Best Of 2008

CD's & Concerts

Viewpoint by: Paul J. Youngman

The following lists my favorites of this past year. The criteria to make it on the list, it must be a memorable performance, it must feature some soulful playing and as for a CD, it must be one that I want to hear over and over again. The lists of my top picks for 2008 are in no particular order and there is no preference.

2008 CD’s: Artist, Title, Label
Charles Lloyd Rabo De Nube, ECM 13
Sebastian Schunke Back In New York, Connector Records
Lusi/Masciari Quartet Gotha 17, Splasch Records
Joe Lovano with WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra, Symphonica, Blue Note
Joe Davidian Trio Silent Fire, Sonic Mirage
Rinsethealgorithm Locutions, Independent
Koppel/Piromalli/Kornazov/Anderson/Humair European Jazz Factory, Cowbell Music
The Roy Hargrove Quintet Earfood, Emarcy
Cassandra Wilson Loverly, Bluenote
Ahmad Jamal It’s Magic, Dreyfus

CD Re-Issues:
Nat Adderly Work Song, Riverside, The Concord Group
Coleman Hawkins The Hawk Flies High, Riverside, The Concord Group

Highlight Concerts:
Art of Jazz Celebration especially,
Hermeto Pascoal & The Art of Jazz Orchestra conducted by Jovino Santos Neto

The Guelph Jazz Festival:
Barry Guy, Maya Homburger, Jeff Reilly

TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival:
Hilario Duran Trio – Duran (piano), Roberto Occhipinti(bass), Mark Kelso(drums)
Ahmad Jamal Quartet with, Manola Badrena(percussion), James Cammack(bass) and James Johnson(drums)
Geri Allen Quartet with, Kenny Davis(bass), Kass Overall(drums) and tap dancer Maurice Chestnut
Alto Summit featuring altoist’, Red Holloway, Bobby Watson, Greg Osby and Donald Harrison with Luke O’Reilly (piano) Corcoran Holt (bass), and Henry Conerway III (drums)

Misc. Shows:
Dave Liebman, Mike Murley Quartet with Pat Collins(bass) and Ian Froman(drums)- Hugh's Room
Kurt Elling with Laurence Hobgood(piano), Rob Amster(bass) and Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums)- The Diesel Playhouse
Tuck & Patti - Bathurst St. Theatre
Rinsethealgorithm: Rich Brown (bass), Robi Botos, David Virelles (keys), Luis Deniz (sax), Yvette Tollar (vocals), Larnell Lewis (drums) - Lula Lounge

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