CDs of 2014

I receive so many CDs for review picking out one above all the rest is impossible so next year I hope to pick out a CD and a gig of the month which will narrow the field somewhat. Readers are, of course, invited to make their submissions although I won’t be holding my breath!

Anyhow, here we go (Alphabetical):

·       Annie Ross – To Lady with Love. A CD and DVD featuring Annie Ross in tribute to Billie Holiday. The voice may be but a shadow of itself but the emotional content is unbeatable. With John and Bucky Pizzarelli.

·        Basin Street Brawlers – It’s Tight Like That. A party style Dixieland band full of fun popular in and around London. Worth hearing them further north.

·   Big Chief– Blues in Twos. Previously unissued tracks by legendary blues band featuring Dick Heckstall-Smith.

·       Chris Ingham Quartet – Hoagy. Pianist/vocalist Ingham pays tribute to Hoagy Carmichael with some Bixian overtones from Paul Higgs and recent North east arrival Russ Morgan on drums.

·       Count Basie and his Orchestra – Original Album Series. A 5 CD set of classic Basie albums make this the reissue of the year.

·       Hank Marvin – Django’s Castle. An unlikely entry but Marvin proves he’s no mere “shadow” of the legendary Django.
      Hansu-Tori - An Improvised Escape. A late arrival but well worth waiting for.

·        Johanna Graham Quartet – Don’t Let Me Be Lonely. Debut album by a new singer (to me that is). Received rave reviews from her launch at Pizza Express.

·      New Century Ragtime Orchestra – Singin’ in the Bathtub. Tyneside’s unique take on 1920s/30s big band music.

·        Paul Edis Sextet – Mr Hipster. I  haven’t actually heard the CD but I’ve heard the sextet live enough times and read other reviews to know that it will justify inclusion.

·       Scottish National Jazz Orchestra – Culloden Moor Suite. Bobby Wellins composed and is featured on this stand out disc.

·      Scottish National Jazz Orchestra – American Adventure. SNJO in America with guests such as Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern and many others.

·   The Lindsay Hannon Plus – The Spy. Imaginative interpretations of standards, originals and contemporary classics.

·        Tim Kliphuis Trio – The Grappelli Album. Kliphuis pays homage to the other driving force of The Hot Club.

·     Tommaso Starace Quartet – Italian Short Stories. An exciting and at times evocative musical portrait of an Italian photographer.

·       Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock – Whispering of the Stars. Tremendous duo album by two superb players.
     Vance Thompson's Five Plus Six - Such Sweet Thunder. An offbeat, yet still swinging tribute To Duke, Monk and Dolly Parton!

·      Vasilis Xenopoulos – The Wind Machine. “Vasi” has impressed us live on many occasions and this re-working of some big band classics is a classic in its own right.

Apologies to those artists whose discs I haven't included many of which are also deserved of mention.

Lance.