Os melhores do jazz em 2015 - The Best Jazz of 2015!
The complete results of the 37th Jazz Station Awards!
Os resultados da 37ª edição do Prêmio Jazz Station!
(Steve Gadd)
These are the complete results of the 37th Annual Jazz Station Awards conducted by the Los Angeles-based jazz journalist, record producer, jazz historian & jazz educator Arnaldo DeSouteiro. Mr. DeSouteiro is a voting member of NARAS-Grammy, as well as of the Jazz Journalists Association and the Los Angeles Jazz Society. He has produced over 830 sessions, according to the All Music Guide website. For more details and a small bio, please check
http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com.br/2015/07/arnaldo-desouteiro-bio-jsr-jazz-station.html
Ahmad Jamal, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, Airto Moreira, Bob Mintzer, Vic Juris, Phil Woods, Mark Egan, Otmaro Ruiz, Jean-Luc Ponty, Hubert Laws, Anat Cohen, Akua Dixon, Ellen Johnson and Boris Savoldelli are among the top artists of the year.
Only albums recorded or released in 2015 were eligible. This explain why two artists made the list, despite the fact that they had already passed away - Kenny Wheeler (in 2014) and Phil Woods (in 2015). Wheeler left the "Songs For Quintet" ready for release, and it came out posthumously. Phil saw the release of "Songs One" a few months prior to his death.
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O Prêmio Jazz Station - criado em 1979 por Arnaldo DeSouteiro, jornalista, historiador e produtor brasileiro radicado em Los Angeles - chega ao 37º ano, contemplando os artistas que mais se dedicaram no panorama jazzístico internacional em todo o mundo. Membro votante do Grammy, da Jazz Journalists Association e da Los Angeles Jazz Society, entre outras instituições, DeSouteiro já produziu mais de 830 sessões de gravação, segundo contabilizado pelo site All Music Guide.
Além de dono da gravadora JSR e da empresa Jazz Station Marketing & Consultoria, Arnaldo DeSouteiro traz no curriculo trabalhos para selos como Verve, Milestone, Sony e CTI, roteiros para shows e especiais de TV de João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfá, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione, Bjork, Eumir Deodato e Diana Krall, e também é convidado frequentemente para atuar como parecerista em empresas privadas, instituições governamentais e festivais de jazz nos EUA, Brasil, Europa e Ásia.
Ahmad Jamal, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, Airto Moreira, Bob Mintzer, Vic Juris, Phil Woods, Mark Egan, Otmaro Ruiz, Jean-Luc Ponty, Hubert Laws, Anat Cohen, Akua Dixon, Ellen Johnson e Boris Savoldelli estão entre os artistas que brilharam em 2015.
Atendendo aos pedidos dos leitores, que desde 1979 acompanham essa votação, incluímos – após os nomes de todos os colocados em cada categoria – os títulos dos trabalhos (CDs, DVDs ou Blu-rays) pelo quais os artistas foram avaliados, com base apenas em lançamentos realizados no decorrer deste ano.
Para variar, foram necessárias várias semanas para a preparação de todas estas listas, reouvindo CDs, revendo DVDs, checando fichas técnicas e, às vezes, reavaliando opiniões. Tudo isso com o objetivo de fornecer o mais fiel possível retrato do cenário jazzístico em 2015, a partir de bases reais de análise.
O que significa, por exemplo, que artistas que não lançaram novos trabalhos este ano, seja como líderes ou sidemen, tornaram-se, por mais geniais que sejam, automaticamente inelegíveis. Vale explicar a inclusão de dois álbuns de artistas já falecidos: Kenny Wheeler deixou pronto, pouco antes de morrer, o estupendo CD "Songs For Quintet", editado postumamente. E Phil Woods, pouco antes de falecer, viu o lançamento de seu belíssimo álbum em duo com Vic Juris, "Songs One".
Vários discos premiados em 2015, com atraso, pelas revistas especializadas, não aparecem na nossa lista por uma simples razão: constaram da relação de 2014.
Aí estão os resultados completos:
2015 Acoustic Piano: 1. Ahmad Jamal (“Live In Marciac” – Jazz Village); 2. Keith Jarrett (“Creation” – ECM); 3. Steve Kuhn (“Break Of Day” w/ Karin Krog – Meantime); 4. Carlos Franzetti (“In The Key Of Tango” – Sunnyside); 5. Richie Beirach (“Varuna” w/ Laurie Antonioli – Origin); 6. Chick Corea (“Two” w/ Bela Fleck – Concord); 7. Harold Mabern (“Afro Blue” – Smoke Sessions); 8. Fred Hersch (“Solo” - Palmetto); 9. Danilo Perez (“Children Of The Light” – Mack Avenue); 10. Mark Little ("Suite Mother" - Caralittle Music); 11. Jacky Terrasson ("Take This" - Impulse!); 12. Vijay Iyer (“Break Stuff” – ECM)
2015 Electric Piano: 1. Otmaro Ruiz (“Jimbo de CTI” w/ Akira Jimbo – Electric Bird); 2. Mark Soskin (“Viewpoint” w/ Steve Smith And Vital Information” – BFM Jazz); 3. Luis Perdomo (“Twenty-Two” – Hot Tone Music); 4. Roberto Di Gioia (“Thank You Baby!” w/ Torsten Goods); 5. Jacky Terrasson ("Take This" - Impulse!); 6. Stefano Bollani (“Arrivano Gli Alieni” – Decca); 7. Franz von Chossy (“Left Tokyo Right” w/ Pascal Schumacher – Laborie); 8. Stale Storlokken (“Silver Mountain” w/ Elephant 9 & Reine Fiske – Rune Grammofon/Cargo Records); 9. Christian Lorenzen ("What's For Dessert" w/ Zooom Trio - Leo Records); 10. Christian Sands ("Invictus" w/ Reggie Quinerly - Redefinition Music)
2015 Organ: 1. Brian Charette (“Good Tipper – Posi-Tone Jazz); 2. Joey DeFrancesco (“Trip Mode” – High Note); 3. Tony Monaco (“Furry Slippers” – Chicken Group Records); 4. Chris Palmaro (“Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” w/ John Tropea – STP Records); 5. Ricky Peterson (“Time And The River” – Okeh); 6. Raphael Wressnig (“Soul Gumbo” – Peper Cake); 7. Jared Gold (“What I Heard” w/ Oliver Lake Organ Quartet – Passin’ Thru); 8. Stale Storlokken (“Silver Mountain” w/ Elephant 9 & Reine Fiske – Rune Grammofon/Cargo Records); 9. Roland Köppel ("RatPack" w/ LA Box - La-Box); 10. Pierre-Luc Vallet ("Live at Bird's Eye" w/ Schneider-Vallet-Schmidlin Organ Trio - TCB)
2015 Keyboards: 1. Otmaro Ruiz (“Jimbo de CTI” w/ Akira Jimbo – Electric Bird); 2. Nick Rolfe (“Constellations” w/ Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux & Mark Egan – Double Moon Records); 3. Larry Goldings (“70 String” w/ Steve Gadd Band – BFM Jazz); 4. Gary Husband (“Black Light” w/ John McLaughlin – Abstract Logix); 5. Chris Conway (“Out Of The Blue” – Oblong); 6. Chris Palmaro (“Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” w/ John Tropea – STP Records); 7. Jason Lindner (“Fast Future” w/ Donny McCaslin – Greenleaf Music); 8. François Faure (“Paris Songbook” w/ Stephanie Lottermoser – Downhill Records); 9. Stale Storlokken (“Silver Mountain” w/ Elephant 9 & Reine Fiske – Rune Grammofon/Cargo Records)
2015 Acoustic Bass: 1. Ron Carter (“My Personal Songbook” w/ WDR Big Band – In+Out Records); 2. Stanley Clarke (“D-Stringz” w/ Biréli Lagrène & Jean-Luc Ponty – Impulse!); 3. Reginald Veal (“Live In Marciac” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazz Village); 4. Eddie Gomez (“Live at Montmatre” w/ Carsten Dahl – Storyville); 5. John Patitucci (“Children Of The Light” w/ Danilo Perez & Brian Blade – Mack Avenue); 6. Mark Wade (“Event Horizon” – Mark Wade Music); 7. Christian McBride (“Live At The Village Vanguard” – Mack Avenue); 8. Nathan East (“The New Cool” w/ Bob James – Yamaha Entertainment Group); 9. Robert Sabin ("Humanity Part II" - Ranula Music)
2015 Electric Bass: 1. Mark Egan (“Direction Home” – Wavetone); 2. Nathan East (“For The Record” – DVD Yamanha Entertainment Group); 3. Abraham Laboriel (“Jimbo de CTI” w/ Akira Jimbo – Electric Bird); 4. Byron Miller (“Psycho Bass” – BLM); 5. Steve Swallow (“Simple Songs” w/ Christian Muthspiel – In+Out); 6. Neil Jason (“Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” w/ John Tropea – STP Records); 7. Jimmy Johnson (“70 String” w/ Steve Gadd Band – BFM Jazz); 8. Marcus Miller (“Afrodeezia” – Blue Note); 9. Etienne M’Bappe (“Black Light” w/ John McLaughlin – Abstract Logix)
2015 Drums: 1. Steve Gadd (“70 Strong” – BFM Jazz); 2. Akira Jimbo (“Jimbo de CTI” – Electric Bird); 3. Danny Gottlieb (“Directon Home” w/ Mark Egan – Wavetone); 4. Dan Brubeck (“Live From The Cellar” – Blue Forest Records); 5. Karl Latham (“Constellations” – Double Moon Records); 6. Antonio Sanchez (“The Unity Sessions” Blu-ray w/ Pat Metheny); 7. Jack DeJohnette (“Made In Chicago” – ECM); 8. Reggie Quinerly (“Invictus” – Redefinition Music); 9. Herlin Riley (“Live In Marciac” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazzbook/Jazz Village); 10. Harvey Mason (“Silver” w/ Fourplay - Heads Up); 11. Al Foster (“Heads Of State” w/ Gary Bartz – Smoke Sessions Records); 12. Joey Baron (“Sound Prints” w/ Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas – Blue Note); 13. William Kennedy (“Get Up!” w/ Bob Mintzer Big Band – MCG); 14. Bill Stewart (“Past Present” w/ John Scofield – Impulse!); 15. Anders Vestergard (“Lisbon Sessions” w/ Lupa Santiago & Anders Vestergard Quintet - Drum Voice Records)
2015 Percussion: 1. Airto Moreira (“Dança dos Tempos” w/ Fabiano do Nascimento – Now-Again Records); 2. Sammy Figueroa ("Imaginary World" - Savant); 3. Manolo Badrena (“Live In Marciac” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazzbook Records/Jazz Village); 4. Gerry Hemingway (“Kernelings” – Auricle Records); 5. John Santos (“Descarga For Monk” w/ Alex Conde – Zoho); 6. Marcio Doctor (“Children Of The Sun” w/ Joe Sample & NDR Big Band – PRA); 7. Javier Diaz (“Time And The River” w/ David Sanborn – Okeh); 8. Roger Squitero (“Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” w/ John Tropea – STP Records); 9. Victor Rendon (“Call It What You Want” w/ Russ Nolan – Rhinoceruss Music); 10. Ernesto Pediangco (“Come Out Swingin’” w/ Eugenie Jones – Open Mic Records); 11. Rodrigo Villalon (“Live” w/ Alexandra Lehmler – Jazz’n’Arts Records)
2015 Vibes: 1. Mike Mainieri (“Live at Jazzfestival Bern” w/ Swiss Jazz Orchestra – Mons Records); 2. Warren Wolf (“Invictus” w/ Reggie Quinerly – Redefinition Music); 3. Joe Locke (“Love Is A Pendulum” – Motema); 4. Mark Sherman (“Interplay” w/ Kenny Barron – Chesky); 5. Pascal Schumacher (“Left Tokyo Right” – Laborie); 6. Gary Burton (“Hommage À Berhard Weber” – ECM); 7. Jean-Lou Treboux (“Classical To Jazz One” w/ Olivia Trummer – Neuklang); 8. Jason Adasiewicz (“Mollie’s In The Mood” w/ Peter Brötzmann – BRO); 9. Steve Nelson (“Imaginary Cities” w/ Chris Potter Underground Orchestra – ECM); 10. Jason Marsalis (“The 21st Century Trad Band” – Basin Street Records)
2015 Miscellaneous: 1. Akua Dixon - cello (“Akua Dixon” – Akua’s Music); 2. John Clark – French horn (“The Odd Couple Quintet + 1” - Composers Concordance Records); 3. Michael Rabinowitz (“The Odd Couple Quintet + 1” – Composers Concordance Records); 4. Paul McCandless – English horn (“Hommage À Eberhard Weber” – ECM); 5. Béla Fleck – banjo (“Two” w/ Chick Corea – Concord); 6. Ron Wilkins – euphonium (“Suite Mother” w/ Mark Little - Caralittle Music); 7. Tom Varner - French horn ("Nine Surprises" - Tom Varner Music); 8. Isabelle Olivier - harp ("Don't Worry, Be HaRpy" - Enja); 9. Chris Conway – zither /theremin/ kalimba (“Out Of The Blue” – Oblong); 10. Susanna Dill – accordion (“13 Épisodes Lumineux Et Enjoués” – Meta Records); 11. Gilbert Paeffgen – dulcimer (“13 Épisodes Lumineux Et Enjoués” w/ Susanna Dill – Meta Records); 12. Stefan Kac – tuba (“Bitter Human” w/ Evil Genius – Orenda Records); 13. Anne Hytta – hardanger fiddle (“Short Stories” w/ Slarg – Ozella); 14. Ben Stapp - tuba ("Humanity Part II" w/ Robert Sabin - Ranula Music); 15. Anouar Brahem - oud (“Souvenance” – ECM); 16. Sokratis Sinopoulos - lyra (“Wild Man Dance" w/ Charles Lloyd - Blue Note); 17. Zafer Tawil – oud (“Crisis” w/ Amir Elsaffar – Pi Recordings)
2015 Acoustic Guitar: 1. Biréli Lagrène (“D-Stringz” w/ Stanley Clarke & Jean-Luc Ponty – Impulse!); 2. Garrison Fewell (“Electric Bat Conspiracy” w/ Boris Savoldelli – Creative Nation Music); 3. Larry Koosne (“Form & Formless” w/ Ellen Johnson – Vocal Visions); 4. Al DiMeola (“Elysium” – In-Akustik); 5. Yuri Juárez (“10” w/ The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet – Zoho); 6. Fabiano do Nascimento (“Dança dos Tempos” – Now-Again Records)
2015 Electric Guitar: 1. Vic Juris (“Songs One” w/ Phil Woods – Philology Jazz Records); 2. John Tropea (“Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” – STP Records); 3. John McLaughlin (“Black Light” – Abstract Logix); 4. Larry Coryell (“Heavy Feel” – Wide Hive); 5. Pat Metheny (“Homage À Eberhard Weber” – ECM); 6. Lupa Santiago (“Manhã” w/ Paulo Braga – Soundfinger); 7. John Scofield (“Past Present” – Impulse!); 8. Bjorn Vidar Solli (“Aglow: The Lyngor Project Volume 1” – Lyngor Records); 9. Garrison Fewell (“Electric Bat Conspiracy” w/ Boris Savoldelli – Creative Nation Music); 10. Isaac Darche (“Team & Variations” – Challenge Records); 11. John Stowell (“Form & Formless” w/ Ellen Johnson – Vocal Visions); 12. Kenny Burrell (“The Road To Love” – HighNote); 13. Chuck Loeb ("Silver" w/ Fourplay - Heads Up)
2015 Violin: 1. Jean-Luc Ponty (“D-Stringz” w/ Stanley Clarke & Biréli Lagréne – Impulse!); 2. Zach Brock (“Serendipity” – Criss Cross); 3. Regina Carter (“Akua Dixon” w/ Akua Dixon – Akua’s Music); 4. John Blake, Jr. (“Akua Dixon” w/ Akua Dixon – Akua’s Music); 5. Alex Hargreaves (“Padme” w/ Caili O’Doherty – ODO Records)
2015 Flute: 1. Hubert Laws (“Symphonic Arrangement - Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano Trio” – Steve Barta Music); 2. Nicole Mithell (“Intergalatic Beings” – Carrot Top); 3. Stephanie Lottermoser (“Paris Songbook” – Downhill Records)
2015 Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: 1. Anat Cohen (“Luminosa” – Anzic); 2. Paquito D’Rivera (“Aires Tropicales” w/ Quinteto Cimarrón – Sunnyside); 3. Gabriele Mirabassi (“A Testa In Giù!” w/ Orquestra À Base de Sopro de Curitiba – EGEA); 4. Ben Goldberg (“Orphic Machine” – Bag Production); 5. Peter Brötzmann (“Mollie’s In The Mood” w/ Jason Adasiewicz – BRO); 6. Klaus Gesing (“Souvenance” w/ Anouar Brahem – ECM); 7. Stefan Karl Schmid (“Capturing This Moment” w/ Michel Reis Quartet – Double Moon Records); 8. Joachim Badenhorst ("The Elephant's Journey" w/ LAMA - Cleanfeed Records)
2015 Trumpet: 1. Anders Bergcrantz (“The Painter” - Vanguard Music Boulevard); 2. Randy Brecker (“Dearborn Station” w/ DePaul University Jazz Ensemble – Jazzed Media); 3. Lew Soloff (“Break Of Day” w/ Karin Krog & Steve Kuhn); 4. Ryan Carniaux (“Constellations” – Double Moon Records); 5. Brian Lynch (“Questioned Answer” w/ Emmet Cohen – Hollistic MusicWorks); 6. Nicholas Payton (“Numbers” – Paytone); 7. Ingrid Jensen (“Aglow: The Lyngor Project Volume 1” w/ Bjorn Vidar Solli – Lyngor Records); 8. Walt Fowler (“70 Strong” w/ Steve Gadd Band – BFM Jazz); 9. Eddie Henderson (“Collective Portrait” – Smoke Sessions); 10. Dave Douglas (“Sound Prints” w/ Joe Lovano – Blue Note)
2015 Flugelhorn: 1. Kenny Wheeler (“Songs For Quintet” – ECM); 2. Tom Harrell (“First Impressions / Debussy and Ravel Project” – HighNote); 3. Bobby Shew (“Trumpet Summit Prague” w/ Vince Mendoza – Summit); 4. Gabriel Alegría (“10” w/ The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet – Zoho); 5. Tom Arthurs (“A Clear Midnight: Kurt Weil And America” w/ Julia Hülsmann Quartet” – ECM); 6. Eddie Henderson (“Collective Portrait” – Smoke Sessions); 7. Bob Merrill (“Cheerin’ Up The Universe” – Accurate); 8. Fabrizio Bosso (“Duke” – Verve); 9. Alex Spiagin (“Balance 38-58” - Criss Cross Jazz); 10. Duane Eubanks (“Things Of That Particular Nature” – Sunnyside)
2015 Trombone: 1. Steve Davis (“Say When” – Smoke Sessions); 2. John Fedchock (“Fluidity” – Summit); 3. Steve Turre (“Spiritman” – Smoke Sessions); 4. Christian Muthspiel (“Simple Songs” w/ Steve Swallow – In+Out); 5. Ray Anderson (“Being The Point” – Intuition); 6. Ron Wilkins (“Suite Mother” w/ Mark Little - Caralittle Music); 7. Eric Miller (“Padme” w/ Caili O’Doherty – ODO Records); 8. Samuel Blaser (“Spring Rain” – Whirlwind Records)
2015 Soprano Sax: 1. Dave Liebman (“The Puzzle” – Whaling City); 2. Russ Nolan (“Call It What You Want” – Rhinoceruss Music); 3. Seamus Blake (“Aglow: The Lyngor Project Volume 1” w/ Bjorn Vidar Solli – Lyngor Records); 4. Bill Kirchner (“An Evening Of Indigos” – Jazzheads); 5. Jan Garbarek (“Hommage À Eberhard Weber” – ECM); 6. Laura Andrea Leguía (“10” w/ The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet – Zoho); 7. Chris Potter (“Imaginary Cities” – ECM); 8. John Butcher (“Cold Duck” w/ S4 – Monotype Records); 9. Kirk Whalum ("The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter IV" - Top Drawer); 10. George Brooks (“Heavy Feel” w/ Larry Coryell – Wide Hive)
2015 Alto Sax: 1. Phil Woods (“Songs One” w/ Vic Juris – Philology Jazz Records); 2. David Sanborn (“Time And The River” – Okeh); 3. Rich Oppenheim (“Suite Mother” w/ Mark Little - Caralittle Music); 4. Gary Bartz (“Heads Of State” – Smoke Sessions Records); 5. Vincent Herring (“Night And Day” – Smoke Sessions); 6. Lee Konitz (“Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz” – Ridgeway Records); 7. Rudresh Mahanthappa (“Bird Calls” – ACT); 8. Caroline Davis (“Doors: Chicago Storylines” – Ears&Eyes Records); 9. Greg Osby (“Sonic Halo” w/ Tineke Postma – Challenge Records); 10. Oliver Lake (“What I Heard” – Passin’ Thru)
2015 Tenor Sax: 1. Houston Person (“Something Personal” – High Note); 2. Eric Alexander (“The Real Thing” – HighNote); 3. Russ Nolan (“Call It What You Want” – Rhinoceruss Music); 4. Stan Sulzmann ("Songs For Quintet" w/ Kenny Wheeler - ECM); 5. Bob Mintzer ("Get Up!" - MCG); 6. Charles Lloyd (“Wild Man Dance” – Blue Note); 7. Jerry Bergonzi (“Rigamaroll” – Savant); 8. Seamus Blake (“Aglow: The Lyngor Project Volume 1” w/ Bjorn Vidar Solli – Lyngor Records); 9. JD Allen (“Graffiti” – Savant); 10. Tom Tallitsch (“All Together Now” – Posi-Tone); 11. Joe Lovano (“Sound Prints” w/ Dave Douglas – Blue Note); 12. Donny McCaslin (“Fast Future” – Greenleaf Music); 13. Chris Potter (“Imaginary Cities” – ECM); 14. Kamasi Washington (“The Epic” – Brainfeeder)
2015 Baritone Sax: 1. Charles Evans (“On Beauty” – More Is More”); 2. Alexandra Lehmler (“Live” – Jazz’n’Arts Records); 3. Roger Rosenberg (“Get Up!” w/ Bob Mintzer Big Band – MCG); 4. Michael Brawley (“Dearborn Station” w/ Randy Brecker & the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble – Jazzed Media)
2015 Male Singer: 1. Boris Savoldelli (“Electric Bat Conspiracy” w/ Garrison Fewell – Creative Nation Music); 2. Kurt Elling (“Passion World” – Concord); 3. Tony Bennett (“The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern” w/ Bill Charlap – RPM/Columbia); 4. Allan Harris (“Black Bar Jukebox” – Membran); 5. José James (“Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday” – Blue Note); 6. Adam Thomas (“Live From The Cellar” w/ The Dan Brubeck Quartet – Blue Forest); 7. Chris Conway (“Out Of The Blue” – Oblong); 8. Theo Bleckmann (“A Clear Midnight: Kurt Weil And America” w/ Julia Hülsmann Quartet – ECM); 9. Jamie Cullum (“Interlude” – Blue Note); 10. Bob Merrill (“Cheerin’ Up The Universe” – Accurate); 11. John Pizzarelli (“Midnight McCartney” – Concord)
2015 Female Singer: 1. Ellen Johnson (“Form & Formless” – Vocal Visions); 2. Laurie Antonioli (“Varuna” w/ Richie Beircah – Origin); 3. Karin Krog (“Break Of Day” w/ Steve Kuhn – Meantime); 4. Dee Dee Bridewater (“Dee Dee’s Feathers” – Okeh); 5. Cassandra Wilson (“Coming Forth By Day” – Ojah Media Group/Legacy); 6. Cécile McLorin Salvant (“For One To Love” – Mack Avenue); 7. Joanna Pascale (“Wildflower” – Stilleto); 8. Eugenie Jones (“Come Out Swingin’” – Open Mic Records); 9. Hilary Kole (“A Self-Portrait” – Miranda Music); 10. Karla Harris (“Sings The Dave & Iola Brubeck Songbook” – Summit); 11. Thana Alexa (“Ode To Heroes” – Jazz Village); 12. Lizz Wright (“Freedom & Surrender” – Concord); 13. Tiffany Austin (“Nothing But Soul” – Con Alma Music)
2015 Instrumental Group: 1. The Dan Brubeck Quartet (“Live From The Cellar” – Blue Forest Records); 2. Akira Jimbo Trio (“Jimbo de CTI” – Electric Bird); 3. Anders Bergcrantz Quartet (“The Painter” – Vanguard Music Boulevard); 4. Ahmad Jamal Quartet (“Live In Marciac” – Jazz Village); 5. John McLaughlin & 4th Dimenson (“Black Light” – Abstract Logix); 6. Fourplay ("Silver" - Heads Up); 7. Mark Wade Trio (“Event Horizon” – Mark Wade Music); 8. The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet ("10" - Zoho); 9. Michael Gallant Trio (“Live Plus One” – Gallant Music); 10. Jeff Lorber Fusion (“Step It Up” – Heads Up); 11. Steve Gadd Band (“70 Strong” – BFM Jazz); 12. Isaac Darche ("Team & Variations" - Challenge Records)
2015 Big Band/Jazz Orchestra: 1. Bob Mintzer Big Band (“Get Up!” – MCG); 2. Maria Schneider Orchestra (“The Thompson Fields” – Artistshare); 3. Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra (“Joyful Noise: The Music Of Horace Silver” – Soulpatch Music); 4. WDR Big Band (“My Personal Songbook” w/ Ron Carter – In+Out Records); 5. Metropole Orkest (“Sylva” w/ Snarky Puppy – Impulse); 6. Orquestra À Base de Sopro de Curitiba (“A Testa In Giù!” w/ Gabriele Mirabassi – EGEA); 7. NDR Big Band (“Children Of The Sun” w/ Joe Sample – PRA); 8. SWR Big Band (“Hommage À Eberhard Weber” – ECM); 9. Swiss Jazz Orchestra (“Live at Jazzfestival Bern” – Mons Records); 10. Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra (“Shrimp Tale” – Crown Heights Audio); 11. Clare Fischer Big Band Directed by Brent Fischer ("Pacific Jazz" - Clavo); 12. Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra (“Live In Cuba” – Blue Engine); 13. DePaul University Jazz Ensemble (“Dearborn Station” w/ Randy Brecker – Jazzed Media); 14. Chris Walden Big Band (“Full-On!” – Origin); 15. Ted Howe Jazz Orchestra (“Pinnacle” – Hot Shoe Records)
2015 Composer: 1. Mark Little (“Suite Mother” - Caralittle Music); 2. Anna-Lena Laurin (“The Painter” w/ Anders Bergcrantz – Vanguard Music Boulevard); 3. Bob Mintzer (“Get Up!” w/Bob Mintzer Big Band – MCG); 4. Alan Chan (“Shrimp Tale” w/ Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra” – Crown Heights Audio); 5. Mark Wade (“Event Horizon” – Mark Wade Music); 6. Maria Schneider (“The Thompson Fields” – Artistshare); 7. Caili O’Doherty (“Padme” – ODO Records); 8. Mark Egan (“Direction Home” – Wavetone); 9. Robert Sabin ("Humanity Part II' - Ranula Music); 10. Isaac Darche (“Team & Variations” – Challenge Records)
2015 Arranger: 1. Steve Barta (“Symphonic Arrangement – Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano” w/ Hubert Laws & Jeffrey Biegel – SBM); 2. Bob Mintzer (“Get Up!” w/ Bob Mintzer Big Band – MCG); 3. Don Sebesky (“Midnight McCartney” w/ John Pizzarelli – Concord); 4. Vince Mendoza (“Trumpet Summit Prague / The Mendoza Arrangements – Live” – Summit Records); 5. Alan Chan (“Shrimp Tale” w/ Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra – Crown Heights Audio); 6. Maria Schneider (“The Thompson Fields” – Artistshare); 7. Mark Little: “Suite Mother” (Caralittle Music); 8. Akira Jimbo (“Jimbo de CTI” – Electric Bird); 9. Bob James ("Silver" w/ Fourplay - Heads Up); 10. Robert Sabin ("Humanity Part II" - Ranula Music)
2015 Engineer: 1. Rudy Van Gelder (“Something Personal” w/ Houston Person – HighNote); 2. Jeremy Gillespie/Fred Kervorkian (“Constellations” w/ Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux & Mark Egan); 3. Victor França/Angelo Cioffi (“A Testa In Giù!” w/ Gabriele Mirabassi & Orquestra À Base de Sopro de Curitiba – EGEA); 4. Paul Wickliffe (“Call It What You Want” w/ Russ Nolan – Rhinoceruss Music); 5. Adam Thomas/Joel Fountain (“Live From The Cellar” w/ The Dan Brubeck Quartet – Blue Forest Records); 6. Jay Dudt/Rich Breen (“Get Up!” w/ Bob Mintzer Big Band – MCG); 7. Talley Sherwood/Tom McCauley (“Jimbo de CTI” w/ Akira Jimbo – Electric Bird); 8. Phil Magnotti (“Direction Home” w/ Mark Egan – Wavetone); 9. Aaron Nevezie ("Invictus" w/ Reggie Quinerly - Redefinition Music); 10. Thomas Miller (“Dearborn Station” w/ Randy Brecker & DePaul University Jazz Ensemble – Jazzed Media)
2015 New Talent: 1. Kamasi Washington (“The Epic” – Brainfeeder)
2015 Artwork: 1. EyeSoar Graphics (“Live From The Cellar” w/ The Dan Brubeck Quartet” – Blue Forest Records); 2. Knut Schötteldreier (“Constellations” w/ Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux & Mark Egan – Double Moon); 3. Roger Huyssen (“Symphonic Arrangement – Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano Trio” w/ Hubert Laws, Steve Barta & Jeffrey Biegel – SBM); 4. Alessandro Scullari (“A Testa In Giù!” w/ Gabriele Mirabassi & Orquestra À Base de Sopro de Curitiba – EGEA); 5. Javier Chacin/Judy Kahn (“An Evening Of Indigos” w/ Bill Kirchner – Jazzheads); 6. Lauren Webster Mease ("Invictus" w/ Reggie Quinerly - Redefinition Music)
The 20 Best Jazz Instrumental CDs
Hubert Laws/Steve Barta/Jeffrey Biegel: “Symphonic Arrangement – Claude Bolling’s Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano” (SBM)
Bob Mintzer Big Band: “Get Up!” (MCG)
Akira Jimbo: “Jimbo de CTI” (Electric Bird)
Anders Bergcrantz: “The Painter” (Vanguard Music Boulevard)
Pat Metheny, Jan Garbarek, Gary Burton: “Hommage À Eberhard Weber” (ECM)
The Dan Brubeck Quartet: “Live From The Cellar – Celebrating The Music and Lyrics of Dave & Iola Brubeck” (Blue Forest Records)
Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux & Mark Egan: “Constellations” (Double Moon)
Mark Little: “Suite Mother” (Caralittle Music)
Akua Dixon: “Akua Dixon” (Akua’s Music)
Mark Egan: “Direction Home” (Wavetone)
Lupa Santiago & Anders Vestergard Quintet: “Lisbon Sessions” (Drum Voice Records)
Carlos Franzetti: “In The Key Of Tango” (Sunnyside)
Phil Woods & Vic Juris: "Songs One" (Philology Jazz Records)
Randy Brecker w/ the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble: "Dearborn Station" (Jazzed Media)
Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra: “Shrimp Tale” (Crown Heights Audio)
The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet: “10” (Zoho)
Bjorn Solli: “Aglow: The Lyngor Project Volume 1” (Lyngor Records)
Mark Wade Trio: “Event Horizon” (Mark Wade Music)
Kamasi Washington: “The Epic” (Brainfeeder)
Lupa Santiago & Paulo Braga: “Manhã” (Sound Finger)
The Best Vocal Jazz CDs
Ellen Johnson: “Form & Formless” (Vocal Visions)
Boris Savoldelli & Garrison Fewell: “Electric Bat Conspiracy” (Creative Nation Music)
Laurie Antonioli & Richie Beirach: “Varuna” (Origin)
Karin Krog & Steve Kuhn: “Break Of Day” (Meantime)
Kurt Elling: “Passion World” (Concord)
Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap: “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern” (RPM/Columbia)
Eugenie Jones: “Come Out Swingin” (Open Mic Records)
Cassandra Wilson: “Coming Forth By Day” (Ojah Media Group/Legacy)
Dee Dee Bridgewater: “Dee Dee’s Feathers” (Okeh)
Chris Conway: “Out Of The Blue” (Oblong Music)
Hilary Kole: “A Self-Portrait” (Miranda Music)
The Best Jazz DVDs/Blu-rays
Jaco Pastrorius: “Jaco – The Film” (Iron Horse Entertainment) Blu-ray
Pat Metheny: “The Unity Sessions” (Eagle Vision) Blu-ray
Ron Carter: “My Personal Songbook” (In+Out) DVD + CD
Nathan East: “For The Record” (Yamaha Entertainment Group”) DVD
Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti: “Circo de Arrabal” (Amapola Records) DVD
Gabriele Mirabassi & Orquestra À Base de Sopro de Curitiba: “A Testa In Giù!” (EGEA) DVD + CD
Jon Anderson & Jean-Luc Ponty: “Anderson Ponty Band: Better Late Than Never” (Liasion) DVD + CD
Ahmad Jamal: "Live In Marciac" (Jazzbook/Jazz Village) DVD + CD
Keiko Matsui: “Live In Tokyo” (Shanachie) DVD + CD
The Best Historical Albums/Special Projects/Reissues (no box sets)
John Coltrane: “A Love Supreme / The Complete Masters” (Impulse!)
Michael Brecker & UMO Jazz Orchestra: “Live in Helsinki 1995” (Random Act)
Zé Eduardo Nazario: “Poema da Gota Serena E Outros Poemas” (Editio Princeps)
Dizzy Gillespie: “Live At Ronnie Scott’s – Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4” (CAP) released as single CDs, not in a boxset
Cannonball Adderley: “Big Man – The Legend of John Henry” (Fantasy/Real Gone Music)
Flora Purim & Airto Moreira: “Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1979” (Hi Hat Records)
Stan Getz & João Gilberto: “Selections From Getz/Gilberto ‘76” (Resonance) vinyl only
Jim Hall & Charlie Haden: “Charlie Haden & Jim Hall” (Impulse!)
Clare Fischer: "Out Of The Blue" (Clavo)
Jaco Pastorius & Others: “Jaco – Original Soundtrack” (Legacy/Sony Music)
Airto: “Return To Forever” (CTI/Wounded Bird)
Roland Hanna: “24 Preludes” (Salvation/Paddle Wheel)
Charlie Haden & Gonzalo Rubalcaba: “Tokyo Adagio” (Impulse!)
Pat Martino with Jim Ridl: “Nexus” (HighNote)
Caldera: “Dreamer” (Capitol/Universal Music LLC)
Caldera: “Caldera” (Capitol/Universal Music LLC)
Idris Muhammad: ”Turn This Mutha Out” (Kudu/Soul Brother Records)
Oscar Peterson: “Live In Cologne 1970” (Delta Music/Jazzline)
Randy Weston: “Blue Moses” (CTI/Speakers Corner) vinyl only
Art Farmer & Jim Hall: “Big Blues” (CTI/ORGM) vinyl only, 45pm, 2-LP set
Hubert Laws: “Afro-Classic” (CTI/Speakers Corner) vinyl only
Top Box Sets/Compilations
Weather Report: “The Legendary Live Tapes: 1978-1981” (Legacy/Sony Music)
Jaco Pastorius & Others: “Jaco – Original Soundtrack” (Legacy/Sony Music)
Joe Farrell: “Original Album Classics” (CTI/Sony)
Miles Davis: “At Newport 1955-1975 / The Bootleg Series Vol. 4” (Legacy/Sony Music)
Bill Evans: “The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961” (Riverside/Concord) vinyl only
Thelonious Monk: “The Complete Riverside Recordings” (Riverside)
Oscar Peterson: “Exclusively For My Friends” (MPS/Edel)
Billy Cobham: “The Atlantic Years: 1973-1978” (Atlantic)
Wayne Shorter: “The Blue Note Albums” (Blue Note)
Idris Muhammad: “The Very Best of Idris Muhammad / Boogie To The Top” (Kudu/Cherry Red)
Various: “CTI Records / The Cool Revolution” (CTI/Sony) reissue
In memoriam:
Mark Murphy, Gladys Havana Carbo, Lew Soloff, Phil Woods, Daniel Smith, Clark Terry, Ornette Coleman, Orrin Keepnews, B.B. King, Wilton Felder, Gunther Schuller, Marcus Belgrave. Chris Squire, Dave Pike, Bob Belden, Bruce Lundvall, Ray Kennedy, Jadir de Castro, Plinio Araujo, Peter Schmidlin, Masabumi Kikuchi, Raul Rekow, Allen Toussaint, Louis Johnson, Ben E. King, Billy Butler, Ed Uribe, Rick Holmes, Ivinho, Marlo Henderson, Cynthia Robinson, Percy Sledge, Pino Daniele, Mike Porcaro, John Taylor, Eddy Louis, Garrison Fewell, Doug Sax, Jörg Reiter, Clifford Adams, Vic Fith, Max Greger, Dieter Moebius, Bob Parlocha, Natalie Cole
