Best Albums of 2011: Behn Gillece & Ken Fowser

JazzWrap revisits a great year of discoveries in 2011.

Ken Fower (sax)

Behn Gillece (vibes)

Duotone (Posi-Tone Records; 2011)

Donald Vega (piano)

Willie Jones (drums)

David Wong (bass)

Of all our favourites we might discussion this week, Ken Fowser and Behn Gillece's Duotone is probably the one album that could be universally accepted by both jazz new comers and hardcore listeners.


Duotone is like a good club night out. It's smokin' at the right moments ("Overcooked" and "Back To Back"), gently ("In Twilight") and even playful ("One For G"). But outside of setting the mood, Gillece and Fowser grown as musicians and writers. The music on their third album is tighter, well balanced and executed brilliantly by everyone in the quintet.

Gillece and Fowser have made a name for themselves in the New York scene by playing frequently at a number of smaller clubs. This is a duo will definitely be around for a while and if you ever wanted a great contemporary hard bop jazz record, you absolutely can't go wrong with Duotone. Check out our full discussion on Duotone from a earlier in the summer.

The following video was done David Rapoport.

Best Albums of 2011: Equilibrium

JazzWrap revisits a great year of discoveries in 2011.

Equilibrium (trio)

Walking Voices (Songlines Recordings; 2011)

Sissel Vera Pettersen (voice, sax)

Joachim Badenhorst (clarinet)

Mikkel Ploug (guitar)

Simply put, Walking Voices is one of the most beautiful records you'll hear all year. There is a blissful nature to the music. Pettersen, Badenhorst and Ploug weave a delicate web of electronics, folk and chamber classical themes into a dream-like soundscape built on the 15 solid pieces. Incorporating these themes may seem difficult but this trio do it with ease.

The spiritual flowing "Silverise" embodies the aesthetics of the group. It's atmospheric, organic and exploratory. Invoking the essence of Eno, Glass or Laurie Anderson, "Whitless" is awash of multi layered effects both vocal and electronic that will leave a dizzying effect on you as to the strength of this trio.

In our original piece on Walking Voices,  I discussed how Equilibrium have shown they are beyond description and that the music revolves and involves with many themes and varying sounds. This still holds true as I listen to again today. Each of the musicians has there own successful groups that they led but together they are one of the most innovative to come on the scene in recent years.

Best Albums of 2011: Nicole Mitchell

JazzWrap revisits a great year of discoveries in 2011.


Nicole Mitchell (flute)

Awakening (Delmark; 2011)

Avreeayl Ra (drums)

Jeff Parker (guitar)

Harrison Bankhead (bass)

Awakening was one of a slew of records that came at me out of nowhere. I quickly feel in love with Nicole Mitchell's performance here. The writing is tight, spiritual and groovy all at once. As I mentioned in my discussion of the album, it brings back a lot of that Black Power Jazz that floated between Detroit, Chicago and New York in the late '60s and early '70s. There are also moments where the experience of playing with the likes Rob Mazurek in Exploding Star Orchestra seems to have rubbed off ("Journey Of A Thread"). The quartet setting allows the individuals to stand out more. Mitchell's quiet and personal display on "Snowflakes" is indicative of touching Awakening can be on the listener.

Jeff Parker compliments Mitchell on this session with stellar playing that shift from blues to improvised jazz so smoothly you barely notice the changes. Harrison Bankhead and Avreeayl Ra (bass and drums respectively) do more than keep the time and rhythm. Ra's solo during moments is killer and unexpected after the mood Mitchell has set to this point. Bankhead adds a funky but sinister bassline to "There" which Mitchell tempers with some gentle but free moving colours.

Awakening is a laid back, psychedelic, soulful work that won't have you talking about the flute. It will have you taking about the composer. Here's our first discussion on Awakening.

Best Albums of 2011: Hugo Carvalhais

JazzWrap revisits a great year of discoveries in 2001.


Hugo Carvalhais (bass)
Nebulosa (Clean Feed; 2011)
Tim Berne (sax)
Gabriel Pinto (piano)
Mario Costa (drums)


I have probably listened to this record at least 3 times a month since the beginning of year. That might not sound like a lot but I've got a lot of music so trust me--it's a lot. Hugo Carvalhais created a record in Nebulosa that is so dense yet vivid with imagination that you really have to stop, sit down, and focus your mind around the instrumentation and sonic resonance his group are shaping.


Even now almost two months later I'm finding new sounds and classical elements from Tim Berne ("Impala") and from Gabriel Pinto ("Nebulosa II" and "Nebulosa III") that I hadn't noticed originally. Even the more contemporary flavor of "North" I'd hadn't noticed until a few months ago. Carvalhais' writing is sparse and allows for improvising at just the right moments.


The sonic adventure alone is just one of the many reasons why Nebulosa is one of my favourites of 20011. Check out our thoughts from earlier this year: Hugo Carvalhais Nebulosa.