Best of list for 2018 from Jim Dupuis – Jazz Notes -- (CFBX-FM) Kamloops, BC
I have been producing/hosting Jazz Notes for over 17 years.
Jazz Notes is a mix of contemporary and classic jazz. Each show has a segment
committed to traditional jazz called the Big Easy Gumbo Segment. Jazz Notes
airs specials for Mardi Gras and International Women’s Day each year. Jazz
Notes is open to live jazz performances and interviews. Generally, local musicians
in other genres are also invited to appear on Jazz Notes, too. I have a
personal Facebook page and I manage the Jazz Notes Radio Show page. I also
manage the Jazz Notes Blog http://jimmyjazztopalbums2015.blogspot.com/2016/01/.
I contribute blog/photo features to the CFBX website thex.ca. I contribute
interview features to earshot-online.com from time to time.
Instrumentals -- Best of for 2018
1 Jon Batiste -- Hollywood Africans – (Verve Records)
2 Robi Botos -- Old Soul -- (A440 Music)
3 John Scofield – Combo 66 – (Universal)
4 Bill Anschell -- Shifting Standards – (Origin Records)
5 Joshua Redman -- Still Dreaming – (Nonesuch Records)
6 Peggy Lee -- Echo Painting – (Songlines)
7 Hard Rubber Orchestra -- Kenny Wheeler: Suite For Hard Rubber
Orchestra (Justin Time Records)
8 Kollage --
No Fuss No Muss – (G-THREE)
9 Cory Weeds Little Big Band – Explosion – (Cellar Live)
10 Jen Hodge All-Stars -- All is Fair in Love and Jazz (Independent)
Honourable Mention
Eddie Henderson
-- Be Cool – (Smoke Sessions Records)
Shawn Maxwell’s New
Tomorrow – Music in My Mind --(Origin
Records)
BC Double Quartet
– Departure – (Cellar Live)
Steve Turre – The Very Thought of You – (Smoke Session
Records)
Jodi Proznick – Sun Songs – (Cellar Live)
Vocals -- Best of for 2018
1 Cecile McLoren Salvant -- The Wonder – (Mack Avenue Records)
2 Tony Bennett & Diana Krall -- Love is Here to Stay – (Verve Records)
3 Joani Taylor -- In a Sentimental Mood (Cellar Live)
4 Amy Cervini -- No One Ever Tells You – (Anzic Records)
5 Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley -- I Was Telling Him About You – (G-THREE)
6 Molly Johnson -- Meaning to Tell Ya – (Universal Music Canada)
7 Holly Cole – Holly – (Tradition & Moderne)
8 Andrea Superstein -- Worlds Apart – (Independent)
9 Ellen Doty -- Come Fall – (Alma Records)
10 Avery Raquel -- My Heart Away -- (GKM)
Best local release
Yale County Jug Band
– Self Titled --(Independent)
Yale County Jug Band is a good time, country/roots band with
rock and blues leanings from Kamloops BC. They play originals composed by band
leader Gerry Sherk. YCJB is made up of two guitarists, double bass, washboard
and a vocalist/percussionist. This rootsy group plays originals composed by
band leader Gerry Sherk and all five band members are good vocalists, with
Sherk and Marie Jackson generally taking the lead vocals.
Runners up: Practically any of the bands on the fledgling
Factotum label. They are sort of a music co-op, under the leadership of JP
Lancaster. The slew of young, talented musicians at Factotum play original
music in each other’s bands and are getting many gigs at well known local events
and clubs in the interior of BC. Factotum puts out cassettes and digital
albums. It also brings upcoming bands from BC and Alberta and uses its artists
as opening acts.
Best live show you saw this year
Any number of performances I attended at the Vancouver
International Jazz Festival might fit this category, particularly the Joani
Taylor show at Frankie’s Jazz Club. But, I have to admit that the shows that
stick out in my mind were Five Alarm Funk and The Beaches. Five Alarm Funk gets
honourable mention, but The Beaches Late Show Tour stop at The Blue Grotto in
Kamloops BC on April 23/18 was epic. The show was booked before they won their
Juno. I think they expected smallish, dull crowd on a Monday night in the
interior of BC. This was anything, but that. The four, young women from Toronto
rocked out and the full house was jumping and dancing all night. The Beaches
fed off the enthusiasm of the audience and put on a great show.
Most under-rated record of the year
Amy Cervini -- No One Ever Tells You – (Anzic Records)
She put out a fine vocal album with dark moments and
interesting arrangements. This is her best album, to date.
Most over-rated record of the year
Van Morrison and Joey Defrancesco – You’re
Driving Me Crazy –
(Legacy Records)
While this is a
fairly good record, I can’t say I found much enjoyment in it. I find that Sir
George Ivan Morrison’s voice doesn’t always work on it. “Miss Otis Regrets” was
akin to the noise you get when scraping a chalkboard with your fingernails.
Even the best musicians, money can buy, can’t fix everything.
Best personal campus/community radio
moment or experience of the year.
I got to interview Peggy Lee of Vancouver this year. I
always wanted to speak with her, but I feared my lack of expertise in the
improvisational music field would not make for good radio. She was very easy to
talk with and I learned quite a bit from our conversation. A feature including
an edited version of this interview is available on the Earshot site at http://www.earshot-online.com/features/2018/December/peggylee.cfm.
