Well, it’s the end of another year in The Jazz Universe. Please pardon the cliché but, with a snap of the fingers, the year seems to have come and gone. The rush of time can make your memory hazy when it comes to recalling significant events, both locally and nationally, in a specialized music like jazz. With that in mind, this column is devoted to CDs and DVDs that hit the market and caught my attention this year. The next column will be more of a reflective piece on trends, both positive and negative, that are taking place in jazz.

Before I get to the lists, though, I’d like to offer some thoughts on one of the few recordings released this year that I feel shows the promise of what jazz can become when placed in the hands of a truly creative individual. Best of all, the album comes from a local musician.

Well, it’s the end of another year in The Jazz Universe. Please pardon the cliché but, with a snap of the fingers, the year seems to have come and gone. The rush of time can make your memory hazy when it comes to recalling significant events, both locally and nationally, in a specialized music like jazz. With that in mind, this column is devoted to CDs and DVDs that hit the market and caught my attention this year. The next column will be more of a reflective piece on trends, both positive and negative, that are taking place in jazz.

Before I get to the lists, though, I’d like to offer some thoughts on one of the few recordings released this year that I feel shows the promise of what jazz can become when placed in the hands of a truly creative individual. Best of all, the album comes from a local musician.

“Nothing but Blue Sky” is the debut recording from vocalist Chris Humphrey, of Kennebunk, Maine, and it is a gem of a CD. With backing from the trio of Mark Shilansky on piano, Martin Wind on bass and the always inventive Matt Wilson on drums, Humphrey offers a program of fresh arrangements of standards with a sprinkling of superb originals. Humphrey’s approach is more like that of a horn player than a singer in terms of how he phrases the lyrics, interacts with the trio and improvises. This should come as no surprise, as Humphrey is a superb pianist, as well as a fine trombonist and bassist.

Examples of the singer’s approach can be heard on an inventive version of Thelonious Monk’s “In Walked Bud,” as Humphrey and Wilson engage in a series of heated rhythmic exchanges. His distinctive style is also evident on a reinvented version of Jobim’s “One Note Samba.” “Anna’s Song” and “Lullaby for Jackson” are exceptional originals that express a father’s love for his children. There’s also the straight-up swing of “Swingin’ Til the Girls Come Home” and a loose funky version of “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.” The highlight of the CD is the opening cut, a lovely version of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” that is rendered in a floating, almost ethereal style, offering a stark contrast to the original version’s more funky groove.

The trio plays terrifically, throughout. For me, this is one of pianist Shilansky’s finest efforts to date, as he plays with inventiveness and imagination. Wind and Wilson, both longtime members of pianist Bill Mays’ trio, show a relaxed and intuitive rapport that comes from years of playing together. As a collective unit, these four musicians sound as if they’ve been performing together for years.

Released on the Cadence Jazz Records label, “Nothing but Blue Sky” is the kind of vocal jazz recording that I don’t hear enough of—one in which the fundamental elements of interaction and creativity are ever-present. This is, in my opinion, one of the best recordings of the year and comes from an artist deserving much wider recognition. For more information on Chris Humphrey or to obtain the CD, visit www.chrishumphrey.net.

In addition to Humphrey’s recording, a number of other fine CDs came from local and regional artists, including Mark Shilansky’s “Join the Club;” “Skylight” from the collective trio of bassist John Hunter, pianist Tom Robinson and drummer Tim Gilmore; and “No Place to Hide” from the Boston-based New World Jazz Composers Octet. A latecomer to this list would be “Sound Helmet,” from the Boston-based organic combo Organism. All are fine examples of the high quality jazz that can be found in the area.

As for other recordings, there were several decent to very good CDs that came out in 2007, but only a few that really captured my imagination. As such, I’ve broken the lists down into three categories: My Top Ten list, which was submitted to the Jazz Journalists Association and can be found at www.jazzhouse.org; a list of Honorable Mentions; and a shorter list of historically oriented recordings. As usual, all selections are in alphabetical order by the artist’s name to give equal consideration to the various titles.

Top 10:
“Pilgrimage” by Michael Brecker, Heads Up Records
“River: The Joni Letters” by Herbie Hancock, Verve
“Light On” by Tom Harrell, High Note Records
“Nothing but Blue Sky” by Chris Humphrey, Cadence Jazz Records
“Kids: Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola” by Joe Lovano/Hank Jones, Blue Note
“Time and Time Again” by Paul Motian, ECM
“Live at the Dakota” by Terrell Stafford, Maxx Jazz
“With Love” by Charles Tolliver, Blue Note
“McCoy Tyner Quartet: Live” by McCoy Tyner Quartet, Half Note
“The Lawn Chair Society” by Ken Werner, Blue Note
Honorable Mentions:
“Tenorist” by Jerry Bergonzi, Savant Records
“Veneration” by Wayne Escoffrey, High Note Records
“Love Dance” by Victor Goines, Criss Cross
“Gifts and Givers” by Jimmy Greene, Criss Cross
“Turn Up the Heath!” by Jimmy Heath, Planet Arts
“Back on the Corner” by Dave Liebman, Tone Center Records
“Live at the Kennedy Center, v.2” by Mulgrew Miller, Maxx Jazz
“Live at the Village Vanguard” by Chris Potter Underground, Sunnyside Records
“Back East” by Joshua Redman, Nonesuch Records
“Up From the Skies” by Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Planet Arts
Historical:
Chu Berry—“Classic Chu Berry Columbia & Victor Recordings,” Mosaic Records
Kenny Cox—“Introducing Kenny Cox and the Contemporary Jazz Quintet,” Blue Note Connoisseur
Miles Davis—“Live at Monterey,” MJF Records
Miles Davis—“The Complete On the Corner Sessions,” Columbia/Legacy
Woody Herman—“Woody’s Winners,” Mosaic Singles
Qunicy Jones—“The Complete ABC/Mercury Big Band Jazz Sessions,” Mosaic Records
Thad Jones—“Detroit/New York Junction,” Blue Note RVG Series
Lee Morgan—“Candy,” Blue Note RVG Series

If you have any thoughts, questions or comments, Alan Chase can be reached through The Wire at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!