Episode 179: Best of 2021, Part 4 (last one).

Twelve more recordings voted by jazz critics and radio stations as being the best of 2021. I start with Los Angeles pianist Cameron Graves and end with Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. And between those selections are a variety of straight-ahead and ‘out there’ jazz.

From New York, there’s drummer/percussionist Ches Smith and The We All Break.

I play a few great collaborations, such as clarinetist Ben Goldberg with guitarist Mary Halvorson. Then there’s Whiterock B.C. native Amanda Tosoff collaborating with Laila Biali and Alex Samaras. And don’t forget Portuguese vocalist Sara Serpa getting together with Nigerian writer Emmanuel Iduma. Then there’s the great bassist Esperenza Spalding NOT playing bass and trombonist Corey King NOT playing trombone.

Others from ‘best of’ or jazz charts lists include Nelson Riveros, Emma Jean Thackray, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Renee Rosnes.

Only one album is reprised from Part 1 of this series. That’s Veronica Swift’s ‘This Bitter Earth’. From the album I play a delightful Dave Frishberg composition about the only news you can really trust these days (at least according to Frishberg).