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The Best Jazz Albums of 2007Mingus, Hancock, Lovano, Friedlander …

By Fred Kaplan
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, at 2:51 PM ET

(Continued from page 1)

Paul Bley, Solo in Mondsee Paul Bley, Solo in Mondsee (ECM). Carla Bley's ex-husband and, much more than that, a jazz pianist's pianist for the past half-century, Paul Bley plays with a Play Mediastark romanticism—rhapsodic flourishes and heavy use of the sustain pedal, but tempered by staggered rhythms and slightly dissonant harmonies. These 10 numbers, improvised etudes, were recorded in a nicely resonant studio in Mondsee, Austria. At first, they're catchy; on repeated listening, each one opens new doors and takes you in more deeply.

Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters (Verve). I've often wondered why more jazz musicians don't riff on Joni Mitchell songs. They're rhythmically complex and harmonically open—plenty of room for improvisation. Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter played backup on her jazz-cadenced albums of the late '70s (Mingus, Hejira). Now they lead a tribute album, featuring some of her best tunes, joined on six of the 10 tracks by various singers—including Norah Jones, Tina Turner (both surprisingly apt), and Joni herself, who saunters through "Play MediaTea Leaf Prophecy" with the cool aplomb of a "real" jazz crooner. Hancock coaxes aptly moody tone clusters from the piano; Shorter wails simpatico; and Dave Holland fills in the spaces on bass. A rare album that truly fuses pop and jazz without pandering to either.

Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Time and Time Again Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Time and Time Again (ECM). This is an irresistibly odd trio—Motian slapping his brushes on snare and hi-hat, seemingly out of rhythm but in fact closing in on it with precision; Frisell picking Twin Peaks intervals with the slightest wah-wah; Lovano blowing the blues on tenor just a little bit out of the bar—yet it works, it delights, it sometimes rivets. The album is not quite as mesmerizing as last year's trio disc with Motian, Frisell, and bassist Ron Carter, but it's vital stuff, and there's Play Medianothing else like it.

Joe Lovano & Hank Jones, Kids: Live at Dizzy's Coca-Cola Joe Lovano & Hank Jones, Kids: Live at Dizzy's Coca-Cola (Blue Note). Here's Lovano in a more cruising-bop mode, playing duets with Hank Jones, who was 88 years old when these sessions were set down and who still navigates the piano with dexterity, grace, and hard rhythm. They play mainly Play Mediastandards; they always delight and sometimes startle.

Kendra Shank, A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook Kendra Shank, A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook (Challenge). Abbey Lincoln's songs are tough nuts for any singer; they move through uneven intervals, abruptly change keys, and sport lyrics that border on the banal unless they're sung with real conviction. Kendra Shank sings 11 of her songs with nearly as much soulful wisdom as the composer does—and Play Mediain better tune and rhythm. Her rhythm section, especially pianist Frank Kimbraugh (a longtime accompanist who also plays in Maria Schneider's orchestra), provides just enough support. It's an enchanting collection.

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Fred Kaplan, Slate's "War Stories" columnist, also writes about jazz for several publications. His jazz blog can be read here.
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Remarks from the Fray:

One disc I would add is Tord Gustavsen's "Being There." Gustavsen, a Danish pianist, leads a classic trio (piano, bass, drums) whose impeccable timing and tact remind one of the Evans' trio mentioned above at its very best. The playing is spare and restrained, sinking deeply into the notes and allowing them to speak for themselves; up-tempo moments, when they come, never feel forced but seem natural and easy, rhythmic extensions of the earlier repose. The music makes room for the spaces between the notes, and this gives the performance a hushed, spectral quality that can only be described as haunting. A fine follow-up to "The Ground" and " Changing Places," Gustavsen's earlier ECM discs. Any one of these will make a perfect soundtrack for the unspooling film noir in your mind. Highly recommended!

--Malone

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(12/20)

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