Michael G’s Best of 2021

By Michael G. Nastos

Top 15 Best Jazz of 2021 (in alphabetical order)

  • Nik Bärtsch, Entendre (ECM)
  • Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta, Salswing! (RBPCD)
  • Brian Charette, Power from the Air (Steeplechase)
  • Charged Particles with Tod Dickow, Live At The Baked Potato!: The Music Of Michael Brecker (Summit)
  • Don Cherry, The Summer House Sessions (Blank Forms)
  • Alex Coke & Carl Michel, The Emissary (Play On)
  • Cowboys & Frenchmen, Our Highway (Outside In Music)
  • David Janeway, Distant Voices (Steeplechase)
  • Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, Tone Poem (Blue Note)
  • Lunar Octet, Convergence (Summit)
  • Oregon, 1974 – Live in Bremen (Moosicus)
  • The Paxton / Spangler Septet, Anthem for the New Nation (Eastlawn)
  • William Parker, Mayan Space Station (AUM Fidelity)
  • Claudio Scolari Project, Cosmology (Principal)
  • Miguel Zenón, Law Years: The Music Of Ornette Coleman, Live At TheBirds Eye Jazz Club (Miel)

Best Historical

  • Roy Brooks, Understanding (Reel to Real)
  • Don Cherry, Organic Music Theatre: Festival de Jazz de Chateauvallon 1972 (Blank Forms)
  • Don Cherry, The Summer House Sessions (Blank Forms)

Best Latin Jazz

  • Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta, Salswing! (RBPCD)
  • Benito Gonzalez, Sing to the World (Rainy Days)
  • Dayramir Gonzalzez, Tributo a Juan Formell & Los Van Van (Unicornio)
  • Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Virtual Birdland (Zoho)

Best Jazz Vocal

  • Roseanna Vitro (with Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan, Marion Cowings), Sing a Song of Bird (Skyline)

Best Blues

  • The RJ Spangler Band, Live at The Scarab Club: A Tribute To Louis Jordan (Eastlawn)