Pazz 'n' Jop 2011: notes

As you may know by now, The Village Voice's 2011 Pazz 'n' Jop Critics Poll results were announced last night. The albums winner is tUnE-yArDs' w h o k i l l, which surprised me a bit, albeit pleasantly so; even if it is some way down on my personal 2011 favorites list, I can hear why it is an affecting record, warts and all. The singles winner is Adele's Rolling in the Deep, which seemed like a safe bet beforehand.

My ballot can be found here. My top seven records have been pretty much nailed on for a long time. Those seven records stand out, for me, by being more consistent and more solid works than the rest, and I attempted to indicate that by the scores I handed out for my ballot. Below those seven, there has been some fluctuation -- compare my pazz 'n' jop ballot to the latest revision of my favorites list -- though have revisited Paul Simon numerous times lately, I'm tempted to put it in the same category as my top 7.

A couple of points:

• None of my top 10 albums finished in the poll's top 10, but two are in the top 20, Frank Ocean and Fucked Up. If we go to the top 25, there are three counting Pistol Annies.
• My number one pick, Wussy's Strawberry, landed at 109th place, getting ten mentions.
• I was the only one to vote for Avram Fefer's Eliyahu and Wadada Leo Smith's Heart's Reflections (misspelled in the poll). Both are jazz records, and Eliyahu got only two votes in Rhapsody's Jazz Critics' Poll, from Tom Hull and myself, so that's no surprise, really. Darius Jones Trio's Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) , the third jazz record I voted for, got two more votes, from Steve Dollar and Tad Hendrickson.
• Matana Roberts' Coin Coin Chapter One... was the highest placed jazz album at 78, unless you count Colin Stetson, which we probably should, at 42.
• My sole Norwegian pick, Razika's giddy ska tale about the pains of growing up in "Vondt i Hjertet", got one other vote, incidentally by current poll organizer Maura Johnston.

Hoping to post some non-list related writing here during next week. I have a piece on jazz drumming in the pipeline plus, hopefully, a 2011 catch-up of Listening Booth notes, and the return of The 1984 Box Set.

The 2011 Jazz Critics' Poll + notes

Late last year, I was invited by Francis Davis to vote in the 6th edition of the Jazz Critics' Poll, which he has been running the past five years at the Village Voice, but has now been moved to the US based streaming site Rhapsody. Over 120 jazz writers participated, and the results were posted yesterday. Tom Hull has the individual ballots at his site, including mine (look for me in the batch "Kaplan - Nastos", or under Ballots [4])

I predicted the runner-up to win it, based upon what I've read on over the past year, 'though I suppose Sonny Rollins was among the favorites also. A few quick observations:

• Six of my chosen ten picks made the top 60
• Of those, Wadada Leo Smith placed highest, at no. 13.
• My runner-up, Darius Jones Trio, was second highest at no. 19.
• My number one pick, Avram Fefer, received only two votes: Me and Tom Hull, who had it as his runner-up.
• I count 13 among the top 60 that are also on my "2011 favorites" list (records graded 7, i.e. recommended, or higher.) (Though, I have some five records in my pending pile that made the list.)

My three picks for best reissue also made up the top three in the results, albeit not in the same order. I'd also note that had I known Monk's Music had been reissued this year, it would have been my number one pick, it quite possibly being my favorite Monk album. Then again, the record has been widely available for a while in various formats, so it doesn't quite feel like a reissue in the same way my top three does.

The JJA Jazz Awards 2011 Nominees - Some quick thoughts

The 2011 JJA Jazz Awards nominees were announced earlier today. Not surprisingly, I have issues. The glaring omission of Adam Lane, who for my money should have at least been nominated in the "Recording of the Year", "Large Ensemble of the Year", and "Bassist of the Year", and possibly the composer and arranger categories as well. Below, the music categories, my picks in are in bold, some with added comments:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN JAZZ

Jimmy Heath
Muhal Richard Abrams - Prime mover behind the formation of AACM, and has released a heap of great music for many years.
Paul Motian
Phil Woods
Wayne Shorter

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Esperanza Spalding
Jason Moran
Joe Lovano
Sonny Rollins
Vijay Iyer - Iyer's been around for a while, operating in several formats (the group Fieldwork is my favorite), and although I don't think his last record is anything near his best, I'd pick him over the rest of these, 'though my love for Sonny Rollins knows no bounds Moran will probably win it, 'though.

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

Henry Threadgill - About time he gets his due. Overlooked great of modern jazz (I'll admit, I'm biased, seeing as I'm a huge Threadgill fan). Again, I'm guessing Moran will win this.
Jason Moran
John Hollenbeck
Maria Schneider

UP AND COMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ambrose Akinmusire
Darius Jones - One of the most exciting new musical acquaintances I've made in the last two years or so. Great solo debut from 2009, and his new duet album with Matthew Shipp is beautiful.
Gerald Clayton
Jon Irabagon

RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Apex - Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green (Pi Recordings)

The Art of the Improviser - Matthew Shipp (Thirsty Ear)

Bird Songs - Joe Lovano Us Five (Blue Note)

Mirror - Charles Lloyd Quartet (ECM)

Ten - Jason Moran (Blue Note)

Comment: Hard to pick one. Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra's Ashcan Rantings was my top record in 2010, by some distance, and none of my other top 10 jazz records of 2010 are in with a shout here. If I had to pick one, I guess I would go for Apex. I'm guessing Moran will win this, based on the consensus from 2010 polls.

HISTORICAL RECORDING, BOXED SET OR SINGLE CD REISSUE OF THE YEAR

Bitches Brew: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition - Miles Davis (Columbia Legacy)

The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1952 - 62 - Ahmad Jamal Trio (Mosaic)

The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia, and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra - Duke Ellington (Mosaic)

The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air – Henry Threadgill & Air - Mosaic - No contest. The box set is chuck full of excellent jazz by one of its forgotten geniuses, as well as by one of the best jazz trios of all time. It contains two records I have rated as 10s -- Air's Air Lore and Threadgill Sextett's Rag Bush & All -- one 9, two 8s and none I rate below 7. Will Miles win this, 'though? I mean, just because it's Miles? (Cheap shot, I know.)

The Complete Revelation Sessions - John Carter and Bobby Bradford (Mosaic)

RECORD LABEL OF THE YEAR

Blue Note
Clean Feed - They continue to release exciting and challenging jazz records by artists from both sides of the Atlantic. Sadly, their best release from 2010, Adam Lane's Ashcan Rantings, is not represented anywhere else here.
ECM
Pi
Sunnyside

FEMALE SINGER OF THE YEAR

Cassandra Wilson
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Gretchen Parlato
Rebecca Martin
Roberta Gambarini

Comment: No picks here. Haven't heard a new record by any of these.

MALE SINGER OF THE YEAR

Bobby McFerrin
Freddy Cole
Giacomo Gates
Gregory Porter
Kurt Elling

LARGE ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Mingus Big Band
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

Comment: Again, it's a shame the have omitted Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra. Is it because they are only a recording band, and not a touring one? Darcy James Argue's Secret Society and John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble would both be decent picks, 'though.

SMALL ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR

Charles Lloyd Quartet
Henry Threadgill Zooid - Mostly Other People Do the Killing should have been nominated, in my opinion, but they have time on their side. Zooid is a good pick.
Jason Moran and The Bandwagon
Joe Lovano Us Five
Wayne Shorter Quartet

ARRANGER OF THE YEAR

Bill Holman
Carla Bley
Darcy James Argue
David Weiss
Maria Schneider
Vince Mendoza

TRUMPETER OF THE YEAR

Ambrose Akinmusire
Dave Douglas
Jeremy Pelt
Nicholas Payton
Tom Harrell
Wynton Marsalis

Comment: Peter Evans for me, but he's not here. Nor is Taylor Ho Bynum. Dave Douglas it is, then.

TROMBONIST OF THE YEAR

Conrad Herwig
Roswell Rudd
Steve Davis
Steve Swell - Released the very good 5000 Poems with his group Slammin' the Infinate last year. On that basis alone, he's my pick.
Steve Turre
Wycliffe Gordon

TENOR SAXOPHONIST OF THE YEAR

Chris Potter
Joe Lovano
Jon Irabagon - What? No Ken Vandermark? Irabagon is great, 'though, and gets my pick. I like Malaby a lot too, and Sonny, of course.
Sonny Rollins
Tony Malaby
Wayne Shorter

ALTO SAXOPHONIST OF THE YEAR

Lee Konitz
Miguel Zenon
Ornette Coleman
Phil Woods
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Could've gone for Ornette, obviously, but even though he toured last year, I'll go for Mahanthappa, who played on two good albums released in 2010.
Steve Coleman

BARITONE SAXOPHONIST

Claire Daly
Gary Smulyan
James Carter
Joe Temperley
Scott Robinson

SOPRANO SAXOPHONIST OF THE YEAR

Dave Liebman
Evan Parker
Jane Bunnett
Jane Ira Bloom
Sam Newsome
Wayne Shorter

CLARINETIST OF THE YEAR

Anat Cohen
Ben Goldberg
Don Byron
Evan Christopher
James Falzone
Ken Peplowski

FLUTIST OF THE YEAR

Charles Lloyd
Henry Threadgill
Lew Tabackin
Mark Weinstein
Nicole Mitchell

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

Bill Frisell
Jim Hall
Marc Ribot
Mary Halvorson - Would've nominated Nels Cline, too, but Mary Halvorson is an exciting musician and composer.
Russell Malone

PIANIST OF THE YEAR

Fred Hersch
Geri Allen
Jason Moran
Kenny Barron
Matthew Shipp - Tough choice. Could go for Iyer, but I liked Shipp's last record a bit better than Iyer's.
Vijay Iyer

BASSIST OF THE YEAR

Charlie Haden
Christian McBride
Dave Holland
Ron Carter
William Parker - Parker is a giant of modern jazz, and an original bassist and composer, but sadly not very well known. I blame a by-and-large conservative jazz press, obsessed with heroes past and once great jazz labels like Blue Note. Haden, Holland and Carter have had their time. Would've nominated Adam Lane, myeslf. But you're probably sick of hearing this by now. "Moppa" Elliott of MOPDtK is another guy they could've looked to, as is Lisa Mezzacappa.

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Eric Harland
Lewis Nash
Matt Wilson
Nasheet Waits - Would have nominated Mark Lomax and Mike Reed myself. Possibly MOPDtK's Kevin Shea, too, but his style is maybe too "out" for this poll.
Paul Motian
Roy Haynes

PERCUSSIONIST OF THE YEAR

Adam Rudolph
Bobby Sanabria
Cyro Baptista
Hamid Drake
Kahil El'Zabar

ORGANIST/KEYBOARDIST OF THE YEAR

Craig Taborn
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Gary Versace
Joey DeFrancesco
Larry Goldings

MALLET INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Gary Burton
Jason Adasiewicz
Joe Locke
Stefon Harris
Steve Nelson

Comment: I have no pick here.

VIOLINIST OF THE YEAR

Billy Bang - Sadly passed away recently, but mangaed to release the glorious Prayer for Peace last year.
Christian Howes
Jenny Scheinman
Mark Feldman
Regina Carter

PLAYER OF THE YEAR INSTRUMENTS RARE IN JAZZ

Bela Fleck, banjo
Fred Lonberg-Holm, cello - has been doing great work in several of Ken Vandermark's ensembles recently.
Howard Johnson, tuba
Rudi Mahall, bass clarinet
Scott Robinson, specialty brass and reeds
Toots Thielemans, harmonica

A special mention to Hank Shteamer for his nomination in the best Liner Notes category (for the Henry Threadgill box set).