KCCK Producers' Top 10's for 2007

Mark Yother Bob Stewart Gordon Paulsen John Heim (jazz) John Heim (blues) Bob Deforest

Bob Naujoks Ron Adkins Ken Rinehart Doug "DJ" Jackson Mark Jayne

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Mark Yother: Monday-Friday 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. / Sundays 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. (Sunday Morning Swing)

1) Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan - Live at MCG (MCG Jazz)

If 2007 was light on vintage reissues - and for me, that's 1925 through about 1945 - it was a good year for mainstream performances. My choice for best record of the year is a 1993 performance at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh. The dates were October 1-3, and the stars were Billy Taylor and Gerry Mulligan. These long-time friends were joined by Chip Jackson on bass and Carl Allen on drums, for a program of standards, including "Line For Lyons" (by Mulligan) and "Capricious" (by Taylor). Straight-ahead music making, with nothing stodgy or old fashioned. "Live at MCG" is on the MCG Jazz label. Monk/Contrane at Carnegie Hall (Blue Note/EMI)

2) Lynne Arriale Trio - Live

3) Wayne Bergeron - Plays Well With Others (Concord)

4) Terry Gibbs - Findin' the Groove (Jazzed Media)

5) Scott Hamilton - Nocturnes & Serenades (Concord)

6) Jimmy Heath - Turn Up the Heath (Planet Arts)

7) Roger Kellaway - Heroes (IPO)

8) Bill Mays The Inventions Trio - Fantasy (Palmetto)

9) John Sheridan - Swing is Still the King (Arbors)

10) Gerald Wilson Orchestra - Monterey Moods (Mack Avenue)

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Bob Stewart: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

1) Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet - Memories of T (Concord)

A member of Thelonius Monk's mid-'60s quartet, the drummer paid homage to his former boss with this scintillating collection. Riley enlisted the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Don Sickler to reinvent some of Monk's classic compositions. He selected some of the pianist's own performances over the years and arranged these melodies and solos for four horns and a guitar. It's Monk like you've never heard before.

2) Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage (Heads Up)

3) Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts - The Scenic Route (Palmetto)

4) Chris Washburne & the SYOTOS Band - Land of Nod (Jazzheads)

5) Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Sone Ka-La (EmArcy)

6) Jean-Luc Ponty - The Acatama Experience (Koch)

7) Kenny Werner - Lawn Chair Society (Blue Note)

8) Kurt Elling - Nightmoves (Blue Note)

9) Joe Zawinul & the WDR Big Band - Brown Street (Heads Up)

10) Joshua Redman Trio - Back East (Nonesuch)

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Gordon Paulsen: Monday-Friday 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

1) Joe Zawinul - Brown Street (Heads Up)

There is another reason to remember September 11th. That is the day in 2007 that the jazz world lost one it's most influential and innovative artists - keyboardist /composer and bandleader Joe Zawinul. This pioneering founder of Weather Report and former sideman for Cannonball Adderly and Miles Davis, composer of instant classics like "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Walk Tall," "Country Preacher," and "Birdland," made his final recording in equally triumphant style. Brown Street, released in February on Heads Up International, is an electrifying two disc live recording where many of those quintessential Weather Report songs like "Black Market," "A Remark You Made," and "Night Passage" are heard for the first time as big band arrangements. The setting is Joe's own Birdland club in his native Vienna. The band is Germany's 15-piece Grammy Award winning WDR Big Band from Cologne propelled by a powerhouse rhythm section comprised of Zawinul on various keyboards, former WR sidemen Victor Bailey on bass and percussionist Alex Acuna plus Zawinul Syndicate drummer Nathaniel Townsley. Most of the arrangements are provided by Vince Mendoza, who so brilliantly tailored for big band some of the Brecker Brothers' songbook for the 2006 Grammy winning Some Skunk Funk. On the Heads Up home page Zawinul made the comment: "We had fun on this project. It's basically the original Weather Report arrangements adapted to big band, and I made sure to keep it open enough so that the music could breathe but at the same time groove. The idea was not to do a cover record. We wanted these arrangements to stand on their own and have their own unique identity." Zawinul will forever be identified with having an exploratory, forward looking musical agenda with an insatiable curiosity for new sounds and new ways of hearing his older songs. Brown Street is a fitting final tribute to that spirit which will ultimately be Joe Zawinul's enduring legacy.

2) Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage (Heads Up)

3) Herbie Hancock River: the joni letters (Verve)

4) Poncho Sanchez - Raise Your Hand (Concord Picante)

5) Steve Khan - Borrowed Time (Tone Center)

6) Brian Bromberg - Downright Upright (Artistry Music)

7) Will Bernard - Party Hats (Palmetto)

8) Various Artists - Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life (Blue Note)

9) Abbey Lincoln - Abbey Sings Abbey (Verve)

10) Down to the Bone - Supercharged (Narada Jazz)

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John Heim (jazz): Mon-Thurs: 7 p.m. - Midnight.

1) Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage (Heads Up)

It was a terrible thing to loose one of the great tenormen of our time, but Michael Brecker left us a wonderful final legacy in Pilgrimage. No self-pity or weepy sentimentality here. This is a fine straight ahead jazz album with musicians performing at the highest level. Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, John Pattitucci and Jack DeJohnette join together to create music that is thoughtful and introspective but subtly joyful. It doesn't take long to forget the tragedy and enjoy the music.

2) Sonny Rollins - Sonny Please (Doxy)

3) Joe Zawinul - Brown Street (Heads Up)

4) Joshua Redman - Back East (Nonesuch)

5) Kurt Elling - Nightmoves (Concord)

6) Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan - Live at MCG (MCG)

7) John Scofield - This Meets That (EmArcy)

8) Steve Khan - Borrowed Time (Tone Center)

9) MB3- Jazz Hit Volume 1 (Mel Bay)

10) Brian Bromberg - Downright Upright (Artistry)

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John Heim (blues): Fridays: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

1) Hamiton Loomis - Ain't Just Temporary (Blind Pig)

Texan & Bo Diddley disciple Hamilton Loomis has figured out how to mix roots and soul into something that imitates nobody but shows a little of everybody in a completely original way. Lots of funk, soul and rock 'n' roll that should appeal to a crossover audience. Strong and witty song writing shines through with great guitar and confident vocals. I just don't have enough room to say all the good things about this CD.

2) Koko Taylor - Old School (Alligator)

3) Bob Margolin - In North Carolina (Steady Rollin')

4) Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - The Bottom Line (New Light)

5) JJ Grey & Mofro - Country Ghetto (Alligator)

6) The Soul of John Black - The Good Girl Blues (Yellow Dog)

7) Root Doctor - Change Our Ways (Big O)

8) Jeff Turmes - The Distance You Can Travel (Fat Head)

9) Mem Shannon - Live A Night At Tipitina's (Northern Blues)

10) John Nemeth - Magic Touch (Blind Pig)

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Bob Deforest: Saturdays 6 p.m. - Midnight ('Da Blues / Crawfish Circuit / Melting Pot)

1) Stevie Ray Vaughan & Fiends - Solos, Sessions &Encores (Epic)

His brilliant guitar playing and passionate vocals fueled the blues resurgance of the mid-80s. Here he is with some of his favorite musicians and heroes, including Albert King, BB King, Paul Butterfield, Marcia Ball, Johnny Copeland, A.C. Reed, Jeff Beck, Lonnie Mack, Katie Webster, Jimmy Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt, Dick Dale, David Bowie and others. This is a great record.

2) James Blood Ulmer - Bad in the City (Hyena)

3) The Rounders - Wish I Had You (Blind Pig)

4) JJ Grey & MOFRO - Country Ghetto (Alligator)

5) The Holmes Brothers - State of Grace (Alligator)

6) Little Axe - Stone Cold Ohio (Realworld)

7) Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman, Roxanne Potvin - Time Bomb (Ruf)

8) Hamilton Loomis - Ain't just temporary (Blind Pig)

9) Corey Harris - Zion Crossroads (Telarc)

10) Nappy Brown - Long time Coming (Blind Pig)

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Bob Naujoks: Sundays: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Gentle Jazz)

1) Billy Taylor-Gerry Mulligan - Live at MCG (MCG)

There were several things that were "new" and came out after the fact that caught my ear. This is not to say that old is better, but these discoveries enhance the repertoire of great jazz. At the top of the list is the Billy Taylor-Gerry Mulligan paring caught live in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. What a wonderful time was had by all, including the audience. Not far behind was the tape made at the Lighthouse in the mid-1970s by the fine duo, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral; they were at the height of their bop-oriented vocal artistry. Then, Ray Charles again this year in full voice from the 1960s with full band from the 21st century on the remastered, digitially combined "Ray Sings, Basie Swings." The engineering should get an award for making it seem so natural.

2) Jackie Cain-Roy Kral - Echoes (Jazzed Media)

3) Ray Charles-Count Basie Orchestra - Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Concord)

4) Tony Bennett - Duets: An American Classic (RPM/Columbia)

5) Lynne Arriale - Live (Motema)

6) Pat Metheny-Brad Mehldau - Metheny/Mehldau Quartet (Nonesuch)

7) Tierney Sutton - On The Other Side (Telarc)

8) Various Artists - BillyStrayhorn: Lush Life (Blue Note)

9) Scott Hamilton - Nocturnes & Serenades (Concord)

10) Wycliffe Gordon-Jay Leonhart - This Rhythm On My Mind (Bluesback)

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Ron Adkins: Sundays: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Gentle Jazz)

1) Till Bronner - Oceana (EmArcy)

I swear this guy channels Miles Davis every time he plays! Bronner's sense of space, his acute awareness of the power of each note and the silences in between is remarkable. You can't help but draw comparisons to Kind of Blue. And yet, he is in full command of the music he plays. And he plays brilliantly. I can't wait for his next release.

2) Stefon Harris - African Tarantella (Blue Note)

3) Puppini Sisters - Betcha Bottom Dollar (Verve)

4) Ray Charles - Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Concord)

5) Bad Plus - Prog (Heads Up)

6) Turtle Island String Quartet- A Love Supreme: the Legacy … (Telarc)

7) Fred Hersch - Night and the Music (Palmetto)

8) Lee Ritenour - Smoke 'n' Mirrors (Peak/Concord)

9) Benson/Jarreau - Givin' It Up (Concord)

10) Ron Carter - Dear Miles (Blue Note)

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Ken Rinehart: Saturday Noon - 3 p.m.

1) Lake Street Dive - In This Episode (M-Works)

With all of the rehashing of jazz standards in today's jazz, it is so refreshing to hear a tight ensemble with something fresh and interesting to say. This quartet presents a variety of original tunes with amazing lyrics from bassist and Iowa City native Bridget Kearney, and outstanding vocals by Rachael Price.

2) Tom Harrell - Light On (High Note)

3) Dino Saluzzi / Anja Lechner - Ojos Negros (ECM)

4) Richard Bona- Tiki (Decca)

5) Joe Zawinul - Brown Street (Heads Up)

6) Bobo Stenson - Goodbye (ECM)

7) Kenny Werner - Lawn Chair Society (Blue Note)

8) MB3- Jazz Hits Volume 1 (Mel Bay)

9) Russell Malone - Live at Jazz Standard (MaxJazz)

10) Tord Gustavsen - Being There (ECM)

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Craig Kessler: Saturday 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Jazz Corner of The World)

1) The Chris Potter 10- Song For Anyone (Sunnyside)

I could easily call any one of my Top 10 titles #1, but I keep coming back to this Potter disc. His playing, his compositional veracity, his arranging talents, his overall versatility, all continue to knock me out. This CD is a dektette which includes Potter's saxes, flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass, and percussion. Also, check out the disc by him that was released the same day "Follow the Red Line" a live quartet from the Village Vanguard. I think that I just made my list a "Top 11."

2) Charles Mingus - Cornell 1964" (prev. unreleased) (Blue Note)

3) Roscoe Mitchell - Composition / Improvisation Nos. 1, 2, and 3 (ECM)

4) Marty Ehrlich / Myra Melford - Spark! (Palmetto)

5) Miles Davis - The Complete On The Corner Sessions" 6 CD box (Sony / Legacy)

6) Stefano Bollani - Piano Solo (ECM)

7) Alan Pasqua - Anti Social Club (Cryptogramophone)

8) Trio M (Myra Melford, Matt Wilson, Mark Dresser)- Big Picture (Cryptogramophone)

9) Jaki Byard - Sunshine of My Soul: Live At the Keystone Korner (Highnote)

10) Paul Bley - Solo In Mondsee (ECM)

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Doug "DJ" Jackson: Saturdays 9 a.m. - Noon (Smooth Brunch)

1) Queen Latifah - Trav'lin' Light (Verve)

Queen Latifah clinched the top spot for me with her live performance at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, IA this fall, where she "brought down the house". The musicianship on her cd reads like a who's who in the music industry, and the song selection allows the Queen to shine from track to track. I'm glad that Dana Owens has revealed another side of the Queen, and is showcasing it to the world. Music Lovers, in 2007, the "Queen" reigns!

2) Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - R 'n' R (ARTizen Music Group)

3) Norman Brown - Stay With Me (Peak Records)

4) Joey Sommerville - Like You Mean It (Sojo)

5) Paul Taylor - Ladies' Choice (Peak Records)

6) Kirk Whalum - Roundtrip (Rendezvous)

7) Kim Waters - You Are My Lady (Shanachie)

8) U-Nam - Back From The 80's (Trippin' N Rhythm)

9) Dee Lucas - Something To Ride 2 (Mo Better Recordings)

10) Dave Sereny - Take This Ride (nu-Groove)

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Mark Jayne: Sundays 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Night Breeze)

1) Jeff Oster - True (Retso Records)

For two years in a row, Mr. Oster has won awards throughout the industry for his albums. This year he enlisted the help of Will Ackerman, formerly of Windham Hill Records to produce "True". Not normal thought of as a ambient instrument, Mr. Oster plays primarily the flugel horn. His sound is velvety smooth and extremely relaxing. One of the cuts, "Tibet", adds in overtone singing and chanting, to make a soothing departure from his somewhat smooth jazz orientation on the rest of the album. He has been nominated for a Grammy and NAR awards again this year.

2) Al Conti - Poeta (Poeta)

3) Tom Salvatori/Iris Litchfield - Song Of Hope (Salvatori Productions)

4) Fiona Joy Hawkins - Angel Above My Piano (Little Hartley Records)

5) Johnny Whitehorse aka Robert Mirabal - Totem Flute Chants (Silver Wave Records)

6) 2002 - Deep Blue Still (Gemini Sun Records)

7) James Todd - Quiet Beauty (Scottish Fox)

8) Levi Chen - Devocean (Ying Yang Records)

9) John Wubbenhorst - True Water (Facing East)

10) Patrick O'Hearn - Glaciation (Patrick O'Hearn Productions)