Spalding and Moran Make NPR's Top 50 List

Wednesday December 01, 2010

From NPR

50 Favorites: From Alexander Melnikov To Kermit Ruffins

These are the 50 albums we enjoyed the most in 2010 — the ones that inspired us, surprised us and stayed with us more than any others. The list of our 50 favorite records of the year continues with Jason Moran, Janelle Monae, The National and more artists from M to R.

Jason Moran: Ten
As a composer, jazz pianist Jason Moran is known as a conceptualist, drawing from contemporary visual art and assorted clippings from the entirety of recorded sound. It’s a big reason why the MacArthur Foundation named him a Fellow earlier this year. But as with, say, Kanye West, Moran’s amassed cultural capital transforms to magic on a visceral, head-nodding level. That’s what makes Ten, recorded with his decade-old trio The Bandwagon, possibly his best recording yet. It simply documents items the band has been honing on stage in recent years, making abstract slashes sound down-home bluesy, disassembly sound constructive and jazz history sound funky. This band takes a surfeit of heady ideas and hits you in the gut with them. (Patrick Jarenwattananon)

Esperanza Spalding: Chamber Music Society
While 2008’s Esperanza was a commercial success, Chamber Music Society pulls off an impressive feat: It finds Esperanza Spalding progressing artistically and expanding on her own style. Vocals, be it from Spalding or one of her guests, have become a participating instrument rather than the focal point of her songs. Each composition and musician seems painstakingly crafted and handpicked, allowing each piece here to play like a chapter from an expertly plotted book rather than individual tracks with little to no common bond. (Kevin Kniestedt, KPLU)

For the full list click here

Radio Song (clip)	1:01	Esperanza Spalding
Black Gold	5:17	Esperanza Spalding

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Watch what's on

*Radio Music Society Trailer
Esperanza Spalding at the Oscars
Black Gold
Esperanza Spalding at the Nobel Prize Ceremony

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IMN - International Music Network