WWOZ's show hosts have begun compiling their lists of the best CDs of 2012. When it's time to shop for your favorite music lovers (or yourself!), let those-in-the-know point you to the latest great New Orleans, Cajun, Jazz or Blues tunes.
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A.J. Rodrigue - Boudin Man [view show host profile]
Kitchen Sink with A.J. Rodrigue and A.A.
Lost Bayou Ramblers “Mammoth Waltz” Also available on vinyl
“En Francais Vol. 2” by Various Artists
The Lil’ Band O’ Gold “Plays Fats”
Michael Juan Nunez and The American Electric “My Little Train Wreck”
Bas Clas “Big Oak Tree”
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band “The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection [Box Set]”
Guitar Lightning Lee and his Thunder Band “Just an Ol’ G”
Little Freddie King “Direct-To Disc
Quintron and Miss Pussycat “Live at Third Man Records. Available on vinyl only
Hurray for the Riff Raff “Look Out Mama” Also available on vinyl
Alex McMurray “I Will Never Be Alone”
Bob Andrews “Shotgun”
Graham Parker & The Rumour “Three Chords Good” Also available on vinyl
Galactic “Carnivale Electricos”
Jack White “Blunderbuss” Also available on vinyl
Holly Golightly And The Brokeoffs “Sunday Run Me Over”
Andre Williams & The Sadies “Night and Day “Also available on vinyl
Quintron and Miss Pussycat /Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys “Haterz / Chatterbox” 7” Vinyl only
Wendy Rene “After Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Singers + Rarities 1964-65”
Bobby Charles “Bobby Charles [Box Set]” Late 2011. Released after my 2011 list
Ernie K-Doe “Here Come the Girls-a History 1960-70” Late 2011. Released after my 2011 list
Andrew Grafe [view show host profile]
Blues Eclectic with Andrew Grafe
neil young--psychedelic pill
jimmy cliff--rebirth
dwight yoakum--3 pears
little freddie king--chasing the blues
calexico--algiers
south memphis string band--old times there
les freres carriere & lawtell playboys--lala, louisiana black french music (reissue)
dr john--locked down
Breaux Bridges [view show host profile]
Here’s a list of my favorite jazz records of 2012, in no particular order:
1. Christian Scott – Christian aTunde Adjuah
2. Keith Jarrett (with Jan Garbarek, Palle Daniesson, & Jon Christensen)–Sleeper
3. Brad Mehldau Trio – Ode
4. The Bad Plus – Made Possible
5. Kenny Garrett – Seeds from the Underground
6. Floratone – Floratone II
7. Evan Christopher – Evan Christopher’s Clarinet Road, Vol. III: In Sidney’s Footsteps
8. Marc Johnson & Eliane Elias – Swept Away
9. Hailey Niswanger – The Keeper
10. Vijay Iyer Trio – Accelerando
11. Bela Fleck w/Marcus Roberts Trio – Across the Imaginary Divide
12. Jack DeJohnette – Sound Travels
13. Enrico Pieranunzi – Permutation
14. The Brazilian Trio – Constelaçäo
15. Billy Martin & Wil Blades – Shimmy
16. Pat Metheny – Unity Band
17. Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez, Paul Motian – Further Explorations
18. Anat Cohen – Claroscuro
19. Jeff Parker Trio – Bright Light in Winter
20. The Bridge Trio – The Bridge Trio
Also, of special note: Dr. John – Locked Down.
Charles Laborde & Jim Hobbs
[view Charles Laborde profile] [view Jim Hobbs profile]
Cajun and Zydeco with Charles Laborde or Jim Hobbs
Zydeco
Chubby Carrier - Rockin’ With Ray
Dwayne Dopsie - Been Good To You
Horace Trahan - All the Way
La Freres Carriere & Lawtell Playboys - Louisiana Black French Music - La La
Keith Frank - Follow the Leader / Boot Up
Cajun
Bruce Daigrepont - Jamais de la Vie
Courtbouillion - Courtbouillion
High Performance - That’s What Makes the Cajuns Dance
T-Monde - Making Believe
Huval, Dupuy & Fusilier Cajun Band - Huval, Dupuy & Fusilier Cajun Band
Mammoth Waltz - Lost Bayou Ramblers
Accerlerando - Vijay Iyer Trio
Fela Live in Detroit
Wadada Leo Smith - Ten Freedom Summers - Wadada Leo Smith
Old and New Science - Living By Lanterns
There Now - Josh Berman and His Gang
Algiers - Calexico
South Memphis String Band - Old Times There...
Jon Cleary - Occapella
Hurray for the Riff Raff - Look Out Mama
Andre Williams - Hoods and Shades
Christian Scott - Christian Atunde Adjuah
Valparaiso Men's Chorus - The Straits of St. Claude
James Luther Dickinson - and The North Mississippi All Stars - I'm Just Dead I'm Not Gone
Frank Wright Quartet - Blues For Albert Ayler
Alex McMurray - I Will Never Be Alone In This Land
Dr. John - Locked Down
Todd Snider - Agnostic Fables and Stoner Hymns
On my Saturday midnight to Sunday 3am show, I feature collector's music from a half a century ago. I've always wanted to submit my favorite 2012 release but to break through my listening force field requires music encased in kryptonite. Here's the various forms of kryptonite:
CD Dave Ferrato - Later on Decatur
You've got your favorite show hosts, but us show hosts have favorite listeners. Like Dave Ferrato. A guy with amazing ears. Ears who knows the music and musicians of my Saturday midnight to Sunday 3am show as well as nola.com commentator, "Henry L Mencken 1951" knew the prosecutor's office. So when he sent me a promotional copy of a cd that he'd been dreaming of for over ten years, it was my turn to be the listener.
At first, it was the title cut, Later on Decatur, that stuck in my ear. Unlike most songs, the more I played it, the better it sounded. A month later, Tchopazine Triangle got stuck in my ear then Candy Lady. They're all intricate songs with great supporting musicians such as the Bonerama Horns and Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris. They're also completely New Orleans songs.
I began my infatuation with Sun Ra's music in the mid 1970s but I never heard anything comparable to this show. The Arkestra had "practiced, practiced, practiced" more than any other band in history so they were up for the ultimate Carnegie Hall stage. This night the sound was tighter and the music better than even the great Ra recordings at Montreaux, Newport and John Sinclair's stages. This 2012 release is one of the most downloaded concert on Wolfgang's Vault and is streamable here:
These blogs have done more to bring the forgotten music of Americana culture back to life. The inspiration and textual accompaniment for my Saturday night show.
Whenever I research a song or musician, I alway intersect with a Ninth Ward Jukebox posting on youtube. This guy's got ears and a New Orleans soul.
Jelly Roll Justice " [view show host profile]
Overnight Jazz with Jellyroll Justice
Jazz from the French Market with Jelly Roll Justice
Here goes (in no particular order)
Bela Fleck and Marcus Roberts Trio "Across the Imaginary Divide"
Branford Marsalis Quartet "Four MF's Playin' Music"
Yaron Gershovsky "State of Mind"
Sonny Landreth "Elemental Journey"
Rodrigo Y Gabriela & C.U.B.A. "Area 52"
Jon Cleary "Occapella"
John Scofield "A Moment's Peace"
Piero Odorici "Cedar Walton Presents Piero Odorici"
Matt Lemmler's New Orleans Jazz Revival Band "Ubuntu"
Lynne Arriale "Convergence"
Mark Landesman [view show host profile]
The Sunday Morning Jazz Set with Mark Landesman
Melody Gardot - The Absence
Bria Skonberg - So Is The Day
Old Man River [view show host profile]
Overnight Jazz with Old Man River
I could not trim it to 10 so here goes, in no particular order:
Ed Volker - Snag
Doug Belotte - Magazine St
Marco Benevento - Tiger Face
Shotgun - Shotgun
Dr John - Locked Down
The Radiators - The Last Watusi
Country Funk 1969-1975 - Compilation
Victor Wooten - Sword Stone
Leftover Salmon - Aquatic Hitchhiker
Branford Marsalis - 4 M F's playing music
Dr Lonnie Smith - The Healer
Pharoah Sanders - In the Beginning 1963-64
Greg Schatz - Where the River Meets the Railroad Tracks
Bela Fleck and The Marcus Roberts Trio - Across The Imaginary Divide
Jeb Rault Band - Sweet Dancer
Little Freddie King - Chasing The Blues
Will Bernard Outdoor - Living
Raymond Kent [view show host profile]
Morning Set with Raymond Kent
Here's my list of the best jazz of 2012, in no particular order:
Vijay Iyer, Accelerando.
Ahmad Jamal, Blue Moon.
Connie Evingson, Sweet Happy Life.
Marcus Miller, Renaissance.
Victor Wooten: Sword and Stone.
Brian Bromberg: In the Spirit of Jobim.
Brian Bromberg: Bromberg Plays Hendrix.
Tia Fuller: Angelic Warrior.
Jenny Scheinmann: Mischief & Mayhem.
Anat Cohen: Claroscuro.
Esperanza Spalding: Radio Music Society.
Russell Shelton [view show host profile]
Late Night Jazz with Russell
Eric Reed Baddest Monk
Billy Martin & Will Blades Shimmy
Greg Lewis Organ Monk: Uwo in the Black
Luke Winslow-King The Coming Tide
Hurray for the Riff Raff Look Out Mama
Brownout Oozy
Antibalas Antibalas
Sally Young [view show host profile]
Traditional Jazz with Sally Young
3 notable Louis Armstrong releases of 2012:
Louis Armstrong- The Okeh Columbia & RCA Victor Recordings 1925- 1933 (box set).
Louis Armstrong- Satchmo- Columbia Jazz Classics (3 CD set)
Louis Armstrong & His All- Stars "Live" At Basin Street (2 CD set)
Rhythm & Blues:
History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues- Jazz, Blues & Creole Roots- Vol. 1
Gumbo YaYa. The Complete Cosimo Matassa Story- Vol. 2
Sondra Bibb [view show host profile]
Jazz from the French Market with Sondra Bibb
Here goes....(not in any particular order)
1) Christian Scott - Christian aTunde Adjuah
2) Brad Mehldau - Where Do You Start
3) Pat Metheny - Unity Band
4) Tom Harrell - No. 5
5) Kenny Garrett - Seeds From The Underground
6) Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music Society
7) Gregory Porter - Be Good
8) Branford Marsalis - Four MF's Playin' Tunes
9) Vince Guaraldi - The Very Best of VInce Guaraldi
10) Kurt Elling - 1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project
Thanks!
Suzanne Corley [view show host profile]
World Journey with Suzanne Corley
Ana Tijoux's "La Bala"
Anat Cohen's "Claroscuro"
Arturo Stable & Elio Villafranca's "Dos y más"
Brazilian Trio's "Constelação"
Duduka da Fonseca Quintet's "Samba Jazz"
Fado em Si Bemol's "QB"
Frank Herzberg Trio's "Handmade"
Grégoire Maret's "Grégoire Maret"
Hugh Masekela's "Jabulani"
Maga Bo's "Quilombo do Futuro"
Marisa Monte's "O Que Você Quer Saber de Verdade"
Novalima's "Karimba"
T.R. Johnson [view show host profile]
Jazz from the French Market with T.R. Johnson
Here's my list of the best jazz albums of 2012 — I've not ranked them in order (that would be impossible), but rather have put them in alphabetical order by album-title. It was a great year — so good, in fact, I couldn't limit myself to ten. --T. R.
Accelerando by Vijay Ayer
Black Radio by Robert Glaspar
Casting for Gravity by Donnie McCaslin
Dialect Fluorescent by Steve Lehman
Heritage by Lionel Loueke
Living by Lanterns by New Myth / Old Science
On Fire 2 by Kidd Jordan
Outdoor Living by Will Bernard
Radio Music Society by Esperanza Spalding
Seeds of the Underground by Kenny Garrett
Shimmy by Billy Martin
Stellar Pulsations by Rob Mazurek
Today's Opinion by Yosvany Terry
Tomorrow Sunny by Henry Threadgill
Way Down Low by Kat Edmonson
