MistaT wrote:
We've done this in past years, and it worked well to find some new tunes....so, Top 5 Albums of 2020?
Jennifer Pike "The Lark Ascending"
Apparently The Lark Ascending was written for piano and violin originally, but I've never heard it performed that way before. I've heard it many times in boring orchestra arrangements and I never liked it, but this is magical.
Bengt Forsberg "Swedish Miniatures"
Neglected, forgotten and unusual works for piano by Swedish composers from the last 150 years, collected and performed by one of the best living pianists. I think only one of these pieces has ever been recorded before, which makes this one of the most interesting collections of scandinavian music I've heard since "Jazz in Swedish".
(No youtube links, but it's on Spotify)
Brandee Younger "Soul Awakening"
One of my favourite current jazz players. Probably the only one aside from Dorothy Ashby to ever swing with a harp.
Roisin Murphy "Roisin Machine"
The best thing I've ever heard from her, and I loved all the Moloko albums. Supremely cool music.
Maria Schneider "Data Lords"
Album of the year for me, which feels odd because I haven't really liked Schneider's previous albums. I disliked her Bowie collaborations too, and I've never liked Gil Evans either whom she has modelled herself on, so I expected more of the same from this, but it feels very different to anything she's done before. The first half is dark and daring with improvisations that feel alive and electric. The second half is beautiful and organic and free. Superb concept album. It's going to rank high on lists when this decade gets summarised in the future.
