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A Look Back at the Best Jazz of 2015

It's a yearly tradition: Jazz critic Gene Seymour releases his list of the best jazz albums of the year, and musicians Jen Allen and Noah Baerman gather 'round the table with their own picks. If you're buying a last-minute gift for a finger-poppin' hep cat, this episode will solve your problem.

What were your favorite jazz songs and albums of 2015? 

SONGS:

  • Sarah Elizabeth Charles - “Bells” from Inner Dialogue
  • Gary Bartz, Larry Willis, Buster Williams, Al Foster - “Lotus Blossom” from Heads of State
  • Joshua Kwassman & Brother Spirit - “Heartwork” from Heartwork
  • Kamasi Washington - “Change of the Guard” from The Epic
  • Robert Glasper - “Reckoner” from Covered
  • Cecile McLorin Salvant - “Wives & Lovers” from For One to Love
  • Chris Dingman - “Voices of the Ancient” from Waking Dreams
  • Ike Sturm & Evergreen - “Origins” from Shelter of Trees
  • Josh Evans - “Chronic Mistakes” from Hope And Despair
  • Rudresh Mahanthappa - “Talin is Thinking” from Bird Calls
  • Pete Rodriguez - “Soy La Ley” from El Conde Negro

GUESTS:

  • Gene Seymour - film, television, and music critic who blogs at GeneSeymour.com
  • Jen Allen - pianist and composer, whose latest album is “Pieces of Myself”
  • Noah Baerman - pianist, educator, author, and composer. His latest album is called “Ripples”

Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.