Douglas Browning: Rankings: Jazz

The following represents my view of the jazz musicians who have done the best recorded work 2000 and after. They are not ranked.

 

TRUMPET
Dave Douglas
Claudio Roditi
Tom Harrell
Wallace Roney
Brian Lynch
 
FLUGELHORN
Claudio Roditi
Tom Harrell
 
TROMBONE
Ray Anderson
Steve Turre
Josh Roseman
Robin Eubanks
Conrad Herwig
 
PIANO
Mulgrew Miller
Myra Melford
Danilo Perez
Geri Allen
Brad Mehldau
Edward Simon
Hilton Ruiz
Edsel Gómez
Luis Perdomo
 
ORGAN
Barbara Dennerlein
 
GUITAR
John Abercrombie
Brandon Ross
Nguyên Lê
Bill Frisell
 
VIBES
Steve Nelson
 
BASS
Dave Holland
Charlie Haden
Andy Gonzalez
 
CELLO
Erik Friedlander
 
VIOLIN
Mark Feldman
Regina Carter
 
DRUMS
Joey Baron
Jack DeJohnette
Dafnis Prieto
Ralph Peterson
Duduka Da Fonseca
Han Bennink
Horacio "El Negro" Hernández
             
CONGAS
Giovanni Hidalgo                                              
Richie Flores
 
TIMBALES
Ralph Irizarry
 
PERCUSSION
Trilok Gurtu
 
TENOR SAX
Joe Lovano
David Sanchez
Chris Potter
 
ALTO SAX
Kenny Garrett
John Zorn
Steve Coleman
 
SOPRANO SAX
John Surman
Dave Liebman
 
BARITONE SAX
John Surman
Ray Brignola
Ronnie Cuber
 
CLARINET
Paquito D'Rivera
 
BASS CLARINET
John Surman
Marty Ehrlich
 
FLUTE
Dave Valentin
 
ARRANGER (Big band)
Eddie Palmieri
Hilton Ruiz
Steve Turre
 
COMPOSER
Henry Threadgill
John Zorn
Dave Douglas
 
VOCAL, FEMALE
Shirley Horn
Cassandra Wilson
Luciana Souza
Claudia Villela
Patricia Barber
Tierney Sutton
Joyce
 

I include no male vocal, synthesizer, tuba, french horn, accordian, harmonium, harmonica, oboe, whistle, shells, or oud, since I am only sporadically impressed with anyone doing jazz with those instruments since 2000.  Also, I am uneasy about my percussionists because there are so many great percussionists (especially if one includes congas, bongos, and timbales) today that I can hardly keep them straight.

 
The following are the CDs released in 2000 which, in my opinion, are the best I have heard.  (I know I have left out some.)  Again, the asterisk indicates the tops.
1.  Brad Mehldau. Places.
2.  Ralph Irizarry. Best Kept Secret.
3.  Sedajazz Latin Ensemble. Este Tambien.
4.  Danilo Perez. Motherland.
5.*  David Sanchez. Melaza.
6. Jane Bunnett & the Spirits of Havana. Ritmo + Soul
7.  Brian Lynch.  Tribute to the Trumpet Masters.
8.  John Surman. Coruscating.
9.  Patricia Barber. Nightclub.
10.  Tierney Sutton. Unsung Heroes.
11.  Masada. Live in Sevilla 2000.
12.  Carlos Malta. Pimenta.
13.*  Dave Holland. Prime Directive.
14.  Dave Douglas. A Thousand Evenings.
15.*  Dave Douglas. Soul on Soul.

______________________________________________________________________

Update by DB: February 18, 2005

 

Home