2018 - The Best of MusicLike this list

10 items

• Versatile

  Morrison, Van, 1945-

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  Van Morrison doing jazz interpretations backed by a very slick big band. It's really well produced and if you're new to the American jazz standards then this is a great way in!

• Utterance

  Long, David (Musician)

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  I love this album! It's a collaborative effort between three on NZ's finest musicians; David Long (banjo w/effects), Natalia Mann (harp), and Richard Nunns (taonga puoro). These flavours blend beautifully to create haunting soundscapes that are…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Jazz Messengers

  Blakey, Art, 1919-1990

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  The first album from the group that went on to be the band that every jazz player wanted to be in. They've had some huge names in jazz through their ranks over the years and this is a great way to start their 40+ album recording career!

• The Kitchen Table Sessions. Volume II

  Neilson, Tami

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  Beaut, home-cooked alt-country from NZ's favourite adopted daughter. Great country grooves and a lady with a voice of gold - what's not to love!?

• Preservation

  Reid, Nadia

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  Some more beautiful, lyrical, melodic songwriting from NZ's Nadia Reid.

• Second Nature

  Bell, Carey, 1936-2007

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  This is just how I like the Blues; stripped back, acoustic, you can just imagine it on the porch on a hot summer day... This father and son team recorded this album in single takes with no overdubs whilst they were touring Finland in 1991, and it's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Charlie Watts Meets the Danish Radio Big Band

  Watts, Charlie, 1941-2021

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  Charlie Watts (drummer for the Rolling Stones) gives it his jazz side on this album, featuring the big band of Danish radio. Some great jazz music here particularly the 'Elvin Suite' numbers. After that you get the obligatory big band arrangements…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dog

  Parr, Charlie

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  Stripped back acoustic blues doesn't get much better than this album of what I like to call "porch music". Solid songwriting and a very real connection with the blues makes this a great addition to the genre.

• Don't Let Them Lock You Up

  Hopetoun Brown (Musical group)

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  New Zealand music is in good shape these days and I really like the creativity and supurb musicianship that is on display on this album. They usually perform as a duo but the recording process has allowed them to expand on their ideas and grooves,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Black Notes From the Deep

  Pine, Courtney, 1964-

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  A great jazz album from the British multi-instrumentalist jazz legend Courtney Pine. Brilliant small ensemble playing and solid musicianship on display. I really liked the instrumentals - not so much the vocal numbers - but that's just my…Read moreRead more of this annotation