Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog – ‘YRU Still Here?’ (2018)
Marc Ribot and his merry little band of jazz misfits are back extending the middle finger to anything or anybody that catches their ire.
Something Else!
Adam Hopkins – ‘Crickets’ (2018)
Adam Hopkins is one of the few talents with the vision to make jazz directed at the current and future generations, not the past ones.
Herbie Hancock’s ‘Fat Albert Rotunda’ Hinted at Mainstream Successes to Come
Fifty years ago, Herbie Hancock paused to have a little cartoon-related fun. And when Herbie is having fun, his listeners usually are, too.
Judas Priest, Dead Daisies, Amorphis + Others: Fred Phillips’ Best of 2018 (Hard Rock / Metal)
This best of 2018 list for hard rock and metal is capped by one mammoth record that made the whole year worth it.
Other Barry (George Colligan, Enzo Irace, Micah Hummel) – ‘Escape Route’ (2018)
A direct outgrowth of George Colligan’s work as an educator, Other Barry sounds like a bunch of PhD professors of funky rock-jazz.
Steve Kuhn Trio – ‘To and From the Heart’ (2018)
Steve Kuhn just doing his regular jazz trio thing with Joey Baron and Steve Swallow – as they do on ‘To and From the Heart’ – is always exceptionally good.
Tiger Hatchery – ‘Breathing In the Walls’ (2018)
Tiger Hatchery’s ‘Breathing In the Walls’ proves that you don’t have to find an alternative to jazz to get your yah-yah’s out.
Mark Wade, Chris Carver, Peter Erskine + Others: Preston Frazier’s Best of 2018 (Jazz)
Preston Frazier’s jazz-focused survey of Best of 2018 albums includes Mark Wade, Chris Carver, Peter Erskine and Stanley Clarke, among others.
Dave Douglas – ‘UPLIFT, Twelve Pieces For Positive Action’ (2018)
The upheaval seen in Washington and elsewhere since 2016 has amped up the political awareness of a lot of people, and Dave Douglas is no exception.
Chad Taylor – ‘Myths and Morals’ (2018)
Chad Taylor’s first solo album shows you stuff you won’t hear on all the numerous, critically acclaimed projects he became involved with.
