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Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks Review

Part 2.2 of David Adler’s Favorite Albums of 2021

Mr. Adler returns with the second part of his “Favorite Albums of 2021” list. Please note that albums are not listed in any particular ranking order.

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Article Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks Review

David R. Adler’s Favorite Albums of 2021

Here are 10 of David R. Adler’s favorite album releases of 2021 along with his review commentary. Albums are not ranked in any particular order and are embedded into the article as a reference for listening.

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Article Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks Review

Lee Morgan: Completing the Lighthouse

The Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach, California, still in existence, practically rivals New York’s Village Vanguard in terms of historic live jazz albums to have issued from its bandstand.

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Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks Review

New Piano Music in Review

Shai Maestro, Human (ECM); Vijay Iyer Trio, Uneasy (ECM); Hafez Modirzadeh, Facets (Pi)

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Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks Review

SOLO JAN

It’s no mystery why the year 2020 would prompt a good number of solo albums. And yet 2020 isn’t unique in that regard: jazz has a legacy of unaccompanied performance stretching back to Jelly Roll Morton, the stride pianists, Art Tatum and so many others.

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Article Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks

JAN Q&A: Michael Leonhart, Part II

Mr. Leonhart was featured on the 2016 Grammy-winning hit song “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. He’s worked with everyone from Randy Newman to Alicia Keys. A sought-after producer as well, he landed a Grammy nomination for his work on the album Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein.

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Article Best of Jazz Editors’ Picks

JAN Q&A: Michael Leonhart, Part I

Bringing together the many facets of his musicianship, Mr. Leonhart offers a statement rich in mystery, textural depth and risk-taking spirit, leading an unorthodox large ensemble with key soloists including Donny McCaslin and Sam Sadigursky on tenor saxophones, Nels Cline on guitar, Pauline Kim on viola, Ray Mason on trombone and Dave Guy and Mr. Leonhart himself on trumpets.

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Article Commentary

Commentary: 07.15.18

I see lots of what comes across as scarcity mentalities in the Jazz world. From: attitudes about getting gigs, getting airplay, getting awards or peer recognition, and as well as getting press and reviews, etc. To: infrastructure issues like scene power trips, musician cliques, and philanthropic gatekeepers becoming the show – we can often lose sight of the main thing – JAZZ

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Commentary 06.04.18

MUSINGS o When a musician embarks upon the path of jazz artistry now, it seems to be a calling first and a way to make a living second. It seems accepted that one must have a supplemental income stream beyond performing gigs. But, that seems to be the way it has always been. o We […]

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Commentary

Commentary 12.25.17

Jazz Artistry Now is happy to announce and pleased to introduce readers to our review staff of Jazz Journalists. JAZZ JOURNALISTS Scott Yanow has written 11 books on jazz, over 800 liner notes, and more than 20,000 recording reviews through the years. His writing has graced virtually all of the top jazz magazines and he […]