McCoy Tyner Trio: Inception
A trio setting with bassist Art Davis and drummer Elvin Jones, Inception is a strong debut, though not necessarily indicative of the monster player Tyner would become.
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Rez Abbasi: Thoroughly Modern Marvel
Guitarist Rez Abbasi is part of a generation of jazz musicians who came of age after the conservative backlash of the 1980s.
Nheap: Clouds Under The Table
Nheap is the nom de guerre of Italian drummer/composer Massimo Discepoli. The projects he puts out as Nheap are ethereal, mostly mellow electronic excursions accompanied by his own live acoustic drum work. 'Clouds Under The Table' marks his third collection as Nheap.
Alejandro Florez & Tibagui: Malandanza
Alejandro Florez's Tibagui exists to explore and expand upon the Andean music of the guitarist's native Colombia. Neither cumbia nor chichi, Florez's quartet use traditional folk melodies as starting points for very modern, sophisticated and engaging improvisations.
Animation: Agemo
One of the more intriguing albums issued in the first half of 2011, Animation's 'Asiento' (RareNoise, 2011), has now begotten one of the best sets of the latter part of the year.
Miho Wada: Para Ti
Good things can indeed come in small packages. Flutist Miho Wada's Para Ti, for example, clocks in at just a hair over 20 minutes, with five melodic and catchy songs that manage to combine sharp musicianship with a sense of whimsy and fun.
Tarana: After the Disquiet
After the Disquiet is a beguiling EP from Tarana, a duo consisting of drummer Ravish Momin and violinist Trina Basu.
Taeko Kunishima: Late Autumn
This piece originally appeared on All About Jazz, November 19, 2011
Yotam: Brasil
Brazilian music is tricky. It must be approached carefully as its mellow understatement can be vulnerable to sterility in production and blandness in execution. Brasil, by Israeli guitarist Yotam Silberstein (now known solely as "Yotam") is plagued by both attributes.
Yo-Yo Ma / Stuart Duncan / Edgar Meyer / Chris Thile: The Goat Rodeo Sessions
The Goat Rodeo Sessions is the perhaps not-so-unlikely collaboration between mandolinist Chris Thile, bassist Edgar Meyer, fiddle player Stuart Duncan and ubiquitous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. These four master musicians have together made some of the most lyrical and captivating music of 2011.
Jacob 2-2: Fantasiarexia
After lighting up the indie blogosphere at the beginning of 2011 with his six-song EP, Cabazon (Moodgadget Records), DJ and producer Jacob 2-2 is back with Fantasiarexia, featuring more of his 1980s-derived electro funk.
Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner
This piece was originally published by All About Jazz on November 6, 2011