Hrayr Attarian's Best Releases of 2010: Female Instrumentalists

Hrayr Attarian

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2006

Hrayr is the armchair jazz listener par exellence.

Recent articles (179 total)

Published: December 25, 2010

More experienced editors before me have already posted their best choices for this past year. Instead of adding yet another list of some of the same, I would like to take a slightly different approach. Here are my top 10 picks for 2010, by female jazz instrumentalists:

Mary Halvorson Mary Halvorson

guitar Quintet
Saturn Sings
Firehouse 12

An alumnus of Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton
b.1945
reeds 's, guitarist Mary Halvorson has, on this CD, created a unique set of pieces that strike the right balance between complex composition and unorthodox yet quite logical improvisation.

Allison Miller Allison Miller

drums
Boom Tic Boom
Foxhaven

As energetic as an Elvin Jones Elvin Jones
1927 - 2004
drums album, while being as angular yet more uniquely modern, in its own way.

Junko Onishi Junko Onishi
b.1967
piano
Baroque
Verve

Onishi displays her strong improvisational skills, in addition to superlative arranging and group leadership. She is accompanied by a stellar set of side musicians.

Melissa Aldana Melissa Aldana

sax, tenor
Free Fall
Inner Circle Music

A powerful yet mellifluous and sensitive new voice on the tenor saxophone.

Anat Fort Anat Fort
b.1970
piano Trio
And If
ECM

An intellectually satisfying yet emotionally charged CD, the sounds of which echo in the memory long after the disc has stopped spinning.

Hailey Niswanger Hailey Niswanger

sax, alto
Confeddie
Self Produced

A bold and lyrical alto saxophonist, whose advanced soloing bellies her young age.

Regina Carter Regina Carter
b.1966
violin
Reverse Thread
E1

The music of the African diaspora interpreted by virtuoso violinist Regina Carter, with an unusual lineup that includes kora and accordion.

Ingrid Laubrock Ingrid Laubrock
b.1970
saxophone
Anti-House
Intakt

Groovy, melodic and edgy avant-garde music.

Geri Allen Geri Allen
b.1957
piano
Flying Toward The Sound
Motema

One of the most idiosyncratic musicians and accomplished pianists. This is possibly her best work.

Sarah Manning Sarah Manning

saxophone
Dandelion Clock
Posi-Tone

Sarah Manning has one of the most unique voices on the alto saxophone. Her inventive and clever pieces, and her complex solos, are a delight to hear. She is accompanied by bass phenomenon Linda Oh Linda Oh

bass .