ANOTHER GREAT YEAR for British and international contemporary jazz – and, out of 79 albums reviewed… well, it would be so pleasing to list 79 (I’m so tempted!).

Looking back and re-listening to the releases which I have reviewed in 2015 confirms a fantastic outpouring of creativity (and, of course, there are hundreds more albums my ears have never heard). But these are the recordings which have, on a purely personal level, made the final AP Reviews cut. Somehow, I have whittled it down to a TOP 12 (ie 12 months in the year / Twelve Days of Christmas).

But then, to recognise and recommend so many other, unanticipated gems that have come my way, I offer a further list of COMMENDED recordings – those which, over the past year, have unexpectedly captured my imagination and warmed my heart.

All are truly wonderful in their own unique way, and I thank all of these amazing jazz/improvisation artists for their energy, invention, enthusiasm… and, as a result of that, some of the most life-enhancing music imaginable.

AP REVIEWS – TOP 12 OF 2015
(in reverse sequence)

12.
New Era
Entropi
Review

11.
Never Ending January
Espen Eriksen Trio
Review

10.
Wildflower
Wild Flower Sextet
Review

9.
Range
Pete McCann
Review

8.
Return to the Fire
Tim Garland
Review

7.
The Day I Had Everything
Malija
Review

6.
Strata
Ivo Neame
Review

5.
Let It Be Told
Julian Argüelles
Review

4.
Westerly
The Printmakers
Review

3.
Meeting at Night
Moonlight Saving Time
Review

2.
Time Pieces
Kyle Eastwood
Review

1.
Pinball
Marius Neset
Review

AP REVIEWS – COMMENDED
(in reverse sequence)

6.
The Science of Snow
Beresford Hammond
Review

5.
Memory Palace
Szandra Szoke Quintet
Review

4.
Skarkali
Skarkali Trio
Review

3.
Our Lady of Stars
Sorana Santos
Review

2.
The Mighty Five
Alexey Kruglov & Jaak Sooäär Quartet
Review

1.
Faces
David Lyttle
Review

Merry Christmas, a happy new year, and…

…here’s to the jazz of 2016!

Adrian.

MY ‘BEST OF 2013’
MY ‘TOP 20 OF 2014’