At the beginning of the New Year, many show hosts on WWOZ take a look back at some of their favorite CDs from the previous year. Here's quite a number of lists contributed by our hosts. Many of the CDs are linked to Amazon, so you can purchase them and support WWOZ.
WWOZ Show Host "Top Ten" Lists of CDs Released in 2007
Olivia Greene - A.J. Rodrigue - Sondra Bibb - Judy Wood
T.R. Johnson
T.R. Johnson, host of the Tuesday "Jazz From the Market" Show, submitted three separate lists.
Best Jazz Albums of 2007
- Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake - From the River to the Ocean - Thrill Jockey
- Joshua Redman - Back East - Nonesuch
- Carla Bley - The Lost Chords Find Paolo Frasu - ECM
- David Murray - Sacred Ground - Justin Time Records
- Wallace Roney - Jazz - High Note
- Rob Wagner - Trio - Independent
- Donny McCaslin - In Pursuit - Sunny Side Records
- Dave Douglas - Live at the Jazz Standard - Koch Records
- Chris Potter - Follow the Red Line - Sunny Side Records
- Jeremy Pelt - Shock Value - Max Jazz Record
Best Jazz Re-Issues Of 2007
- Miles Davis - The Complete On-the-Corner Sessions - Sony Legacy
- Sun Ra - Toward the Stars - Fivefour
- Andrew Hill - Compulsion - Blue Note Records
Very Honorable Mention must be made of . . .
- Magnetic Ear - Live at the Saturn Bar - Independent
- Terence Blanchard - Tale of God's Will - EMI
- Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage - Heads Up
- Matt Wilson - Scenic Route - Palmetto Records
- Hart McNee - Mimi's Rumba - Independent
- Avishai Cohen - After the Big Rain - Anzic Records
- Anat Cohen - Noir - Anzic Records
- Joe Lovano and Hank Jones - Kids - Blue Note Records
- Sam Yahel - Truth and Beauty - Origin Records
- Bill Charlap Trio - Live at the Village Vanguard - Blue Note Records
Tom Morgan
Top Ten New Orleans CDs by Tuesday "New Orleans Music Show" host, Tom Morgan
- Matt Perrine - Sunflower City - Independent
- Tricia Boutte - Oh Mahalia - Herman
- Terence Blanchard - Tale of God's Will - EMI
- Theryl Declouet - Truth iz Out - Independent
- Lucien Barbarin - It's Good To Be Home - Independent
- Jesse McBride - Next Generation - AFO
- 3manisha - Late Lunch - Independent
- Rick Trolsen - Sunrise on Bourbon Street - Independent
- Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino - Tipitina's
- Papa Grows Funk - Mr. Patterson's Hat - Independent
Tom says about his picks: "Matt Perrine's was an easy pick, Matt is a genius with the sousaphone. His previous side man work with the New Orleans Nightcrawlers and the Tin Men showed that any project that Matt was in charge of was was going to be a killer. Tricia's CD is wonderful, one of New Orleans' superb vocalists paying tribute to another. What could be sweeter?"
David Kunian
Top Twelve CDs by Tuesday Night "Kitchen Sink" and Early Thursday "Jazz Lunatique Show" Host, David Kunian.
- Galactic - From the Corner to the Block - Anti
- Matt Perrine - Sunflower City - Independent
- Terence Blanchard - Tale of God's Will - EMI
- Alvin Batiste - Marsalis Music honors - Marsalis Music
- Valparaiso Men's Chorus - Guano and Nitrates - Independent
- James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood In the City - Hyena
- Jesse McBride - Next Generation - AFO
- Albert Ayler - Hilversum Sessions - Esp Disk Ltd.
- Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga - Merge Records
- Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino- Tipitina's
- Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta - Side One Dummy
- Amy Winehouse - Back to Black - Republic
George Ingmire
Top Ten New Orleans CDs by Wednesday "New Orleans Music Show" Host, George Ingmire.
- Rotary Downs - Chained to the Chariot - Rookery Records
- George says: A sonic statement with a heart to boot — One night, I drove back from Mississippi to New Orleans listening to this CD with "Blacktown" on repeat. You could easily do this with the rest of recording.
- Illusion Fields - Dirge for the Deluge - Independent
- This collection consists of Moose Jackson, a poet, collaborating with New Orleans musicians — Mark Bingham (also the producer), Helen Gilet, Michael Skinkus, Mary Go Round, Vavavoom, Sneaky Pete, Hart McNee and many others. This CD is literally handmade by Moose and a must for the lover of spoken word.
- Christian Scott - Anthem - Concord
- Admittedly a bit heavy on the brooding, Anthem is nonetheless worth the journey. Scott examines the aftermath of Katrina and urban violence through pen and horn with the voice of somebody well beyond his early 20s.
- Matt Perrine - Sunflower City - Independent
- This CD is a treasure that highlights New Orleans' unique position as the northernmost Caribbean city, not to mention a who's who list of great New Orleans players.
- The Valparaiso Men's Chorus featuring the Tin Men - Guano and Nitrates - Velvety Pod
- A collection of sea shanties put together by songwriter and guitarist Alex Mcmurray - Good clean fun. A must for rumophiles.
- Magnetic Ear - Live at the Saturn Bar - Independent
- Martin Krusche leads this ensemble - I still kick myself for missing these gigs where powerful jazz fused with free curry at a club known for its remarkable collection of sad clown paintings. Only in New Orleans.
- Various - Cosimo Matassa Story - Proper
- 120 tracks of classic New Orleans blues, rock and roll, rhythm and blues and beyond all produced by Cosimo Matassa , all for about 25 bones. Do the math — that's less than 25 cents a song. Eat your heart out, iTunes.
- The Happy Talk Band - There There - Gallatin Records
- For me, this one has been long awaited. Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed, sometimes it's hard to finish a CD. This one builds upon Happy Talk's Total Death Benefit with nice arrangements and songs that give country and Rock'n'Roll a new edge.
- Rob Wagner Trio (with Hamid Drake and Nobu Ozaki) - Valid Records
- Rob came together with Hamid and Nobu to record this album just months after the failure of the federal levee system — great music with provocative melodies and rhythms that bring to mind Ed Blackwell.
- The Wild Magnolias - They Call us Wild - Universal Music France (reissue)
- A two-CD collection (and a 68-page digital book) of early Wild Magnolias songs (originally "The Wild Magnolias" and "They call us Wild" — these recordings represent a new musical era for the Mardi Gras Indians, as they entered the studio and collaborated with a fine lineup of players like the late Willie Tee and Earl Turbinton, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts and Snooks Eaglin.
Olivia Greene
Olivia Greene's Top Ten List of CDs released in 2007 (in alphabetical order).
- Various - Cosimo Matassa Story - Proper
- Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino- Tipitina's
- James "The Sleeping Giant" Winfield - Lonely Lonely Nights - Southland Records
- Shamarr Allen - Meet Me On Frenchmen Street - Independent
- Various - New Orleans Brass - Putumayo
- Tricia Boutte - Oh Mahalia - Herman
- Harry Connick, Jr. - Oh, My Nola - Sony
- Leroy Jones - Soft Shoe - Independent
- Matt Perrine - Sunflower City - Independent
- Terence Blanchard - Tale of God's Will - EMI
Olivia says about her picks: "They are all by New Orleans artists, or artists who have strong local ties. This is not exactly by design, they happen to be my favorites in or outside the city and, in my opinion, are the most memorable in the long term." "An honorable mention should be made of Al "Carnival Time" Johnson's Lower Ninth Ward Blues. Although this is actually a CD single, I believe it merits inclusion as an elegantly simple, and equally evocative and memorable 'flip side' to his other legendary song — 'Carnival Time.' Plus, it includes bonus DVD footage."
A.J. Rodrigue
Top Fifteen Releases of 2007 by Wednesday night "Kitchen Sink" host, A.J. Rodrigue.
- New Orleans Bingo Show - Volume 2 For A Life Ever Bright - Independent
- The Happy Talk Band - There There - Gallatin Records
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Made in New Orleans (The Hurricane Sessions) - CD & DVD - Preservation Hall
- Wild Magnolias - They Call Us Wild - Sunny Side
- Pine Leaf Boys - Blues De Musicien - Arhoolie
- Matt Perrine - Sunflower City - Independent
- Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino- Tipitina's
- Country Fried - Saint of New Orleans - Independent
- Zydepunks - Exile Waltz - Nine Miles
- Doyle Bramhall - Is It News - Yep Roc
- Patty Smith - Twelve - Sony
- Lucinda Williams - West - Lost Highway
- Robert Plant / Allson Krauss - Raising Sand - Rounder
- Margie Perez - part-time goddess - Independent
- Quintron - Jamskate - Independent
Sondra Bibb
Top Eight CDs by Thursday "Jazz From the Market" show host, Sondra Bibb.
- Joshua Redman - Back East - Nonesuch
- Terence Blanchard - Tale Of God's Will- emi
- Christian Scott - Anthem - Concord
- McCoy Tyner - Quartet - Half Note Records
- Kurt Elling - Nightmoves - Concord
- Robert Glasper - In My Element - Blue Note
- Jane Monheit - Surrender - Concord
- Brian Blade & Wolfgang Muthspiel - Friendly Travelers - Material Records
Judy Wood
Top 2007 contemporary jazz CDs and New Orleans CDs listed in alphabetical order by Wednesday "Jazz From the Market" show host, Judy Wood.
Top 2007 Contemporary Jazz CDs
- Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage - Heads Up
- Anat Cohen - Noir - Anzic Records
- Sara Gazarek - Return to You - Native Language
- Abbey Lincoln - Abbey Sings Abbey - Universal
- Joe Lovano and Hank Jones - Kids - Blue Note Records
- Billy Taylor/Gerry Mulligan - Live at MCG - MCG
- Joshua Redman - Back East - Nonesuch
- Slow Poke - At Home - Palmetto
- Kenny Werner - Lawn Chair Society - Blue Note
- Alvin Batiste - Marsalis Music honors - Marsalis Music
- Terence Blanchard - Tale of God's Will - EMI
- Harry Connick Jr - Chanson Du Vieux Carre - Marsalis Music
- Bob French - Marsalis Honors Bob French - Marsalis Music
- Victor Goines - Love Dance - Criss Cross
- Wynton Marsalis - From Plantation to Penitentiary - Blue Note
- Jesse McBride - Next Generation - AFO
- Adonis Rose - On the Verge - Criss Cross
- Christian Scott - Anthem - Concord
If you would like to comment on these playlist or submit your own list, please send an email to webmaster@wwoz.org.
