Best of 2010, Part 2: The Panel Weighs In!

New York, October 15 — The second New York “Jazz Matters” meeting of fall 2010, a listening session with four critics blindfold-testing each other on “Best Jazz of the Year — so far,” was again a success, following up round one of the discussion which took place on September 15. The JJA is still encouraging JJA members in other cities to produce similar events.

Below is a rundown of tracks picked by panelists Nate Chinen (The New York Times, JazzTimes), Jim Macnie (Down Beat) and Josh Jackson (WBGO-FM, The Checkout), along with event co-facilitator David R. Adler (JazzTimes, Philadelphia Weekly, Lerterland – blog.adlermusic.com). JJA President Howard Mandel moderated the discussion at the New School Jazz performance space. There was lively debate among the panelists and attendees, including Nu Jazz Entertainment principal Jerald Miller, bassist and curator James Ilgenfritz, Adina Williams of Boosey & Hawkes and more. (Chinen’s take on the event is here.)

There’s much more to discuss, so stay tuned for details on the next JJA Jazz Matters discussion in November, as well as other such events staged in locations outside New York.

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Track Rundown for October 14

Nate Chinen:

“Ando,” from Benoit Delbecq, The Sixth Jump (Songlines)

“Don’t Be Sad,” from Brad Mehldau, Highway Rider (Nonesuch)

“Body and Soul,” from Coleman Hawkins, The Savory Collection

Josh Jackson:

“Red Velvet in Winter,” from Geri Allen, Flying Toward the Sound (Motéma)

“Buying, Selling,” from Ralph Alessi, Cognitive Dissonance (Cam Jazz)

“Brejk a Leg,” from Nordic Connect, Spirals (ArtistShare)

Jim Macnie:

“Swinging Doors,” from Bryan and the Haggards, Pretend It’s the End of the World (Hot Cup)

“Year of the Rooster,” from Chris Lightcap, Deluxe (Clean Feed)

“To the Queen,” from Nels Cline Singers, Initiate (Cryptogramophone)

David R. Adler:

“November ’80,” from Tarbaby, The End of Fear (Posi-Tone)

Honorable mentions, from the panelists and the audience:

CDs by Myra Melford, Christian Scott, Mike Pride, Jamie Saft, Jacky Terrasson, Little Women, Paquito D’Rivera, Edmar Castaneda, Anthony Davis, Ryan Keberle, Nicole Mitchell, Jason Adasiewicz, Mike Reed, more.