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EC’s 2011 music faves

Whenever I work on a list of my favorite music from a year, I never come up with an even ten. I’m sure I’m missing some great releases, but here’s a list of the music that spoke to me in 2011.

Artist – Album – Label

1. Tinariwen – Tassili – Anti

Tinariwen has led a wave of recognition of the music and culture of the Tuareg, or Kel Tamashek people, a Berber people from the Sahara. On their latest, they return to more acoustic musical roots while involving friends like TV on the Radio and Nels Cline. You know they are gaining recognition when they play on Stephen Colbert’s show.

2. Bill Frisell/Vinicius Cantuaria – Lagrimas Mexicanas – eOne

Frisell and Cantuaria have played on each other’s albums and collaborated on the Intercontinentals project. These two fine guitarists complement each other nicely. A native of Brazil, Cantuaria began writing the material after moving to New York and being inspired by the diversity of cultures, especially Latin cultures in his neighborhood. His lyrics flow from Portuguese to Spanish and English.

3. Tom Waits – Bad as Me – Anti

Waits has been making albums since 1973. His music has taken on a decidedly edgier turn since his collaborations with Kathleen Brennan. Ever the collaborator, this album includes appearances from artists like Keith Richards and Marc Ribot.

4. Mamani Keita – Gagner L’Argent Français – No Format

Keita was lead singer of the group Tama whose albums for Real World I still enjoy. On her latest, she’s found her groove in working with French producer Nicolas Repac. Where formerly he layered too many effects for my taste, here they hit the right balance of modern instrumentation while letting her lovely voice shine.

5. Mamak Khadem – A Window to Color – M Khadem

I’ve only just gotten to hear this release but I love it. What a great voice and range of textures. You may have heard Khadem before as the voice of Axiom of Choice. This beautiful release is inspired by the Persian poetry and paintings of Sohrab Sepehri.

6. TUnEyArDs – Whokill

It’s too rare lately for artists to come along with a unique voice. Merrill Garbus draws on a diverse range of influences to come up with a project distinctly her own. Whokill is the second album by Garbus and we can’t wait to hear where she goes from here.

7. Brian Eno – Drums Between the Bells – Warp

After all these years Eno remains prolific and interesting. Drums Between the Bells is a collaboration between Eno and poet Rick Holland. Holland recites only one of his own works and the resulting mix of voices adds nice texture to this release.

8. Gillian Welch – Harrow and the Harvest – Acony

Considering how long Welch has been performing, it’s hard to believe that Harrow and the Harvest is only her sixth album. It was entirely worth the wait. With haunting songs like The Way it Will Be, Welch keeps alive a vital element in the folk revival scene.

9. Terakaft – Aratan N Azawad – World Village

Did I mention how much I enjoy the music of the Tuareg? When I first heard Terakaft, I only liked one song that had a fun reggae groove. Here they strike similar tones to Tinariwen while retaining their own sound.

10. Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow – Anti

I’m from Michigan where winters were cold and snowy. I appreciate all the seasons of the year. Perhaps this is why I love albums that bring out the qualities of cold and snow without dwelling on the holidays or the discomfort of cold. Hector Zazou did it with Songs from the Cold Seas and now we have this offering from Kate Bush. Great to enjoy while sitting by a cozy fire sipping your hot tea or cocoa.

11. Kiran Ahluwalia – Common Ground – Avokado

Ahluwalia is based in Canada, of Indian heritage, and now explores the sound of Pakistani Qawwali music. She recruits Tuareg musicians Tinariwen to accompany her on the classic track Mustt Mustt. While they frequently use handclaps in their music, you can hear the difference in approach from traditional Qawwali, and yet, they do find common ground.

12. Various Artists – Rough Guide to the Best Music You’ve Never Heard – World Music Network

I could feel guilty about naming a compilation as a best of, but I won’t. The Rough Guide series continue to expose layers of music from around the globe and make it available to the rest of us. As they move into the realm of digital distribution, they came up with a great concept to launch digital only releases. Some of us may have heard a few of these tracks before, but everyone will find some gems to enjoy, whether you are looking for great African guitar tracks, stunning vocals, or unusual instrumentation.

13. Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile - Goat Rodeo Sessions – Sony Classical

Classical purists may not like the energy Yo-Yo Ma puts into crossover projects but he seems to have fun with them. Wonderful playing all around. Michael would place this much higher.

14. Nels Cline, Tim Berne, Jim Black – The Veil – Cyrptogramophone

Every album Nels Cline does has its own feel, which is one of the reasons I like his work. One of my favorite all around guitarists. He’s picked appropriate collaborators for this project.

15. Wilco – The Whole Love – Anti

My sister is the big Wilco fan in our family. I enjoy and follow their music and think Nels Cline has been a great addition to the group. The final song, One Sunday Morning is what makes this.

16. Brian Carpenter’s Ghost Train Orchestra – Hothouse Stomp – Accurate

Fun, swingy, and upbeat.

17. Joe Henry– Reverie – Anti

I really enjoy Joe Henry’s songwriting and presentation. Sometimes a whole album at one sitting is a lot as he doesn’t have the broadest palette, but when you take the time to listen to a song like Dark Tears, you hear more take away lines in the one piece than many artists put together in a lifetime.

18. Jeff Gauthier Goatette – Open Source – Cryptogramophone

Gauthier is the head of Cryptogramophone Records. A true believer that jazz is alive and well, he surrounds himself with talented players and gives them the room to create and play the music they love. It’s always a treat when he finds the time to put out his own material.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Albums 2010

I listen to a lot of music in a year, though don’t get to hear everything that’s released. Here’s a list of the music that caught my ear. Hope you find some gems you might want to explore further. To hear these and other international and jazz music, look for me on the KGNU schedule and tune in to 88.5fm Boulder/Denver or online.

          Artist                  Album          Label

1. Laurie Anderson     Homeland     Nonesuch

Laurie is back with a reflective, stirring, timely album. Integrating material she’s worked on live including the outgrowth of a science and the arts grant from NASA, Anderson offers up her unique take of our times. Produced by husband, Lou Reed. Fun fact – did you know they got married here in Boulder by E-Town’s Nick Forster?

2. Tony Allen    Secret Agent     Nonesuch

Tony Allen served for years as drummer to Fela Kuti. His sound is heavily influenced by Kuti’s signature Afrobeat, but is so much more. A rich album with plenty of catchy riffs.

3. Tom Waits     Glitter and Doom Live     Anti

Tom Waits has produced many albums through the years, though not many of them were done live. This is a great chance to hear his off beat storytelling, both in song and on the accompanying disc of only stage banter. Includes Trampled Rose which was popularized by Alison Krauss on her project with Robert Plant.

4. Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate    Ali & Toumani           Nonesuch

A second collaboration from two of Mali’s finest performers. Recorded in 2005, the year before Toure’s death, the material is only now released. Lovely African guitar and kora duos.

5. Mulatu Astatke    Steps Ahead    Strut

Popular in Ethiopia since the 1960s, Astatke has gained a new following in the US since his collaboration with the Boston big band, Either/Orchestra. Steps Ahead finds him continuing the collaboration on both new and classic material.

6. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba        I Speak Fula                 Next Ambience

Renowned ngoni player Kouyate has played with some of the greats, including Ali Farka Toure, Taj Mahal, and Carlos Santana. Kouyate toured with Bela Fleck on the Throw Down Your Heart tour, opening up new audiences to his African lute.

7. Afrocubism     Afrocubism     Nonesuch

More from Bassekou Kouyate. Here he’s part of the African contingent collaborating with Cuban musician Eliades Ochoa. This is the project originally envisioned 14 years ago, but when the musicians from Africa didn’t show, the Buena Vista Social Club project was created.

8. Greg Ruby Quartet     Look Both Ways    Greg Ruby Music

Seattle-based guitarist Ruby has been playing Gypsy Swing with Pearl Django and Hot Club Sandwich. His original compositions celebrate the 100th anniversary of Django Reinhardt’s birth. Ruby is a fluid and fast player and a fine composer.

9. Darrell Katz & Jazz Composer’s Alliance Orchestra                                                                     A Wallflower in the Amazon         Accurate Records

Katz has been leading the JCAO for 25 years. His original compositions are blended with blues for a different twist on the jazz big band sound.

10. Esperanza Spaulding     Chamber Music Society      Heads Up

Very talented Portland based bass player on her third release. At 26, she already has her own distinct sound and feel. Spalding reminds us that jazz is still a living, breathing style.

11. Portico Quartet      Isla        Real World

These young British artists discovered the hang drum, which is now a cornerstone of their sound. The melding of symphonic and cinematic with the smooth steel sound of the hang makes for a beautiful release.

12. Maya Beiser      Provenance        Innova

Forget the cover of Kashmir, the commissioned pieces on this album are what make it. Beiser, a cellist formerly involved with Bang on a Can, delves into music from Armenia, Persia, Israel and the US. Harkening the golden age of Spain, Beiser celebrates her diverse heritage.

13. Nils Petter Molvaer     Hamada       Thirsty Ear

The more I listen to Molvaer, the more I like him. Based in the jazz tradition, Molvaer moves beyond, incorporating cinematic and new age styles for a very meditative sound. Norwegian Molvaer is one of the reminders that jazz lives today, and can often be found in Scandinavia.

14. Mavis Staples      You Are Not Alone       Anti

Two great talents from Chicago join forces to bring us You Are Not Alone. Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy produced Mavis, daughter of Pops Staples and member of the classic Staple Singers. Mavis here shows off her soul, grace, and humor.

15. Catherine Russell      Inside this Heart of Mine         World Village

Cat Russell is one of today’s fine soulful, jazzy singers. Raised in a musical family, she’s done her share of supporting work. Her third release shows off her confident alto voice on classic and contemporary material without over relying on the standards.

16. Nels Cline Singers      Initiate      Cryptogramophone

Even before joining Wilco, Cline was one of my favorite guitarists. With a foot in the rock and jazz worlds, Cline is innovative and fun.

17. Amira/ Merima Ključo      Zumra       World Village

A lovely and haunting collection of Bosnian music. Vocal and accordion.

18. Claudia Quintet      Royal Toast      Cuneiform

John Hollenbeck is one of contemporary music’s modern innovators. Each release brings new sounds and moods. Claudia Quintet is but one of his outlets and includes bassist Drew Gress and clarinet/sax player Chris Speed. Hollenbeck proves jazz and the New York scene continue to thrive.

19. California Guitar Trio      Andromeda       Inner Knot

Andromeda marks the return to original compositions for Guitar Craft veterans the CGT. Highlighting the unique skills to each member, you rarely hear the acoustic guitar sound so electric as you do with the CGT.

20. Either/Orchestra      Mood Music for Time Travelers Accurate Records

Boston-based big band the E/O has spent the last chunk of years working with Ethiopian musicians. Their latest release serves up the new material they’ve been writing in the interim. Under the leadership of Russ Gershon, E/O highlights the wide range that a jazz big band can cover.