Outside-Inside-Out

In the waning hours of 2011 I thought I’d hit you with my final additions to the jazz CDs that I really really liked this year:

Discs I haven’t written about:

Chris Dingman, Waking Dreams – Joining the vibist Dingman are alto saxophonist Loren Stillman, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist Joe Sanders, and drummer Justin Brown.  This set shows off Dingman’s talents as a player and composer.   Often atmospheric, introspective and highly emotive, this is an excellent debut and an excellent showcase for a killer band.

Sean Nowell, Stockholm Swingin’ (Posi-Tone) – Nowell, a New York based tenor saxophonist, and his regular drummer Joe Abba recorded this straight ahead and highly engaging live set at the Glenn Miller Cafe in Stockholm.  Swedish guitarist Frederik Olsson, pianist Leo Lindberg and bassist Lars Ekman are quite impressive.

Discs I’ve covered this year:

Bryan and the Haggards, Still Alive and Kickin’ Down the Walls (Hot Cup)

Wadada Leo Smith’s Mbira, Dark Lady of the Sonnets (TUM)

Tony Jones, Pitch, Rhythm and Consciousness

Satoko Fujii, Watershed; Rafale; Eto (Libra)

Billy Bang/Bill Cole, S/T

Tyshawn Sorey, Oblique-1 (Pi)

Peoples Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Tzigane)