The Reign of Kindo - Play With Fire (2013)

Jazz-pop masters The Reign of Kindo are making another splash with what may be their best album yet. Whereas their previous two releases were very good, I can honestly say this one is great. It's very tightly constructed, catchy all around and is quite varied. Songs like "Sunshine" and "I Hate Music" are probably my favorite cuts from the album as I prefer the more upbeat, instantly catchy side of the band. That's not to say that the other tracks are skippable - not by a longshot. "Dust" and "The Man, The Wood, and The Stone" feature the soothing, contemplative side of the band and are simply gorgeous. All in all, the band have yet again accomplished the difficult task of conforming the complex structure of jazz with pop requirements, but this time they've made their most memorable and most satisfying album yet. If you haven't heard of this band before then check out this album for some really unique pop and downright fun music.
9/10

 

The Aristocrats - Culture Clash (2013)

As one of the most talented modern jazz fusion bands out there, The Aristocrats consist of the some of the finest musicians out there including Marco Minnemann and Guthrie Govan. They and the rest of the band amazingly seem to keep improving their craft as this album demonstrates. I really liked the debut, but I think Culture Clash is clearly a better record. The compositions are tighter and catchier with a heavy dose of blues influence. Every member of the band is composing some really interesting and dynamic parts and the band as a whole sounds very tight. My favorite song is probably the title track which has already become one of my all-time favorite fusion tracks.  The rest of the songs are great as well and I'd highly recommend Culture Clash to jazz and prog fans of all types.
9/10

 

Evan Brewer - Your Itinerary (2013)

Evan Brewer of noted tech-deathers The Faceless may have proven himself as a highly accomplished bassist both in his work with his band and on his debut solo album Alone in 2011, but here he's raised the bar even further. Rather than mere bass solos, Brewer has decided to compose full-on jazz fusion songs complete with drums and keyboards. In fact, The Faceless already has a fairly jazzy sound so this just seems like a logical extension of it. Brewer's compositions on Your Itinerary are top-notch and remind me quite a bit of Animals as Leaders at times. They're incredibly dynamic and energetic with enormous depth and complexity. Evan Brewer might not be on the level of Herbie Hancock or Hiromi, but his second solo album is undoubtedly a fantastic fusion record that might just end up being the best in its genre for 2013.
9/10

 

Shining - One One One (2013)

After hearing about, but not listening to, the much acclaimed "Blackjazz" album, I decided to get myself introduced with the band by listening to their latest release "One One One." Shining have a very intriguing sound which reminds me somewhat of Meshuggah but less heavy and with much more explicit jazz influences. Yet, despite this very unique sound, "One One One" is a mixed affair with too many mediocre songs to make it a great album. Some tracks did stand out, especially the last one "Paint the Sky Black," but overall it's a grower. I'll have to check out and review "Blackjazz" at some point so stay tuned.
8/10

Hiromi - Another Mind (2003)

I've heard a lot about this young Japanese jazz pianist so I finally decided to check out her debut album. I was utterly blown away. The musicianship is unbelievably good to the point where I was wondering whether the musicians were even human. They play with such speed, technicality and aggression yet there are beautiful melodies underneath that weave along to the dictates of the players. Some might say they're trying to accomplish too much too fast, but I think Hiromi and her band are breathing fresh life into a somewhat overdone genre. Just consider "Dancando no Paraiso." That track alone to me is unparalleled in the entire genre of jazz fusion. It's the kind of thing that demonstrates that not only does Hiromi and co. have major chops, but they can hold their own against the titans of the genre including Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Return to Forever. Some may consider this blasphemy and while I don't consider myself a jazz expert at all, I really think she is one of the best in the genre. Please either listen to this album or watch her live clips or both. You will be glued to the edge of your seat.
9.5/10

 

Panzerballett - Tank Goodness (2012)

I've never quite come across a band that mixes jazz and metal this well. In fact, they even made a metal cover of a jazz standard ("Take Five" by Dave Brubeck) which is a daunting task and pretty much unheard of in the metal world. The saxophones on the songs really help keep the music dynamic and interesting, and the addition of funk elements only adds to that. What I didn't really care for was the two or three songs with vocals such as in the cover of "I Had the Time of My Life." They might have worked well as a stand-alone singles, but I think that on the album they somewhat disrupted the flow. Minor criticism like that aside, this is still a really unique and pretty awesome thing album that is sure to be a hallmark of the very small jazz-metal genre.
8.5/10

 

Dean Watson - Imposing Elements (2012)

This album offers a unique mixture of fusion with prog rock including the use of the mellotron. On paper it's a great idea, and the album as a whole is very solid. However, I felt that some of the tracks were not quite as lively and fresh as I'd hoped they'd be. But you shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying this because as far as fusion albums go this is still ace.

8.5/10

 

The Aristocrats - The Aristocrats (2011)

The amount of musical talent on this album is insane. Guthrie Govan and Marco Minnemann (soon to be featured on Steven Wilson's third solo album) are exceptionally good and make some of the most interesting, dynamic instrumental music I've heard. It's a shame I only just discovered this or else I would have put it near the top of my "Best of 2011" list.
9.5/10

 

Robert Glasper - Black Radio (2012)

Now for something completely different. Robert Glasper is a very talented jazz musician who has constructed a remarkable album fusing jazz, soul and rap. The arrangements are great, and all the guest vocalists do a phenomenal job. I don't usually like rap (ditto for most metalheads out there), but Glasper's jazz piano stylings do wonders to make it sound smooth and sensual. Definitely give this one a try. If you're a fan of jazz and trip-hop like Portishead then you'll most likely enjoy this album.
9/10

 

John McLaughlin - Now Here This (2012)

As far as jazz fusion goes, this is a pretty well-done effort by one of the most respected artists in the genre. There's plenty of great grooves, and intricate passages along with the amazing drumming that is typical of fusion. It's not as good as the Mahavishnu Orchestra material, but it's still a very solid album.
8.5/10

 

Sun Ra - Atlantis (1969)

Well this album sounds pretty much how the cover looks like. It's very chaotic and loosely structured. It's a pretty great avant-garde jazz album with lots of keyboards and hypnotizing experimentation.
8/10

 

Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures (1966)

This album is the craziest jazz album I've listened to. It's all over the place with barely any structure to speak of, and complete improvisation. If you can stand listening to it (can't fault you in the least if you can't) then you'll begin to appreciate its organic, unfiltered immediacy. Like the abstract art of Kandinsky and Pollack, it's spontaneous and from the heart.
8.5/10

 

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2 (2011)

Certainly one of the most unique avant-garde jazz albums I've heard, Colin Stetson numerous electronic elements, vocals, and an innovative technique of placing mics all around his saxophone. It's a wonderfully experimental album that shows how far jazz has come over the decades.
8.5/10

 

Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch! (1964)

Even more avant-garde and perplexing than Ornette Coleman's aforementioned piece, Out to Lunch! is about as odd as jazz can get without the electronic sounds prevalent on late 60's/70's fusion. It's weirdness is the main appeal, but to actually follow what's going on is akin to a rat trying to find its way out of a maze (at least for those like me who are quite new to free jazz). Upon my first listen, I can already begin to see why it's so highly regarded by music critics and fans. This album would be a perfect next step after The Shape of Jazz to Come.
9/10

 

Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)

Often regarded as one of the seminal free jazz records, The Shape of Jazz to Come is an excellent introduction to the wild side of early jazz recordings and is a quite spontaneous and interesting album to listen to. It might not have the emotionality of something like Coltrane's Love Supreme, but it's a visionary piece of art and a must-have for jazz fans.
9/10