JazzWrap Best Albums Of 2010 Recap

It was a fantastic year for music. Here's a recap of JazzWrap's Best Albums Of 2010.

Mary Halvorson
Mikrokolektyw
One For All
Soweto Kinch
Soil & Pimp Sessions
Jason Moran
The Vandermark 5
Polar Bear
Bobby Avey
Dave Stapleton

There were a couple of albums I didn't get a chance to write about in our Best Of 2010 list. More because I was ill for a few days and couldn't put brain to computer to get the words out. These are by no means "honorable mentions". These are fantastic and in some cases (Jason Adasiewicz, Curtis Fuller, Kris Davis and Ricardo Gallo) phenomenal records that are worth every moment hunting down.

Ricardo Gallo Resistencias (Laidstrito Fonica)
Kris Davis Good Citzen (Fresh Sounds/New Talent)
Brian Eno Small Craft On A Milk Sea (Warp Records)
Curtis Fuller I Will Tell Her (Capri Records)
Tom Rainey Pool School (Clean Feed Records)
Keefe Jackson Seeing You See (Clean Feed Records)
Magnus Broo Swedish Wood (Moserobie Music)
Jason Adasiewicz Sun Rooms (Delmark)

I discovered a lot of new music this year. This was in part to some great friends, musicians, record labels and other blog writers. I especially wanted to mention my two favourite blogs Minimalistic Music and Jazznyt. Both are a little more avant garde than JazzWrap and provide a different perspective on the global community.

In addition, contributing editor, Kristopher Spencer has the insansely insightful site Scorebaby that discusses soundtrack music from every part of the globe as well as a great book on soundtracks that he wrote a year ago which you must own. I highly recommend you check them all out.

We have enjoyed working with and hearing from everyone and we hope to continue with some great new material in 2011. I hope you dig the music and have discovered some cool stuff. For us its all about turning people on to music that's both accessible and adventurous. As always we want to hear from you as well. So if you have a record you feel would be a great fit for us to know about please let us know.

And we are looking forward to another solid year of adventure in 2011.

Video: Tom Rainey Trio (Tom Rainey, Mary Halvorson and Ingrid Laubrock)From all of us at JazzWrap, thank you.

Best Albums Of 2010: Soil & Pimp Sessions

Over the next two weeks JazzWrap revisits our favourite albums of 2010.

Soil & Pimp Sessions (group; formed 2003)
6 (Brownswood Records)

Shacho ("agitator")
Tabu Zombie (trumpet)
Motoharu (sax)
Josei (keyboards)
Akita Goldman (double bass)
Midorin (drums)

Soil & Pimp Sessions have done their fair share of DJing and guest billing on other albums for the last few years. In addition, they have pulled off an amazing feat in today's music world, of releasing five albums since their formation in 2003.

The Japanese "Death Jazz" (their term, not ours) sextet, returned with their sixth album this year. Aptly titled 6, was a raucous and relentless release with buzz saw crowd pleasers like "Papa's Got A Brand New PigBag," "Pop Korn" and "Quartz and Chronometer" blazing the way to the dancefloor.

But the group has grown into more than just a consistent source of dance heavy tunes. They have managed to turn on the lovelight with the midtempo stomp of "My Foolish Heart" and "Double Time." The bands constant touring globally has sharpened their influences more so now than on their previous records.

6 spreads the themes around with tinges of Latin funk on "Paraiso" and soulful grooves of both "Mirror Boy" and a second version of "My Foolish Heart." British semi-pop superstar, Jamie Cullim sits in on "Stolen Moments" surprising recreating Mark Murphy but it works.

If it always sounds like a good time on Soil & Pimp Sessions records, its because they try to recorded everything live in the club. That's no different here. You get the feeling of party and you have the feeling its never gonna stop.

Soil & Pimp Sessions have remained in the "underground' for far too long. This is by far their best and most cohesive album to date and well worth seeking out. 6 is a party album, no doubt about it. But its the kind of album that will also have you stopping in your tracks to listen to "that" song again...and again...and again.

José James & Jef Neve — For All We Know

José James & Jef Neve — For All We Know (Impulse, 2010)

If you've been following the career of vocalist José James — and you should — you've probably been waiting for him to cut a record like this one — a simple, straight-forward collection of jazz standards.

To date, James has brought his rich baritone to a handful of albums (solo projects and works by Nicola Conte, Timo Lassy, Soil & Pimp Sessions, etc.) where the emphasis has been on new compositions in contemporary styles (r'n'b, soul, hip-hop and jazz). By exploring such material, James has demonstrated impressive range, but it has also begged the question: Can J.J. deliver the goods on a classic material, too?

The short answer is yes-maybe. Working alongside Belgian up-and-comer pianist Jef Neve, who's sensitivity as an accompanist is deeply felt, James brings a relaxed (maybe too relaxed) approach to standards such as Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” George and Ira Gershwins’ “Embraceable You,” and Duke Ellington’s “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You.” On one hand, the songs and the intimate instrumental setting are well served by James' quiet, romantic style, but on the other hand he can sound a little tentative and self-conscious about phrasing, like he's holding back to avoid making mistakes. Likewise, one senses that Neve is holding back on his keyboard virtuosity to compensate for James' relaxed vocal style.

So, while the album doesn't definitely prove James' capability with Great American Songbook, it suggests enormous potential. It would be exciting to hear him (and Neve) cover similar material with a larger group. Let's hope they do.

Soil & "Pimp" Sessions — 6 (2010)

Japanese punk-jazz sextet Soil & "Pimp" Sessions are back with their sixth full-length in as many years. Simply dubbed 6, it's the band's most accomplished set to date and out now on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label.

Raucous and relentless tracks like "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" and "Double Trouble" amply demonstrate SPS's aesthetic: Blend boisterous, high energy soul jazz with ferocious chops and hit "pulverize". And by no means is it just a bunch of noise. Hell to the no. There are melodies a plenty swirling around in this stew, but beware — this shit is hot. Mess around and you might get burned.

So, who are these jazz punks anyway. According to their rap sheet, they include Shacho (agitator, spirit), Tabu zombie (trumpet), Motoharu (sax), Josei (piano), Akita Goldman (bass) and Midorin (drums). When's the last time you encountered a jazz group featuring an "agitator"?

First and foremost, SPS is a live band and their albums sound that way, sans audience interaction (though they do have a live DVD if that's what you're looking for). They call their music "death jazz," and while that's amusing and all you don't really get a negative vibe from their music. If anything it's all the way live.

According to the band's PR, "We always felt that in the world of jazz, there was an unwritten rule that the musicians were to concentrate on their techniques and the audience were simply there to admire, like a transmitter/ receiver relationship. We wanted to break away from that and create exciting jazz with far more interaction between the players and the audience."

Judging from 6, they've got the skillz that kill. This isn't jazz to sit calmly listening to, applauding politely after every solo. This shit is for dancing like your pants are on fire. Aw hell, just give it a listen.