“Some” is a word we should introduce early on—as in, this is some of the Best Jazz of 2017. As 11 previous Best…
In 2017, jazz and improvised music showed that another world is possible. Stewart Smith picks his top ten new releases and five archival gems.
10. Amir El Saffar – Not Two (New Amsterdam)
9. William Parker Quartets – Meditation/Resurrection (AUM Fidelity)
8. Goncalo Almeida, Rodrigo Amado, Marco Franco – The Attic (No Business/Tombed Visions)
7. Hear In Now – Not Living In Fear (International Anthem)
6. Tyshawn Sorey – Verisimilitude (Pi Recordings)
5. Jaimie Branch – Fly Or Die (International Anthem)
4. Pat Thomas – The Elephant Clock Of Al Jazari (Otoroku)
3. Irreversible Entanglements – Irreversible Entanglements (International Anthem/Don Giovanni)
2. Roscoe Mitchell – Bells For The Southside (ECM)
1. Nicole Mitchell – Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds (FPE Records
Reissues and archival
5. Ornette Coleman – Ornette at 12/Crisis (Real Gone Music)
4. Ton-Klami – Prophecy of Nue (No Business)
3. Brother Ah – Divine Music (Manufactured Recordings)
2. Byron & Gerald – Unity (Eremite)
1. Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda – World Spirituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of… (Luaka Bop)
