I love this time of year because this is the time that I reflect on the past year and rate the albums that I came to love the most.
2018 marks the 8th consecutive year I have done my Best Albums of the Year list.
This year was the year of jazz for me. I have long been a diehard jazz fan but my love for jazz exploded exponentially this year. 8 of my Top 15 albums are jazz or jazz influenced. With the Top 6 being straight ahead jazz.
But to be sure my tastes in music are still varied with R&B, Soul, Alt-Rock, Folk and Retro New Wave making the list this.
Eight of the artists on this list have been on previous Year-End lists including Jose James, Paul Simon, Joe Henry, Cat Power, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Enjoy, Stefon Harris and Jack White (this is his third showing on the Year-End List). His highest showing thus far is #3 with 2014's "Lazaretto."
For those of you interested in seeing the previous Top 15 charts the following is a list of links to see each one:
2012: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2012/12/rock-albums-post-xii-favorite-albums-of.html
2013: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2013/12/rock-albums-xiii-favorite-albums-2013.html
2014: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2014/12/rock-albums-xiv-my-favorite-albums-of.html
2015: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2015/12/rock-albums-post-xv-top-15-albums-of.html
2015: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2015/12/rock-albums-post-xv-top-15-albums-of.html
2016: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2016/12/rock-albums-post-xvi-top-15-albums-of.html
2017: https://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2017/12/rock-albums-post-xix-best-albums-of-2017.html
15. In The Blue Light - Paul Simon
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Label: SMG, Legacy
Producer: Paul Simon, Roy Halee
Genres: Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Alternative Adult, Pop
Chart Positions: #70 (US), #7 (Scotland), #10 (UK), #14 (Switzerland), #15 (Spain), #16 (Netherlands), #21 (Belgium), #24 (Ireland), #29 (Austria), #33 (Sweden), #36 (Germany), #40 (Czechoslavakia), #91 (Canada), 31 (US Jazz), #3 (US Americana/Folk), #9 (US Rock), #10 (US Vinyl Albums), #14 (US Digital Albums)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No Singles Released
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - Paul Simon never disappoints. Solid start to finish.
When I bought this album I was expecting to hear your standard Paul Simon style (which in itself is great). I was expecting Simon to continue along the lines of "Stranger To Stranger" his 2016 album which reached the Top 3 in the US and #1 in the UK. So when I took my first listen to the album I was pleasantly surprised to hear "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor," with a beautiful tinkling piano leading the way for a bluesy jazz vocal and jazz instrumentation. I was floored. This was great. So after this, I was expecting the album to revert to standard Paul Simon, but that did not happen, it continued with a jazz flair through the entire album. I was in jazz heaven.
Sadly this was not Paul's highest charting album. As a matter of fact, in the US it is his lowest charting studio album ever. Alas, the charts do not reflect the outstanding music found within. Paul Simon, despite the fact that he has been on the music scene for near 60 years, remains a trendsetter. He continues to release music that moves forward and discovers new avenues that he has not discovered before while digging back to favorite muses. Paul may be a star of yesteryear but he is certainly a trailblazer of the current day.
Despite his low showing on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, Simon did conquer a first-time success with "In The Blue Light," he reached #1 on the US Jazz Albums chart. This album is a solid jazz hit.
My feeling is that Simon deserves at least a Grammy nomination (in the jazz category) for this album.
"One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor" (2018)
Paul Simon (2018)
14. Joe Henry - Thrum
Release Date: October 27, 2017
Label: earMUSIC
Producer: Joe Henry
Genres: Americana, Folk, Rock
Chart Positions: #130 (Netherlands), #169 (Belgium)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No Singles Released
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - Joe Henry sets a mood that continues through the whole album that soothes your soul and rouses your mind.
So this album was released in 2017, not 2018. you may ask why is it on my list of "best albums of 2018"? That's a good question... and I have an answer. I did not discover this album until February or March of 2018. As much as I love Joe Henry's music - he is not a top of the chart artist and his music is hardly promoted. I usually do not catch on to his new releases until several months after they've been on the market (the same thing happens with Deerhoof). Anyhow, I found the album and loved it. This album was a favorite of mine through 2018, therefore, it is here on this list.
Joe Henry never strays too far from his classic sound, which he perfected with his 1996 album "Trampoline" and has continued to improve upon with each subsequent album. His style is an understated form of modern folk-rock Americana. He's somewhere between Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello and 100% original.
"Thrum", in my humble opinion, is Henry's best work to date. That's saying quite a bit considering his catalog of great works including "Tiny Voices" and "Blood From Stars," Henry is unstoppable in his endeavors in creating music that passes the test of artistic creativity and meaningful social commentary.
Each song is crystal clear with each instrument easily discernable. But best of all is Joe’s voice. Right from the start, Joe’s grainy voice has been full of personality and a treat to hear. At the age of 57, it seems as if his voice has grown more powerful and his sense of emotive prowess has developed far beyond anything he has done before.
With “Thrum” Joe digs a little deeper into his soul and introspective devices. What makes the album even more interesting is the fact that his son Levon Henry (yes that would be Madonna’s nephew) is part of Joe’s band. Levon plays a range of clarinets and saxophones and is the featured whistler in “Keep Us In Song.”
Joe gives us his Bob Dylan vocal style (yet more refined in voice than Dylan) with the folk tune “Climb,” Levon adds a spark of intimacy with his alto sax that quietly flavors the song. Joe’s aggressive vocal in the story song “Believe” tells his story of lost and regained faith and hope. The stripped-down arrangement of bass, guitar and drums brings Joe’s voice and lyrics to the forefront of the song.
The album has a recurring theme of faith and hope and “Dark Is Light Enough” keeps in line with this theme. Joe conveys his message that even in the dark there is light with a strong and harmonic lead vocal.
“Quicksilver” is one of the album’s highlight track. In its simplicity, Joe describes the damages and delights of love. While “River Floor” was the single premiered three weeks before the album's release. “Keep Us In Song” closes the album with a message about these changing times, how we age and experience loss. But in the end, it is dedication and love that will keep us going and keep us strong. The song ends with the faint and haunting whistling of Levon Henry.
"River Floor" (2017)
Joe Henry 2017
13. Cat Power - Wanderer
Release Date: October 5, 2018
Label: Domino
Producer: Cat Power
Genres: Folk-Blues, Folk-Rock, Indie Rock
Chart Positions: #96 (US), #10 (Portugal), #11 (Switzerland), #18 (Germany, Scotland), #19 (France), #21 (Austria), #24 (Belgium, Spain), #29 (UK), #42 (Australia), #45 (Sweden), #71 (Ireland), #90 (Netherlands), #93 (Italy), #4 (US Independent Albums, US Americana/Folk), #7 (US Vinyl), #10 (US Alternative Albums), #18 (US Rock), #23 (US Digital)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
"Wanderer" (N/A)
"Woman" #20 (US Adult Alternative)
"Stay" (N/A)
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - This is one of Cat Power's most beautiful albums. The songs flow together smoothly and maintain a mellow edge.
This album had been a long time in the making. It was six years since Cat Power's last album, 2012's "Sun." During the time between "Sun" and "Wanderer," Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) she had been diagnosed with a hereditary disease named angioedema for which over the next few years she had been hospitalized more than eight times. In the early part of 2015, she had given birth to her first and only child, a son, who you can see pictured on the album cover. Chan took a few years to raise her son before recording "Wanderer."
This album like Chan's past albums is consistently fresh and filled with Chan unmistakable intimacy. She is always personal with her songs and crafts them as if she is crafting each one personally for you the listener. Putting that personal touch on her music is important to Chan.
Every song on the album is a standout but one of the most exciting songs on the album is “Woman” an eerie duet with Lana Del Rey. Chan’s and Lana’s voices blend so beautifully and perfect that it’s hard to distinguish one voice from the other. “Woman” is the only song on the album recorded after Chan’s departure from her longtime label Matador. Some say the song is somewhat a rebel song against the label.
"Woman" (with Lana Del Rey)
Cat Power (Chan Marshall)(2018)
12. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul of a Woman
Release Date: November 17, 2017
Label: Daptone
Producer: Gabriel Roth, Neal Sugarman
Genres: R&B, Soul, Funk, Retro-Soul
Chart Positions: #106 (US), #43 (Netherlands), #71 (Belgium), #199 (France), #2 (US Vinyl Album), #9 (US Independent), #10 (US R&B)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
"Matter Of Time" #30 (US Adult Alternative)
"Sail On" (N/A)
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - This is real R&B at it's best... the way they did it back in the 1960s and 70s... pure soul all the way!!!
Sharon Jones has a voice that sits amongst the best of the best. Her range and depth of soul are comfortable next to any of the greats like Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston. Sadly Sharon never made it to the big time like the others. She spent many years working as a corrections officer at Rikers Island and an armored car guard for Wells Fargo Bank. Sharon was a tough girl with a beautiful soulful voice. During this time she also sang in her church and also with local funk bands. Finally in 1996 (at the age of 40) her big break came when she did a session recording backing funk legend Lee Fields. This session brought her to the attention of producer Gabriel Roth who later formed the Dap-Kings. Jones released 4 singles with Roth between 1996 through 1991. At the age of 46 Sharon finally realized the release of her first full-length album with The Dap-Kings. Unlike the others Sharon Jones was a late bloomer in the music business - but no less talented.
The highlight track in this collection of great retro-soul is the closing track "Call On God" in which Sharon turns up the Gospel with the same sort of fervor as Aretha Franklin or Mahalia Jackson while retaining a soulful quiet storm vocal that mesmerizes as well as inspires. Sharon sings with gutsy soul on the album's first single "Matter of Time" and a great horn section opens the seconds single "Sail On."
"Soul of a Woman" is a wonderfully diverse palette of R&B featuring hints of Motown, Philly Soul, Quiet Storm, Gospel, Nu-Soul and just good old fashioned great singing and playing.
As wonderful as this album is this album will always be met with a somber sadness being the first album released after Sharon's untimely passing in 2016 (at the age of 60s) due to pancreatic cancer.
Call On God (2017)
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
11. Steve Hobbs - Tribute To Bobby
Release Date: January 12, 2018
Label: Challenge Records
Producer: Aaron Nevezie, John Riley, Steve Hobbs
Genres: Jazz, Hard Bop
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No Singles Released
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - A great jazz album well worth being recognized for its musicianship and originality and just pure great music.
2018 was definitely the year of the vibraphonist for me with both Steve Hobbs and Stefon Harris riding high on my year-end chart. Harris is a long time favorite while I just discovered Hobbs with this album.
Several months after jazz great Bobby Hutcherson passed away Hobbs decided to do this tribute to Bobby. Hutcherson was a well-known session player having shown up on albums by Eric Dolphy, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Donald Byrd, Harold Land and many others. Though as a leader he recorded his first album in 1963 in which he was able to put his skills as a vibraphonist front and center. Many current day vibraphonists were inspired by Bobby including Stefon Harris and Steve Hobbs.
This tribute album is different from others in that instead of recording songs written by Bobby Hutcherson, Hobbs composed many of the songs and added a few classics that Bobby liked. Basically, it is a tribute to Hutcherson's playing style.
Initially, it is the album cover that enticed me to give this album a listen. I listen to more than 2,000 albums per year. There are different reasons as to why I will or won't listen to an album. If I don't like the album cover or the title of the album or the band's name I will pass on it without giving the music a chance (I know that seems a bit closed minded). But for me music is more than just the music itself - it's a whole package. If the album doesn't pass my initial visual test than it is passed up. Obviously "Tribute To Bobby" passed that visual test. Next, I listen to samples of the songs, if the album passes the auditory test then I decide whether or not the album is one I want to spend money on. I end up purchasing about 250 albums per year. The prerequisite for any album making my Year End list is that it must be one that I liked enough to purchase. Bingo! You've got it I purchased Steve Hobbs' album and now I am a fan and will purchase more of his albums!!!
"Tribute To Bobby" like most great vibraphone albums is heavy on percussion and is one of the focal points that makes the album stand above the rest. The percussive work ranges from funk and experimental ("Thelonious Monk") to calypso ("Let's Go To Abaco") to Latin-tinged hard bop ("Besame Mucho" and "El Sueno de Horace Silver") to Gospel ("The Road To Happy Destiny").
This album is well textured and diverse and is guaranteed to please even the most discerning ear.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Hobbs about this album and would like to share some insights that Steve shared with me.
As said by Steve Hobbs: "I have struggled with alcohol and drugs for decades and my life was falling apart. I threw in the towel and moved into a homeless shelter for recovering drug addicts in June of 2015. It's called The Salvation Army Men's Recovery Center in Charlotte North Carolina. During this time I built a better relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. I wrote the music for this album while in the church at the recovery center during my breaks from my pot washing job where I worked 65 hours a week washing dishes and mopping floors. Many of the songs are about addiction or recover such as "The Craving Phenomenon" and "Into The Storm," the latter about the terror of living in active addiction. "New Creation" is a term used in the Bible used for Paul after his encounter with God and his change from Saul to Paul. "Tres Vias" (which translates to Three Paths) is an obvious Latin influence. The three paths refers to The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "the Road To Happy Destiny" is about overcoming hardship (drug addiction) and serving God. "In From The Storm" is about the peace of living a drug-free life and my apology to my wife for putting her through a lot of turmoil."
Hobbs says that playing jazz is important to him but helping others with substance abuse issues is his main focus in life right now. It's obvious that "Tribute To Bobby" is a very personal album for Steve and it shows very much in the music. I guess this is why this album has struck a chord with me and became one of my favorites in 2018.
Steve Hobbs Interview
Steve Hobbs (2018)
10. Lenny Kravitz - Raise Vibration
Label: Roxie Records, BMG
Producer: Lenny Kravitz
Genres: Rock, Funk, R&B
Chart Positions: #43 (US), #1 (Poland), #2 (Italy), #3 (Germany, Switszerland), #4 (Austria, Belgium, Czekoslavakia, #5 (Spain), #8 (Netherlands), #11 (Poland), #13 (Scotland), #19 (Hungary, UK), #5 (US Rock Albums)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
"It's Enough": #75 (France)
Five More Days 'Til Summer": N/A
"Low": #7 (Iceland), #9 (France), #6 (Belgium), #34 (Croatia), #38 (Slovakia), #53 (Italy), #61 (Germany), #69 (Switzerland), #99 (Scotland), #1 (US Dance)
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - This is an amazingly strong rocking album with hints of R&B. A great comeback for Lenny Kravitz.
Each song stands on its own and Lenny's guitar work is stellar. The album doesn't introduce anything groundbreaking or new but shines with a fantastic professionalism that makes this one of Lenny's stand out albums of his entire career.
The anti donald trump anthem "Who Really Are The Monsters" has a Prince-like electro-funk rhythm that is out of this world.
The highlight of the album is unmistakably "Low," a track which he wrote back in 2000 when he was working with Michael Jackson on his album "Invincible," the track was never used at that time. In recording this song Kravitz used Michael's vocals from some of the tracks he wrote and sang with Michael. I love the funky horns on this one. "Low" has classic written all over it.
Low (2018)
Lenny Kravitz (2018)
9. Underground System - What Are You
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Label: Soul Clap
Producer: Domenica Fossati, Peter Matson
Genres: Dance, Afrobeat, Electronic, New Wave
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No Singles Released
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - Fresh, catchy, dancey and great production value.
Underground System recognizes Nigerian musician Fela Kuti as a major influence and named themselves after his 1992 album "U.S. (Underground System)".
Each song on this album is energetically danceable and contains afro-rhythms that enshrine mystery, darkness, happiness and light all in one. If you are a club disc jockey this is one to check out.
"Go" (2018)
Underground System (2018)
8. Enjoy - Small Car Big Wheels
Release Date: June 29, 2018
Label: Burger Records
Producer: Wyatt Shears
Genres: Alt-Rock, New Wave, Cosmo-Pop, Indie-Pop, Post Punk
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles have been released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - "Small Car Big Wheels" is a modern pop-rock album that is filled with pure fun and is a great enjoyable listen
It is with "Another Word For Joy" that I came up with the term Cosmo-Pop ( a sort of spacey futuristic rock-pop sound). Not many albums fit this bill but definitely Enjoy's "Small Car Big Wheels" and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's 2016 albums "Corazones" and "Umbrella Mistress" belong in this category.
With this album, Wyatt employees, a grab bag of interesting and fun sound effects and puts drums and guitars up front and center. His leads vocals have also been defined much better than in past releases. "Small Car Big Wheels" is a fun summer type album sure to bring life to any party.
"Small Car Big Wheels" (2018)
Wyatt Shears (2018)
7. Jack White - Boarding House Reach
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Label: Columbia Records, Third Man Records, XL
Producer: Jack White
Genres: Rock, Experimental Rock, Blues Rock, Art-Rock
Chart Positions: #1 (US, Canada), #4 (Portugal), #5 (UK, Scotland, Switzerland), #8 (Austria), #10 (Belgium, Netherlands), #11 (Australia, France, Poland), #16 (Czechoslavakia), #17 (Germany, Ireland), #19 (Finaldn, Spain), #25 (New Zealand), #32 (Italy), #40 (Denmark), #1 (US Alternative Rock, US Rock)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
"Connected By Love": #18 (US Alternative Rock), #27 (US Rock), #25 (Canada Alternative Rock, Canada Rock)
"Corporation": N/A
"Over and Over and Over": #20 (US Alternative Rock), #32 (Canada Rock), #33 (US Rock, Canada Alternative Rock)
"Ice Station Zebra": N/A
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - This album is filled with surprises from start to finish and a variety of musical textures and genres.
"Boarding House Reach" is Jack's most cutting-edge work of his solo career. It takes him back to his most experimental early works with The White Stripes. This is Jack's rebellion album in which he rebels against the "corporation," commercialism and greed. This is his most unmarketable and least commercial album to date but to be assured this will not stop his fans from buying the album - if anything it will make them love him more. I know I have a renewed respect for the man for not falling prey to commercialism and standing up for originality, art and eclecticism.
The biggest highlights for me are Jack's lead vocals which range from everything like Freddy Mercury to blues to all-out rock. The other highlight (the real and true highlight) is Jack's guitar work. We find all sorts of guitar styles - funky, heavy and chunky, bluesy, distorted, hard rock solos and it's all done with the finest of skill. Jack White is one of the great guitarists of this generation.
"Why Walk A Dog" (2018)
Jack White (2018)
6. The New Mastersounds - Renewable Energy
Label: One Note Records
Producer: Eddie Roberts
Genres: Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Funk, Soul
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - Some great percussion and guitars... rhythmic grooves that keep on movin'!!!
The New Mastersounds are proud of this effort and claim that the songs from this album play extremely well in their live sets and have become new staples that their audiences enjoy.
With "Renewable Energy" The New Mastersounds keep the focus on percussion retaining a strong backbeat in all the songs whether it is the Simon Allen on drums, Pete Shand aptly on bass or other instruments carrying the rhythm of the music. Eddie Roberts' guitar finesse is also front and center with his crisp clean chords and Bob Birch is smokin' hot on his Hammond organ.
"Renewable Energy" is one of those albums that easy to enjoy at any time and in any mood. It's a great party album as well as a great cool down album at the end of a long day of work. One thing is for sure it keeps the groove going all the way through. This is a great "makes you feel good" album.
"Tantalus" (2018)
The New Mastersounds (2018)
5. Allan Harris - The Genius of Eddie Jefferson
Release Date: May 4, 2018
Label: Resilience Music Alliance
Producer: Brian Bacchus
Genres: Jazz, Vocalese, Post Bop
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - Excellent vocal jazz
Harris' tenth studio album is a salute to the music of
Eddie Jefferson, a jazz vocalist and lyricist noted as an innovator of vocalese, a musical style in which lyrics are set to an instrumental composition or solo.one of Jefferson's earliest vocalist recordings is "So What," which combines the lyrics of artist Christopher Acemandese Hall true the music of Miles Davis.
Allan Harris gives a fitting tribute to Eddie Jefferson. Paris Masters the many Jazz vocal styles of which Jefferson was expert including scat, vocalist, Blues, ballad and more.
aside from being a great tribute album This Album stand on its own. Harris has recorded a classic that will endure through the years and decades.
"So What" (2018)
Allan Harris (2018)
4. Michael Franks - The Music In My Head
Label: Shanachie
Producer: Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Scott Petito, Charles Blenzig, Jimmy Haslip
Genres: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Chart Positions: #2 (US Jazz Albums), #30 (US Independent Albums)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - The king of smooth jazz strikes again and sends us another winning album.
The best thing about listening to this album is the familiarity about it. Even though all the songs are new I got the feeling that I've known these songs all my life and then there's that voice that so often soothed my soul in between listening to my classic rock and new wave albums of the 1970s and 1980s. Michael Franks still has the ability to melt my soul - and that's a good thing.
"The Idea of a Tree" (2018)
Michael Franks (2018)
3. Jose James - Lean On Me
Label: Blue Note
Producer: Don Was
Genres: R&B, Quiet Storm, Neo-Soul, Soul-Jazz, Jazz Funk
Chart Positions: #53 (Belgium), #62 (Austria), #76 (Spain), #93 (Netherlands), #5 (US Jazz Albums)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - A tribute album that tops all tribute albums. Each song written and recorded by Bill Withers is expertly reinterpreted by Jose James (a classic in his own right).
2018 brings another tribute album, this one honoring the classic Bill Withers. Is Jose James simply a covers artists? One might think he is, but his musical scope, range and depth are far more than any cover artist. Jose James is a singer's singer and even when he does a tribute album he does it with his own unique brand of originality, keeping true to the originals yet giving them his own recognizable style. Jose James is 100% an original.
With "Lean On Me" James pays tribute to Bill Withers and gives us his treatment of classics such as "Lean On Me," "Ain't No Sunshine," "Use Me," "Lovely Day," "Just The Two of Us" and several other key tracks. James retains the original groove and timbre of each song while bringing them his own voice and style. Bill Withers commented on how pleased he was with the final result.
Lovely Day (2018)
Jose James (2018)
2. Roller Trio - New Devices
Release Date: June 22, 2018
Label: Edition Records
Producer: Roller Trio
Genres: Jazz, Jazz Rock, Jazz Fusion, Experimental Jazz
Chart Positions: N/A
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
No singles released from this album
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - One amazing work of experimental jazz melded with rock guitar, psychedelic saxophone and propulsive drums which at times each become the center of the show and turn into something you've never heard before.
The band's guitarist (and bass player), Chris Sharkey, was previously in the Jimi Hendrix influenced jazz-punk band called Acoustic Ladyland, knowing this was enough to get me to listen to "new Devices" as I am a huge Jimi Hendrix fan... but there's more. James Manwaring, who plays saxophone and adds synthesized effects to the music is amazing. He can do things with the saxophone that I have never heard before and brings the listener into a world of sound that carries you into an undiscovered dimension of thought and sound.
Prior to "New Devices" Manwaring and band member Luke Reddin-Williams had experimented with electronics on their 2014 album "Fracture," with songs like "Tracer" and "Tightrope," these were the first songs they tried improvising while recording separately via multi-tracking to a click track. But Roller Trio's sound took a big turn around when they parted ways with the other Luke, guitarist Luke Wynter who moved down to London. Guitarist Chris Sharkey was asked to join the band which thrilled James Manwaring and Luke Reddin-Williams as they consider Sharkey to be one of their music heroes.
Chris Sharkey has been the biggest factor in the change of Roller Trio's sound. With a shared interest in electronics, Chris led the new sound with live sampling - taking a solo sax recording James had sent him which became the electronic parts in "Decline of Northern Civilisation." The same process proceeded on "Mad Dryad" with acoustic guitar as its source material. When the album was finished, more fun began; figuring out how the band could play it live, Chris switched from guitar to bass and Ableton Live (a music software) via multiple midi controllers, James with saxophone and various effects presets and Luke using in-ear monitoring to play the drums.
Roller Trio is high on my list of band's to watch and you know I will be first in line when their next album is released.
"Nobody Wants To Run The World" (2018)
Roller Trio (2018)
Roller Trio (2018)
1. Stefon Harris + Blackout - Sonic Creed
Label: Motema
Producer: Stefon Harris
Genres: Jazz, Classical Jazz, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Chart Positions: #12 (US Jazz), #1 (Jazz Week)
Certifications: N/A
Singles and Chart Positions:
"Chasin'Kendall": #1 (World Jazz Top 20 Singles)
Best Cuts: ALL TRACKS - One amazing work of experimental jazz melded with rock guitar, psychedelic saxophone and propulsive drums which at times each become the center of the show and turn into something you've never heard before.
After "Ninety Miles" I kept a close watch for a new release by Stefon Harris - but it didn't seem to come. Two years went by - nothing - four years - nothing - five years - still nothing - so I gave up. I figured maybe he retired or maybe he was sick - I searched around to find out what happened - but no word anywhere.
Finally seven years later Harris gives us "Sonic Creed," I waited a long time for this album and was it ever worth it. From the very first drum beat of "Dat Dere" I just knew the album was going to be a major winner. The album is filled with rhythm, with chill, with class and a bit of edge. Harris once again proves he is the master of the vibraphone as he so smoothly taps his instrument on this collection of finely performed songs. It is evident that Harris and Blackout bandmembers poured their hearts and souls into this album resulting in a finished product that both touches the soul and warms the heart.
Harris wrote two of the tracks, the hit "Chasin' Kendall" and the super smooth quiet storm "Let's Take A Trip To The Sky," in which Jean Baylor gives us a beautifully soulful vocal performance. One of the album's highlights is Harris' rendition of Wayne Shorter's "Go," a song which first appeared on Shorter's 1969 album "Schizophrenia." Harris' version focuses more on the rhythm and gives the arrangement a brassier sound and slight edge from blending saxophone parts with the electric guitar. Of course, Harris treats us to an expert vibes performances adding his own class and style to the song.
"Sonic Creed" made it to #12 on Billboard Magazine's Jazz Albums chart making this Harris' highest charting album to date.
"Go" (2018)
Stefon Harris (2018)
Stefon Harris (2018)
Worthy Mentions...
These are the ones that did not make my Top 15 list but deserve a mention
Bjork - Utopia
Editors - Violence
Hieroglyphic Being - The Red Notes
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (Grammy nominated for Album of the Year)
Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing (Grammy Nominated for Best American Roots Album)
Shopping - The Official Body
Barbra Streisand - Walls
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