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J.D. Allen Trio, I Am I Am (Sunnyside)Detroit native J.D. Allen walks the tightrope of the sax trio–all alone on the front line, with only bassist Gregg August and drummer Rudy Royston for company–and comes through not only with his reputation intact but sounding more fluid and powerful than ever. He’s obviously influenced by Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, but with his hard-swinging attack and impressively lean lines–he reduces things to their essence here–he also makes his own skills and ideas clear.
Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)This is one of the few albums on my list that lots of other people seem to love. Jason Justin Vernon recorded it while spending the winter alone in a remote Wisconsin cabin, overdubbing his somewhat ramshackle vocal harmonies (most in a gently cracking falsetto) atop a foundation of driving acoustic guitar and insistent foot tapping.
Andrew Hill & Chico Hamilton, Dreams Come True (Joyous Shout!)Recorded in 1993 but unreleased until this year, Dreams Come True captures a dazzling collision: brilliant, introspective pianist Andrew Hill and energetic, timeless drummer Chico Hamilton. Their interactions are full of respect and understanding, but neither yields easily to the other–the resulting tension makes this record crackle.
