December 2017

Features

• Chick Corea

  Spiritual Chemistry

  By Ted Panken

  Corea topped the Jazz Artist category in the Readers Poll.

• Diana Krall

  Moving Pictures

  By J.D. Considine

  Krall topped two categories: Female Vocalist and Jazz Album (for her Verve album Turn Up The Quiet).

• Snarky Puppy

  Snarky Mastermind

  By Phillip Lutz

  Michael League talks about the amazing success of his band Snarky Puppy, which topped the Jazz Group category.

• Christian McBride

  Muscles Flexed

  By Ken Micallef

  McBride topped the Bass category in the Readers Poll.

• Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’

  Breaking Down Inhibitions

  By Jeff Johnson

  The blues veterans topped the Blues Album category for their collaborative disc, TajMo (Concord).

Blindfold Test

Ambrose Akinmusire was tested on the following tracks for the “Blindfold Test”:

• Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra: “Low Down” from All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings At The Village Vanguard (Resonance)
• Jonathan Finlayson & Sicilian Defense: “Flank And Center” from Moving Still (Pi)
• Don Cherry: “Dewey’s Tune” from Critics’ Pick Sampler, Vol. 1 (Black Saint/Soul Note)
• Clark Terry: “One Foot In The Gutter” from In Orbit (Riverside)
• Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: “Phrases” from Ruler Rebel (Stretch/Ropeadope)
• Johnny Coles: “My Sweet Passion” from Little Johnny C (Blue Note)
• Enrico Rava/Stefano Bollani: “In Search Of Titina” from The Third Man (ECM)

Also in this Issue