning album.
CROSBY STILLS NASH AND YOUNG – ‘LIVE AT FILLMORE EAST 1969’: Fresh off their appearance at Woodstock, Crosby Stills Nash and Young toured the country, with this gem recently discovered among the archives. Among the treats are early versions of two future Déjà Vu tracks, Stephen Stills with a solo acoustic performance of “4 + 20,” and Graham Nash at the organ singing “Our House” to inspiration Joni Mitchell, who was in the Fillmore audience. The sound quality varies – it’s a live album from 1969, people! – but the magic in the voices and unique renditions of classic tunes more than make up for that.
JAZZRAUSCH BIGBAND – ‘BANGERS ONLY’: Jazzrausch Bigband, Germany’s techno-meets-big-band sensations, deliver a baker’s dozen bangers – short and to-the-point songs, none topping 4:14. Electronics and trumpets and vocals, oh my. Hear it to believe it.
DAN SIEGEL – ‘UNITY’: An altogether lovely album by the jazz keyboardist Dan Siegel. Critics who dismiss “smooth jazz” may do the same with this recording, but that’s their loss. Unity is engaging throughout with nary a misstep. Recommended.
JOHN BEASLEY AND THE FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND – ‘RETURNING TO FOREVER’: Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when Chick Corea’s mighty Return to Forever was leading the way in the fusion of jazz, rock and electronics. Only this time around you get trumpets, trombones, saxophones – a whole big band reinventing Corea’s music, with leader and arranger John Beasley on keyboards. Corea gave Returning to Forever his blessing before he died, and Beasley and the Frankfurt Radio Big Band deliver the goods on classic tracks like “Captain Senor Mouse” and “Medieval Overture,” as well as the ballad “You’re Everything,” incorporating “La Fiesta.”
MANDOKI SOULMATES – ‘A MEMORY OF OUR FUTURE’: A Memory of our Future is one of those all-star albums that somehow works, bridging the gap between jazz (Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Al di Meola) and classic/progressive rock (three Supertramp veterans, Ian Anderson). Helmed by drummer and singer Leslie Mandoki, it wisely stays away from epics. The players nevertheless get a chance to shine, though Mandoki’s vocals may be an acquired taste.
Now, what about the best of the best? Again, a few to choose from. Here are my choices:
BPM – ‘SERIOUSLY’: A refreshing, melodic recording by some of the most in-demand players on the jazz scene. BPM’s Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown and Michael Paulo are the cream of the crop when it comes to contemporary jazz, boasting multiple awards and chart-topping albums among them. Bromberg’s multiple bubbling basses, Brown’s alternately laid-back and stinging guitar, and Paulo’s soaring sax make a dynamic combination. Guests like Phillipe Saisse and Tom Schuman round things out, and the results are by turns sensuous, swinging, playful, and always – always – enjoyable. Seriously.
JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS – ‘TRUE’: Jon Anderson, the once and forever voice of Yes, joined the Band Geeks (podcast and YouTube cover band supreme) for a tour playing “Yes Epics and Classics.” They had so much fun and the musical chemistry was such that they decided to record a new album together. It turned out to be a return to form, rivaling – make that topping – anything Anderson’s former band has done in years. More please.
REZA KHAN – ‘MYSTICAL’: Another from the smooth jazz canon, guitarist Khan (no relation to fellow axe-slinger Steve Khan) and his sidekick, multi-instrumentalist and producer David Mann, have created a winner. Guests include keyboardists Jeff Lorber, Keiko Matsui and Bob James, who all bring their special touch to a project that belongs in every contemporary jazz fan’s collection. Melodic? Yes. Smooth? Well, okay. Inventive and enjoyable? You bet. Boring? Never.
ALICIA WITT – ‘WITNESS’: Alicia Witt, the gifted actress (David Lynch’s Dune, Justified, multiple Hallmark movies – and don’t forget that Christmas album above) first became known as a piano prodigy. On Witness, she doesn’t focus on her piano chops, but instead her singing and songwriting. The title track is a power ballad, while “Loop” brings electronic beats into the mix, but it never descends into the hip hop auto-tune morass common today.
RACHEL Z – ‘SENSUAL’: She’s worked with Wayne Shorter, Peter Gabriel, Stanley Clarke and more, so Rachel Z is clearly more than adept. It’s the emotional feel of her playing here that elevates Sensual. The leader is joined by two different trios plus a guest spot by the inimitable Tony Levin, but Rachel’s piano shows the way. Strings appear on “What About the Kids,” and she hauls out the synth on the title track, but those deviations from the piano-bass-drums trio only enhance things. There’s still plenty of life and variety in that classic jazz setup, as long as the music is good and the players are competent. No worries on either of those scores, as Jonathan Toscano, Mino Cinelu, Matt Penman and Rachel’s life and musical partner Omar Hakim are onboard and in sync with her every step.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
YES – ‘TALK’; EMERSON LAKE AND POWELL – ‘EMERSON LAKE AND POWELL’: Newly packaged with remastering, remixes and additional cuts including live performances, Yes’ Talk and Emerson Lake and Powell’s lone self-titled alum are non-essential but engaging reminders of lesser-remembered projects by two of progressive rock’s stalwarts. Both packages include recordings from the tour following the release of the album, providing insight into how the reconstituted groups sounded in concert playing songs from the respective recording alongside the rest of their repertoires. Emerson Lake and Powell is even more poignant given the fact all three have now passed on to that great gig in the sky.
BOOKS
JOE BOYD – ‘AND THE ROOTS OF RHYTHM REMAIN’: Producer extraordinaire Joe Boyd (Nick Drake’s Bryter Later, Pink Floyd, John Martyn, etc.) has written a lengthy compendium of and exploration of the roots of rock and pop music, primarily from outside the U.S. Fascinating and deep, it’s an interesting journey but one that demands much of the reader.
- Jon Anderson, Reza Khan, CSNY + Others: Ross Boissoneau’s Best of 2024 - December 30, 2024
- Tower of Power, Jennifer Hudson, Ben Folds + Others: 2024’s Seasonal Sounds - November 25, 2024
- Dave Bainbridge of Downes Braide Association: The Albums That Shaped My Career - October 9, 2024
