WHRV Host Jae Sinnett knows jazz. As a performer, composer and music educator himself, he knows what makes jazz work and what makes it exceptional. What are the best jazz albums of this year? Check out his top picks. 

10. Gregory Porter – All Rise – Blue Note – Gregory Porter is a master storyteller but more, he has a beautiful and unique way in how he merges the instrumentation with his words, tone and pacing. Pianist Chip Crawford continues to provide superb harmonic and melodic accompaniment. I love Porter’s pacing and how the band listens. Everyone takes their time and the music breathes…giving the soaring melodies a chance to live large.

9. Ella Fitzgerald – The Lost Berlin Tapes –Verve – No singer swung like Ella Fitzgerald. Her phrasing, swing beat and amazing ability to improvise and reshape melodic structures is a study. She can sing her way out of any corner she gets boxed in to. Her tone, range and pitch are on point. I really enjoy too how she feeds off the energy of the trio and visa versa. She’s not threatened by intensity. She can adjust and cover. Ella was simply, one of a kind.

8. Michael Olatuja – Lagos Pepper Soup - Whirlwind – I first heard and saw Michael play with guitarist Lionel Loueke. Incredible facility, tone and versatility. On Lagos he not only showcases is fantastic bass work but also his writing and arranging skills. He taps into and lives the rhythms and conceptual directions of the styles from his native Nigerian culture…merging them smartly and musically with jazz. A powerful and sonically sophisticated outing.

7. Dafnis Prieto Sextet – Transparency – Dafnison Music – Cuban drummer/composer continues to amaze us not only with his extraordinary drumming ability but also with his writing and arranging. He’s figured out how to write in a way that opens up many avenues for his visionary drumming. Not an easy feat. Rhythmically, he’s another musician that has merged smartly the innovative layers of his culture with jazz. His independence at the kit raises the bar on how drumset players can utilize this ability to create thought provoking, fresh and unique sonic textures.

6. Billy Childs – Acceptance – Mack Avenue – Billy Childs is in that lonely category of great musicians that have managed to parallel his high level playing ability with his incredible writing and arranging. The balance here is remarkable. He could survive solely as a pianist or writing or arranger. He’s that good at each. To get to that place in your development is exceptionally rare. His work speaks for itself but he needs the same extraordinary musicianship to help him develop his stories. With drummer Eric Harland, saxophonist Steve Wilson and bassist Hans Glawischnig, he’s found his kindred spirits.

5. Terri Lyne Carrington – Social Science – Motema – Terri wears many hats. She’s an amazing drummer. Can sing and produce. What’s she’s accomplished here with Science is stunning in its scope, depth and vision. She’s pull in the future of jazz… tagging along soul, hip hop and R&B…is a cross pollination masterpiece. The challenge in playing multiple styles is playing them authentically. She succeeded masterfully.

4. Ryan Cohan – Originations – Origin – I’ve admired Ryan Cohan’s piano work and writing for a while now. His music remains void of predictability and full of surprises. Harmonically, rhythmically and melodically sophisticated Originations plants Cohan in the hall of great writers who aren’t obsessed with what preceded them. It’s his voice he speaks and the stories reveal the intelligence and spirit of someone that’s lived the experiences he composes. That’s a special place.

3. John Beasley Monk’estra – Monk’estra Plays John Beasley – Mack Avenue – On this latest outing by the Monk’estra, contrary to the title, it’s not all about Beasley…directly…but his scent is all over everything. What he didn’t write, he arranged and these songs end up becoming a dialogue so to speak between Beasley and the composer. The arrangements became best friends with the composer’s intentions if that makes sense. Beasley has found a way to remain committed to Thelonious Monk’s humor and quirkiness but puts a 2020 spin on it. Brilliantly conceived and produced. Complex and soulful. Introspective and extroverted. It makes me raise my eyebrows, laugh, scream, shout and dance. Ha! There ya go.

2. Yellowjackets/WDR Big Band – Jackets XL – The Jackets are many great things. One thing in particular, they’re masters of organization and logic. The writing and arranging continues to reveal deeply sophisticated logic. Everything they play just makes perfect sense. Some might argue they don’t take many artistic chances on their records. Perhaps but they play to their strengths better than any band I’ve heard. Bassist Dane Alderson has finally found his footing in the band and the pocket feels organic again. I confess to being a huge Jimmy Haslip fan and his departure created a void I thought they would never fill again. That was the key for me. How well the rhythm section would come together. They’re there now. It’s in place. The pocket is established again. Whew! To replace a master is unbelievably challenging but Dane has found his way. Hats off to you brother! The Jackets with a big band isn’t surprising to me considering Bob Mintzer’s extensive work with his own big band and his well-known big band scores. I just wondered why it took them so long for this fantastic conceptual collaboration.

1. Immanuel Wilkins – Omega – Blue Note – Well, I never heard of Immanuel before this recording. Exceptional saxophonist who plays with a warm and electrifying sense of sophistication and in tune. Better late than never I guess to know of him. Seriously, the playing on this record is incredibly artistic, spiritually deep, profoundly complex, rewarding, smart and truthful. Pianist Micah Thomas’ playing here is astonishing. Layer after beautiful layer. What I hear these musicians play is what I know they meant to play. It wasn’t about trying something. They reached their performance objectives. The amazing textures and layers of soul, passion and their commitment are evident. Everywhere on this record. There’s no weak link in the lineup and if there was even one, this record wouldn’t speak the way it does. It’s the perfect balance and complimenting of talent. They embrace each other’s intentions smartly and beautifully. A word that comes to mind…development. Each song has a beginning, compassionate zenith and logical resolution. I don’t know these musicians personally, but what I will tell you is they aren’t strangers to each other. They absorb each other’s nuances too well. Doesn’t matter the direction. At times there’s intensity but it doesn’t feel crowded or sound busy and that’s because they’re smart enough to let the song dictate ITS terms to them. That’s intelligence. They swing. Pocket. Groove. Shout. Explore. Unite. Communicate. Share. Excite. Enlighten. Invigorate and listen. My top pick of 2020.

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