Top Albums of 2014

There is so much amazing music out there today. This is a list of my own personal favorite albums of the year. It includes 3 albums from the current popular jazz scene (obsessed with cameo vocals, spoken word and mixed genres), 2 modern Cuban pianists (one of which fits the current jazz scene mantra), a major rock/pop artist, a vocalist, a soundtrack, a Jewish Afro/punk band, and a beautiful tribute album.

1. The Invasion Parade by Alfredo Rodriguez

This is the album that got me the most excited this year. The cover is fitting as Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez does in fact sound like a mad prolific painter. He tends to switch colors and emotions quickly, maintaining a level of intensity that keeps you hooked and unable to let go. The primary lineup is rounded by Henry Cole, Peter Slavov, Billy Carrion, and Roman Filiu. Percussionsit Pedrito Martinez and bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding are guests in some of the songs including the absolutely beautiful ‘El Guije’ and ‘Snails in the Creek’ (the former in particular has some ridiculous vocals by Esperanza).  ‘Santa Barbara’ and ‘Timberobot’ will have you jumping off your seat, while the classics ‘Quizas, Quizas, Quizas’ and ‘Veinte Anios’ are treated more delicately but with the same level of intensity. The number one highlight of the album has to be this insane rendition of ‘Guantanamera’.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-invasion-parade/id785831390

2. Morning Phase by Beck

This is a very emotional album similar to Sea Change from 2002. If you are feeling sad, it will drag you to the ground. Yet unlike Sea Change, Morning Phase does include moments that may feel potentially uplifting within the right context. It is more complex in that regard and to me it is Beck’s best album to date. The instrumentation is mostly basic with a lot of strings, colorful arrangements and subtly slick production. It has an overall sense of simplicity, openness and warmth. Beck’s songwriting feels genuine and so does his singing. Among the albums highlights are ‘Morning’, ‘The Heart is a Drum’, ‘Say Goodbye’, and ‘Blue Moon’ (otherwise known as the song from True Detective‘s last episode from season 1).

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/morning-phase/id797897966

3. The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint by Ambrose Akinmusire

The follow up to the band’s incredible album debut When the Heart Emerges Glistening is another success for this brilliant trumpeter. This one is perhaps darker and more spiritual. The album is a good representation of the jazz scene today; broad in instrumentation and genre, with different vocalist appearances. Singer Becca Stevens steals the show for a moment on this one with the thought-provoking ‘Our Basement’. The band sounds like if it has been playing together for 30 years. I particularly love how Ambrose and saxophonist Walter Smith iii blend together.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/imagined-savior-is-far-easier/id816479578

4. Big Picture by Kat Edmonson

The incredibly expressive Kat Edmonson has quickly become one of my absolute favorite singers. She will quickly draw you in and hypnotize you before you even realize what is happening. At times she may sound like Billie Holiday and at times like the girl from Cranberries, but she never loses her own unique characteristics. An incredible voice with infinite nuances and an uncanny ability to deliver her heartfelt songs in such personal way that it feels she is singing only to you.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-big-picture/id898060389

 

4. Mboko by David Virelles.

It should be noted that the subtitle of this album is Sacred Music for Piano, Two Basses, Drum Set and Biankoméko Abakuá, which tells you the instrumentation but also the vibe of the album. The Cuban pianist is joined by Roman Diaz, Marcus Gilmore, Thomas Morgan and Robert Hurst. This music requires your full attention. It is sparse and abstract with almost no melody and no groove (at least in the traditional sense). The band is instead mostly preoccupied with interaction, texture and space. Arguably the most interesting album I heard all year. *ECM record label does not have their albums on spotify so you most go to itunes to listen to it.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mboko/id923382031

6. Heroes and Misfits by Kris Bowers

Another modern Jazz album from the current scene as described above. Pianist Kris Bowers takes this idea to the extreme. This is indie rock, r&b, hip-hop, electro, jazz. Some really cool grooves, vibes, and textures make this a fun and engaging listen. From the albums that came out this year, this may be the one I listened to the most.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heroes-+-misfits/id779473938

 

7. Birdman by Antonio Sanchez

This is the soundtrack of the movie by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who had the brilliant idea of asking his fellow countryman drummer Antonio Sanchez to write it/play it strictly on drums. This gives a very unique feeling to the movie that puts you inside the crazy head of the main character, who is brilliantly portrayed by the surprising Michael Keaton. Antonio is one of the most sought after and well respected drummers in the world and tends to play very clean and perfect. Yet on this album, he purposefully plays these de-tuned drums and sounds ‘dirtier’ than you will ever hear him. Antonio arrived in Hollywood and raised the name of Mexico, drumming and Jazz altogether. I believe he deserves an Oscar.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/birdman-original-motion-picture/id922241290

 

8. Adramelech by Zion 80

This is one of the many many many projects involving John Zorn. The music is written by this prolific and ridiculously productive musician as part of Masada Book Two. Zion80 plays it and delivers, leaving no doubt that they are a thing on its own; A fantastic Afro/Punk/Reggeae/Heavy Metal/Jazz/Jewish/Klezmer band.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/adramelech/id900627625

http://youtu.be/-kbna5-_MGA

9. The Thought Of You by Otis Brown III

This is the album debut of drummer excellence Otis Brown III.  It is the 3rd of the ‘current Jazz scene’ type of thing album of this list.The underlying tone of this one is more traditional as compared to the other two, at times bringing to mind Miles’ 2nd Quintet. Of course, vocalists are present on some of the tunes including the fascinating Bilal Oliver. Spoken words are also present including the actual audio recording from Otis’s very own wedding on “The Two Become One (For Paula)”.  Otis is an explosive drummer who continuously explores highly energetic groove changes with contagious excitement.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-thought-of-you/id898129099

10. Beautiful Life by Jimmy Greene

Saxophonist Jimmy Greene recorded this album as a tribute to the life of his 4 year old daughter, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut in 2012. Mr. Greene has often stated that he wanted the music to represent the way her daughter Ana lived, as opposed to the way she passed away. It is naturally a very touching beautiful album that includes the participation of a vast number of highly acclaimed musicians. This next peace opens the album. It starts with a home recording of Ana and friends singing a Puerto Rican song, followed by a Pat Metheny /Jimmy Greene duet, followed by another home recording of Ana singing while her brother plays piano. All in all it is a very touching album that illustrates the power of music as a coping, celebratory, unifying tool.

itunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-life/id924565924

 

Other good ones:

Lathe Of Heaven by Mark Turner Quartet, Taming The Dragon by Mehliana, Beat Music: The Los Angeles Improvisations by Mark Guiliana, You’re Dead by Flying Lotus, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin by The Roots, Golden Age by Nir Felder, Vipassana by Eric Harland, Landmarks by Brian Blade & The Fellowship.

*You can access the spotify playlist of all these songs (including ‘other good ones’ but excluding those not available on spotify) by following it here: favorite albums of 2014 spotify playlist