Anthony Dean-Harris

At long last, it's the Nextbop Best Albums of 2011 episode of The Line-Up. There's not a whole lot more I could say that I haven't said already about these selections. Once again, thanks to the whole Nextbop staff for having such great taste (especially my partner-in-crime, Seb, who I somehow forgot to mention in my closing but want to make sure I try to articulate a mere fraction of the love and appreciation I have for him and all he's done for this site and bringing me on to make something I consider pretty cool) and explaining that taste in your own distinct voices that I love to pick over. Everyone involved in jazz-- musician, critic, and fan alike-- has had what I think is a rather monumental 2011. I feel a lot of great promise for 2012. Ari Hoenig - Higher to Hayastan Radiohead - Bloom Yaron Herman - Heart Shaped Box Vijay Iyer feat. Prasanna and Nitin Mitta - Duality Jonti - Hornets Nest Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Grandfather's Gun Ambrose Akinmusir...

This show felt sort of weird. I'd put a couple tracks together and wander off until a new idea came to me. I didn't have anything prepared in advance, everything just sort of came together in its own time. Even the few computer selections had their own special part in this week's Line-Up. Austin Peralta - Ode to Love The computer picked this one but I knew I'd have to include it because it's around that time to start mulling over what are the best albums of the year. Peralta's Endless Planets  is one of those releases that's getting a little of that mulling. Toro Y Moi - Intro/Chi-Chi Shane Endsley and the Music Band - Big I wanted to play some Endsley this week. I didn't have a special reason, it just felt like it was time. This is actually one of one two folks I knew I wanted to play this week in advance, that's how much I knew it was time. Fabian Almazan Trio - The Vicarious Life I mean it when I say that I really like Almazan's Person...

It still took me an inordinate amount of time to put this show together. I'll get it together, though. Also, I give this current theme song a couple more weeks so get your input to me as soon as you can. Johannes Wallmann Brasstet - The Sweet Minute I kept three computer selections for this week's show. I put the first two at the top of the hour. Roxy Coss - Lately Since the computer picked this track, I don't have all that much to say. Kenneth Whalum III - It Was Written (feat. Common) I had two or three tracks from KWIII before he gave me his album this past weekend. After finally hearing the whole album, I realize he picked the tracks he sent me for a reason. The whole album fits together really well but "It Was Written" stands on its own very well. Shane Endsley and the Music Band - Big When I got the track for this, I had some... problems with it. Hopefully this plays alright. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Black Wall Street From August 23 until it...

Alright, so I clearly couldn't make it to New York for Winter Jazz Fest , I still can relish in such a festivals options with a radio station's resources before me. You can do the same by proxy. Gregory Porter - Feeling Good Folks around the station have been singing the praises of Gregory Porter for some time now. Now that I think about it, I can't think of a another distinct, soulful voice like his on the scene right now. Porter seems to be the kind of guy who is the voice of his time right now. Anat Cohen - What a Little Moonlight Can Do If Cohen's show is as awesome as her stop by San Antonio last month, the folks at (Le) Poisson Rouge are in for a great show. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - 7 Inch 6 I need to make a note to myself to learn more about this group. I never knew the reach they had. Robert Glasper - Festival I really like this song but it's another one of those songs I don't often play because I find it too challenging for air play. This wee...

I'm feeling pretty good about this week's Line-Up. I think it's well put together. I think it has the right touches of the right moods. I think it has a good energy to it. I'm actually live in the studio for stuff but the song order and arrangement was done in advanced and blends together fairly well. It covers a broad spectrum of periods but meshes. It has a full body and a nice aroma with a hint of hickory and elderberries. Etc, etc. Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - Big Brother I was sort of expecting this to be a cover of Stevie Wonder's song, a la what Vijay Iyer is doing lately, but it's its own creature, and a fine one at that. Good computer selection to top things off. Chick Corea - The Great Pumpkin Waltz I'm not really a Halloween person. I wasn't raised up with it and even though I try to take parts in some of the holiday now that I'm older, I'm just not huge about it. Still, I'm a sucker for Vince Guaraldi compositions and I...