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62 nd
ANNUAL
CRITICS POLL
JAZZ ALBUM
OF THE YEAR
Cécile McLorin Salvant, WomanChild
(MACK AVENUE) 77
The vocalist’s U.S. debut is a Grammy-nominated
best-seller that draws on songs spanning three
centuries of American music. She is joined by a
world-class band, and her captivating singing is
immersed in the immediacy of the moment.
1
Ambrose Akinmusire, The
Imagined Savior Is Far Easier
To Paint (BLUE NOTE) 59
2
One of the prime and powerful
fresh voices in 21st century
jazz pursues new paradigms in
a musical context that folds in
aspects of classical music, subtle
hip-hop vibes and straightahead jazz quintet fodder.
Dave Holland & Prism,
Prism (DARE2) 52
Far better than a conventional
3
supergroup, Prism is a democratic,
hornless quartet of different sensibilities
who join forces to make music
that none of them would make
on their own. The nine
originals are engaging, many of them full of adrenaline.
Gregory Porter, Liquid Spirit
(BLUE NOTE) 50
The singer-songwriter’s major
4
label debut marks his ascent
into the top ranks of jazz and
r&b vocalists today. Ten originals
showcase Porter’s innate gift
for composing poignant songs
based upon personal experiences.
Pat Metheny Unity
Group, Kin (NONESUCH) 41
The Unity Group concept has
5
coalesced, and the guitarist has
drawn the different strands together
into a unified whole befitting
the band’s name. Metheny plays
magnificently, and multi-instrumentalist
Giulio Carmassi fills out the arrangements.
6
Frank Wess, Magic
101 (IPO) 39
The mood is gentle, the sound
intimate and amorous on this
program of warm ballads and one
blues. Wess, who passed away last
October at age 91, comes to us here
in full flower, skills and sound intact.
Kenny Garrett, Pushing
The World Away
(MACK AVENUE) 38
7
The saxophonist continues
to explore the
vast territory opened
by John Coltrane
and Sonny Rollins,
while at the same time forging a personal
middle ground between their knotty
variations and his own singable tunes.
Jane Ira Bloom, Sixteen
Sunsets (OUTLINE) 36
The beauty of Bloom’s
8
soprano saxophone
tone is prominent
on this program of
eight classic ballads
and six original
compositions. Each song offers a
demonstration of immaculate control
and imaginative phrasing and attack.
The Bad Plus, The Rite
Of Spring (SONY
MASTERWORKS) 34
9
The Bad Plus is the rare
group with enough
chops and chutzpah
to take on the notorious
Stravinsky/
Nijinsky ballet, which a century ago signaled
the beginning of music’s “modern” age. The
trio’s version is as earthy as it is ingenious.
Terence Blanchard,
Magnetic (BLUE
NOTE) 32
10
The art of blowing
defines this date,
where the trumpeter
delivers a big blast of
head-down, hard-driving
swing. Even when
the funk gets filtered through the rhythm
section, an anything-goes vibe prevails.
28 DOWNBEAT AUGUST 2014