Wilson, Lovano and Moran on NPRs Best of 2008 List

Wednesday December 03, 2008

(From WDUQ, December 3, 2008) Cross-pollination of excellent musicians made for some amazing jazz in 2008. The year’s best CDs find guitarist Lionel Loueke making an appearance on albums by Francisco Mela and Kenny Barron, Mela playing on Barron’s new CD as well as his own, Joe Lovano releasing one album solo and one with the Saxophone Summit, and pianist Jason Moran appearing on recordings by Mela and Cassandra Wilson. Hearing the best musicians work with other geniuses is a wonderful thing to witness.

There were so many new jazz releases this year that it’s virtually impossible to have heard everything. For that reason, there’s likely some great music out there that was overlooked only because I didn’t hear it. (Feel free to nominate your own favorites in the comments section below.) That said, in no particular order, here are the year’s 10 best jazz CDs.

To vote for your favorite CDs of 2008 in NPR Music’s year-end listener poll, click here. Once you’ve voted, click here for more entries in the Best CDs of 2008 series.

Remember Fela	4:24	Gangbé Brass Band
Veil of Tears	14:24	Overtone Quartet
Silencio	4:11	Ojos De Brujo
The Jolly Seven-Rascal on the Haystack	3:52	Cherish The Ladies
Dala	3:51	Dobet Gnahoré
Jabula	5:08	Vusi Mahlasela
The Mooch	7:16	3 Cohens
Cacadores de Emocoes		Terri Lyne Carrington
Mosaic Triad		Terri Lyne Carrington
Tounka (Tchamantche)	3:09	Rokia Traoré
Regalo De Dios	5:29	Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Step To It	19:52	Overtone Quartet
MSMW - Little Walter Rides Again	3:55	John Scofield
Wari	4:16	Habib Koite
She'eriot Shel Ha'Chaim	3:06	Idan Raichel
Sagal Ko	3:35	Youssou N'Dour
Touba - Daru Salaam	5:49	Youssou N'Dour
Baby, I Love You feat. Dianne Reeves	3:10	Angélique Kidjo
Footprints	7:55	Wayne Shorter
The Women Gather	2:31	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Zulu Laduma	3:02	Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Newspaper Angels	3:16	Jenny Scheinman
The Jolly Seven / Rascal on the Haystack	3:52	Irish Homecoming
Allure & Destruct (Big Noise)	4:04	Street Drum Corps
Radio Song (clip)	1:01	Esperanza Spalding
Don't Take It That Way	3:12	Raul Midón
Television	7:07	Baaba Maal
Sweet Thames Flow Softly	5:21	Cherish The Ladies
Ingots	3:53	Kaki King
Todo Tiende	4:26	Ojos De Brujo
ODJus Fitxadu	3:25	Idan Raichel
Thula Mama	3:42	Vusi Mahlasela
African Cowboy	5:07	Richard Bona
St. James Infirmary (Clarinetwork)	10:16	Anat Cohen
Noubioto	3:43	Gangbé Brass Band
I-10 (James Farm)	4:32	Joshua Redman
Coal Tattoo	3:18	Kathy Mattea
Stand By Me	6:04	Playing For Change
I Was Young When I Left Home	5:31	Jenny Scheinman
Good Times	4:34	Richard Bona
Dakar Moon	3:15	Baaba Maal
Manalyuca	6:30	McCoy Tyner
Revolt (Big Noise)	3:53	Street Drum Corps
The Wheel	7:01	Chris Potter
Sport	3:02	Altan
The Razor's Edge	6:18	Dave Holland
Move On Up feat. John Legend	3:46	Angélique Kidjo
Passport	5:27	Joe Lovano
I'm a Soldier	1:33	John Scofield
After You've Gone (Clarinetwork)	8:17	Anat Cohen
Playing with Pink Noise	3:02	Kaki King
Ixegezi	2:12	Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Next Generation	4:03	Raul Midón
Funky Good Time LIVE	0:50	Still Black, Still Proud
Crazy Stuff	5:01	Tineke Postma
Morning Bell	5:42	Chris Potter
Batoumambe	4:13	Habib Koite
Today Will Be A Good Day	5:09	Dianne Reeves
Polliwog (James Farm)	8:22	Joshua Redman
One Man's Idea		Avishai Cohen
Amame Como Soy	3:26	Omara Portuondo
Ca Jé	3:49	Caetano Veloso
I Like It That Way	3:10	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Como El Viento	4:00	Depedro
Ae Ae	3:31	Angélique Kidjo
Barbados	6:20	Joe Lovano
The Man I Love (Tchamantche)	4:44	Rokia Traoré
Peace on Earth	5:05	Saxophone Summit
Din Don Dan LIVE	1:14	Still Black, Still Proud
Fire Waltz	4:36	Jason Moran
Redemption Song	4:10	Playing For Change
Náo Me Diga Adeus (All One)	2:47	Oscar Castro-Neves
J Blues (Notes From The Village)	7:08	Anat Cohen
Bonnie's Song	3:15	Raul Midón
Alexander the Great	6:52	Saxophone Summit
Woza	4:24	Vusi Mahlasela
Old Brooklyn (Crossing the Field)	3:42	Jenny Scheinman
Leave Me A Place Underground	5:32	Tineke Postma
Greensleeves ft. Derek Trucks (Guitars)	6:14	McCoy Tyner
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out	5:22	Becca Stevens
When I Fall	3:55	Lizz Wright
Higher Ground	4:46	Playing For Change
Sweet Thames Flow Softly	5:21	Irish Homecoming
Victory! (Big Noise)	3:33	Street Drum Corps
Song For Mia	4:53	Lizz Wright
Knives Out	8:29	Brad Mehldau
Vijay Iyer Trio - Historicity	7:50	Vijay Iyer
Super America	2:27	The Bad Plus
"The Littlest Prisoner" w/Bruce Cockburn	4:09	Jenny Scheinman
Cucurrucu Paloma	4:01	Caetano Veloso
Are We A Nation	3:58	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Mr. PC ft. John Scofield (Guitars)	6:23	McCoy Tyner
Solipsist	2:31	Kaki King
Zen Remix	3:34	Rokia Traoré
Thalaza	4:00	Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Mood Indigo		Avishai Cohen
Anna Eco (Crossing the Field)	4:01	Jenny Scheinman
Stepping Out	4:48	Kurt Elling
Chilla que Tiemble		Depedro
Jho Avido	3:58	Dobet Gnahoré
You Are	7:10	The Bad Plus
Just My Imagination	4:53	Dianne Reeves
Say It Loud LIVE	1:02	Still Black, Still Proud
Jump Up	5:48	Jason Moran
Black Gold	5:17	Esperanza Spalding
You Make Me (Live)	5:15	Becca Stevens
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (live)	7:32	Dave Douglas
Red Winged Black Bird	2:56	Kathy Mattea
Vijay Iyer, Solo - Patterns	8:31	Vijay Iyer
Joy Ryder	11:20	Wayne Shorter
1981 (James Farm)	8:52	Joshua Redman
RFK in the Land of Apartheid	4:10	Jason Moran
Before the Snow	4:17	Tineke Postma
Prime Directive	7:46	Dave Holland
Adios Felicidad	3:16	Omara Portuondo
Siboney (Notes From The Village)	8:22	Anat Cohen
Trio Blues	4:16	John Scofield
Nakamokhura	4:07	Vusi Mahlasela
Zelie	2:04	Angélique Kidjo
Tiger Rag	4:07	3 Cohens
Things Behind the Sun	4:37	Brad Mehldau
I'll Notice (Live)	6:03	Becca Stevens
Birdyard	1:48	Joe Lovano
Fats (live)	3:36	Dave Douglas
My Heart	4:00	Lizz Wright
The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore	4:13	Kathy Mattea
Como Baila Mi Mulata	5:42	Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Chalomot Shel Acherim	3:40	Idan Raichel
Refavela	5:56	Gilberto Gil

[+] open in new window

Watch what's on

*Treachery	Overtone Quartet
Dakar Moon	Baaba Maal
Techari Live	Ojos De Brujo
*Are We A Nation?	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Nature Boy	Kurt Elling Symphony
Never Stop EPK	The Bad Plus
Promo	Idan Raichel
Traveler's Blessing (Live)	Becca Stevens
*Over Shadow Hill Way	Wayne Shorter
Stand By Me	Playing For Change
EPK	Youssou N'Dour
Galang	Vijay Iyer
Fé na Festa	Gilberto Gil
*"The Gate" EPK	Kurt Elling
Live at Montreux	Sing the Truth!
Say Africa (2010 FIFA World Cup™ Kick-off Concer	Vusi Mahlasela
Freedom Dance	Dianne Reeves
Sound Prints EPK	Joe Lovano
Move On Up	Angélique Kidjo
Esperanza Spalding at the Nobel Prize Ceremony	Esperanza Spalding
Sound Prints Short EPK	Sound Prints
Makoti	Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Altan with the RTE Concert Orchestra	Altan Symphony
The Orchard EPK	Lizz Wright
McCoy Tyner Quartet	McCoy Tyner
Let There Be Peace	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Arinanara	Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Rokia Traoré Live 2009	Rokia Traoré
When You Know EPK	Dianne Reeves
Red Winged Blackbird	Kathy Mattea
*Radio Music Society Trailer	Esperanza Spalding
Cherish The Ladies & Friends with the RI Philharmo	Cherish The Ladies Symphony
*Jump Up	Jason Moran
Television	Baaba Maal
Folk Art EPK	Joe Lovano
Prometheus Unbound	Wayne Shorter
John Scofield Quartet - Steeplechase	John Scofield
The View from Blue Mountain	Dave Douglas
Live Trailer	Playing For Change
Live Clips 2008	Rokia Traoré
*Altan with the RTE Orchestra	Altan
I'll Play The Blues For You	Jason Moran
*Kathy Mattea EPK 2011	Kathy Mattea
Malaika with Luxembourg Philhormonic Orchestra	Angelique Kidjo Symphony
*Cape Town Jazz Festival	Dave Holland
*"Polliwog" Live at Jazz Standard	James Farm
Black Gold	Esperanza Spalding
Fire Waltz	Jason Moran
JAMES FARM Live at Jazz Standard	Joshua Redman
*One Love - LIVE	Playing For Change
PFC Foundation	Playing For Change
*Bird Songs EPK	Joe Lovano
2010 Gilberto Gil interview	Gilberto Gil
*Resignation	Brad Mehldau
I'm In Love Again	Dianne Reeves
The First Noel	Cherish The Ladies: Celtic Christmas
State of Mind on Late Show with David Letterman	Raul Midón
*Freedom	3 Cohens
Comanche	Depedro
*Tineke Postma Quartet	Tineke Postma
La Memoria	Depedro
Imagine	Playing For Change
Afirika (2010 FIFA World Cup™ Kick-off Concert)	Angélique Kidjo
The Pace Report Interview	Saxophone Summit
Mr. PC with John Scofield	McCoy Tyner
*Live at Jazz Standard	Anat Cohen
Vusi and Friends	Vusi Mahlasela
*Live in Tokyo	Terri Lyne Carrington
Two Parts in One (Live w/Calexico)	Depedro
Motherless Child	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Live in Montreal	Spanish Harlem Orchestra
*Live at the 2011 Montreal Jazz Festival	Sing the Truth!
Dos Gardenias	Omara Portuondo
The Mooch	3 Cohens
*"Dounia" Music Video	Rokia Traoré
*Compass EPK	Joshua Redman
*Corcavado	Oscar Castro-Neves
Sound Prints EPK	Dave Douglas
*"Song for Sidiki" at the Barbican	Jenny Scheinman
Bone Chaos at the Castle	Kaki King
N'teri	Habib Koite
Sittin' In The Middle	Raul Midón
Sound Prints Short EPK	Sound Prints
Afro-Pfingsten Festival 2010	Dobet Gnahoré
*The Wheel	Chris Potter
Depedro - CNN	Depedro
Altan - Cití na gCumann - Gradam Ceoil	Altan
Joe Master Class Video	Joe Lovano
Al Jazeera Interview	Omara Portuondo
Jenny Scheinman's Mischief & Mayhem	Jenny Scheinman
*Street Drum Corps	Street Drum Corps
Acoustic Africa Promo 2012	Acoustic Africa
Spark of Being EPK	Dave Douglas
Altan on Balcony TV	Altan
*Blackstaff Sessions	Cherish The Ladies
Goodbye Storyteller (for Fred Myrow)	Brad Mehldau
The Mosaic Project	Terri Lyne Carrington
Hot Brass	Richard Bona
Como El Viento	Depedro
Esperanza Spalding at the Oscars	Esperanza Spalding
Ella's Song	Sweet Honey In The Rock
Dobet Gnahore, Idan Raichel and India.Arie - "Pale	Dobet Gnahoré

[+] open in new window

News Archive

IMN - International Music Network