Anthony Dean-Harris’ Favorite Albums of 2021

[Editor’s Note: We are excited to have Anthony Dean-Harris join us again for our year-end lists to share his 25 favorite “jazz” albums and 10 “other” albums of 2021. Anthony is a skilled writer whose credits include being a contributor to Downbeat and serving as the former Editor-in-Chief of Nextbop. He is also an accomplished broadcaster. For over twelve years, he has been the mastermind behind “The Line-Up” a weekly radio show on San Antonio’s KRTU which focuses on the influences of music on jazz’s fringes and the influences of other genres on modern jazz. More information on Anthony can be found at https://www.anthonydeanharris.com/.]

Jazz

25) Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, Notes With Attachments (New Deal/Impulse!)

24) Butcher Brown, Encore EP (Concord)

23) Menahan Street Band, The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band (Daptone)

Daptone Records darlings are back again making music with the magical quality of sounding like classics you’ve heard all your life.

22) Jon Lundbom & Bryan Murray, Beats by Balto! Vol. 2 (Chant Records)

21) Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge, JID008 (Jazz Is Dead)

20) João Donato, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge, JID007 (Jazz Is Dead)

19) Andrew Cyrille Quartet, The News (ECM)

18) Broken Shadows, self-titled (Intakt)

Tim Berne, Chris Speed, Reid Anderson, and Dave King bring the spirit of Fort Worth to exciting fruition.

17) Kurt Elling, Superblue (Edition)

Produced alongside DJ Harrison & Corey Fonville of Butcher Brown, Kurt Elling’s latest album applies his buttery voice to something funkier for this impressive turn.

16) Matthew Stevens, Pittsburgh (Whirlwind)

If there’s anyone who could make an interesting project from COVID’s isolation, it would be Matthew Stevens, making a solo guitar album worthy of attention.

15) Brandee Younger, Somewhere Different (Verve/Impulse!)

Harpist Brander Younger has been a sparkling addition to many a group, but on her release, she merits all the attention as a performer, composer, and bandleader.

Rob Shepherd briefly covers Younger’s performance at Newport with Dezron Douglas, Allan Menard, and Mikaela Davis here.

14) Makaya McCraven, Deciphering the Message (Blue Note)

Makaya McCraven explores the Blue Note vaults, like his own version of Madlib’s Shades of Blue (Blue Note, 2003). He gives just as much reverence to the material he reinterprets as he does care to make sure he and his usual collaborators are making something new.

13) Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey, Uneasy (ECM)

It’s a Vijay Iyer trio album that’s different. It’s a celebration of voice and signature. It’s a differently amazing conversation amongst folks at the top of their game.

12) Gretchen Parlato, Flor (Edition)

Parlato’s exquisitely soft voice, channeling power and precision, makes a return with all the class and elegance one would expect. It’s a family affair with husband Mark Guiliana, and little Marley in tow and it’s all the stronger for it.

11) Web Web x Max Herre, WEB MAX (Compost)

This sweeping collaboration between German rapper/producer Max Herre and Italian-German pianist Roberto Di Gioia is bold, beautiful, brilliant bolt from the blue. It’s the kind of music Coltrane evokes. It’ll take you to church. It’ll take you to chuuch.

10) Adam O’Farrill, Visions Of Your Other (Biophilia)

This one felt like it was worth the wait. After his 2018 groundbreaking sophomore album, El Maquech (Biophilia, 2018), O’Farrill is back with his quartet, playing with staggered time, wowing us from the corridors with the mystery of a noir film.

Visions of Your Other is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

9) Kiefer, When There’s Love Around (Stones Throw)

Kiefer Shackleford has consistently shown a sense of chill that pervades his music. This is definitely true of his latest collection of songs, including the title track which is his version of the classic Joe Sample composition for The Crusaders. When you’re making a choice like that to center your album, it’s definitely a sign of good taste.

When There’s Love Around is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

8) BIGYUKI, Neon Chapter (Universal)

Is it possible for something to be too cool? Because Neon Chapter is too cool. The keyboardist taps into all the right elements of jazz, R&B, hip hop, and funk to make an album of bangers sure to provide all sorts of stank face.

Neon Chapter can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

7) William Parker, Mayan Space Station (AUM Fidelity)

Bassist William Parker had never had an electric guitar trio before this release, but what he found in Ana Mendoza is pure gold. What they make alongside drummer Gerald Cleaver can probably upgrade things to platinum. Mayan Space Station goes extra hard.

Mayan Space Station is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

6) Henry Threadgill Zooid, Poof (Pi Recordings)

This is a quick suite of songs from the quintet that always bring it. After this group’s last release won the Pulitzer, there’s no need to swing for the fences (and Poof, admittedly, doesn’t), but it definitely delivers the home run you would expect from them.

Poof is available on Bandcamp.

John Chacona’s detailed review of Poof is available here.

5) BADBADNOTGOOD, Talk Memory (XL Recordings/Innovative Leisure)

The group of Alex Sowinski, Chester Hansen, and Leland Whitty return as a trio after parting ways with founding member Matthew Tavares to make new music, sweeping as strong as ever. With string arrangements from the legendary Arthur Verocai and an assortment of compatriots, it’s safe to say BBNG done did it again. They’ve still got the touch.

Talk Memory is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

Rob Shepherd’s interview with Leland Whitty on Talk Memory, and more, is available here.

4) Portico Quartet, Monument (Gondwana)

In what may be the strongest album in their career so far, Portico Quartet ramps up the moodiness, spreads all the vibes, and pulls your attention, still repping the baddest hang in the game, but with even more tricks up their sleeves.

Monument is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

3) Nate Smith, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds (Edition)

Percussionist/multi-instrumentalist Nate Smith has made an entirely pleasing, wholesome, vibrant continuation of his previous album, 2017’s Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere (Ropeadope). Everything on …See the Birds is so perfectly in the pocket, such intuitive jams.

Kinfolk 2: See The Birds is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

2) Julian Lage, Squint (Blue Note)

Julian Lage always seems to find the core idea of what a guitar should sound like. His bluesy core is sweetness in the ear and he knows exactly what he’s doing alongside Jorge Roeder on the bass and Dave King on drums. This is a perfect guitar trio album.

Squint is available in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

1) Esperanza Spalding, Songwrights’ Apothecary Lab (Concord)

In her asking the rather direct question, “What do you need a song for?”, Esperanza Spalding has provided healing of all forms with her lab, making formwelas (songs) for every corner and need of the human experience, or will make her way of doing so eventually. It’s a bold collection of recordings which intimate that this is only the beginning.

Songwrights’ Apothecary Lab is available in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

Everything Else

10) Dntel, The Seas Trees See (Morr Music)

9) James Blake, Friends That Break Your Heart (UMG)

It’s good to know James Blake still hasn’t lost it, even as he gets older.

8) Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee (Dead Oceans)

7) Turnstile, Glow On (Roadrunner)

6) Helado Negro, Far In (4AD)

5) Hiatus Kaiyote, Mood Valiant (Brainfeeder)

4) The War on Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore (Atlantic)

3) Parquet Courts, Sympathy for Life (Rough Trade)

The Savages and Co. are still punk, but they’re sanding down the edges to make it all go down a bit smoother, to great result.

Sympathy for Life is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

2) Mndsgn, Rare Pleasure (Stones Throw)

Ringgo Ancheta goes even deeper in the grown and sexy vibes while still keeping all the trippiness intact.

Rare Pleasure is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

1) Bill Callahan & Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Blind Date Party (Drag City)

Few things provided me more comfort over the last two years than each new single dropped from Bill Callahan & Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Now compiled together as an album, this project has form that solidifies the brilliance of what these collaborators have made together with their friends.

Blind Date Party is available on Bandcamp or can be purchased in our Amazon Affiliate Store.

Stay turned as we continue to celebrate our season of lists. Agree or disagree with the choices above? Please comment below.