1998 MUSIC FAVORITES
Without any further adieu, here are my favorite CDs of 1998:
Blues
1. Magic Slim and the Teardrops - Black Tornado: Stinging electric blues from an authentic Chicago bluesman and his hard-rocking band.
2. Darrell Nulisch - The Whole Truth: The most soulful CD I heard all year.
3. Sax Gordon - Have Horn, Will Travel: Danceable mix of blues and swing by a sax honker.Country
1. Mavericks - Trampoline: In a perfect world, every song on this one would be a radio hit.
2. Junior Brown - Long Walk Back: Ernest Tubb meets Jimi Hendrix.Folk/Bluegrass
1. Kate Campbell - Visions Of Plenty: Catchy tunes, smart lyrics, and funny as hell.
2. Alison Brown Quartet - Out of the Blue: More jazz than bluegrass, but a very beautiful album.Contemporary Jazz
1. Astral Project - Elevado: My favorite album of the year in any genre by a veteran New Orleans quintet that rarely records.
2. The High Pockets - Picasso's Dog: Clever blend of Cajun, Caribbean, New Orleans, and pop influences.
3. Marc Johnson - The Sound Of Summer Running: Idyllic collection featuring Johnson on bass, Joey Baron on drums, and Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell on guitars.Jazz Fusion
1. Vital Information - Where We Come From: Relentlessly groovelatin' CD loosely influenced by the Meters and Booker T and the MGs.
2. Larry Coryell, Tom Coster, Steve Smith - Cause and Effect: Two members of Vital Information team with Larry Coryell on the guitarist's most electrifying release in years.
3. Gary Willis - Bent: Smart electric jazz from an amazing bassist.Mainstream Jazz
1. Cyrus Chestnut - Cyrus Chestnut: Elegant, eclectic music from a fine pianist.
2. Kansas City Band - KC After Dark: Seminal swing revived by musicians who really know how to swing.
3. Hank Crawford, Jimmy McGriff - Road Tested: Sublime soul-jazz from two of my favorite musicians.Independent Jazz
(tie) 1. Sean Driscoll Group - Islands: Very lyrical release by a talented young guitarist and his fine band.
1. Spajazzy: Fusion feast featuring two gifted Italian musicians, Mike Stern, and various Berklee College alums and faculty members.Rock/Pop
1. Nick Lowe - Dig My Mood: Gentle, tuneful release from a deft rock songsmith.
2. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road: Substantial and very personal collection of Southern songs.
3. Fastball - All the Pain Money Can Buy: Catchiest pop CD of the year.Independent Rock and Pop
1. Watts - Flash!: Catchy pop-rock with a punk attitude.
2. Jiggle the Handle - Mrs. White's Party: Talented jam band that grooves like Little Feat and improvises like Phish.World and World Jazz
1. Olu Daru - In the World: From Natchez to New York: Uplifiting and infectious work that combines blues, jazz, Caribbean influnces, soul and more.
2. Ernest Ranglin - Memories of Barber Mack: A reggae-jazz classic.Popcorn Man's 20 Most Irresistible Tracks of 1998
1. C Jam Blues - The Ray Bryant Trio
2. Christina - Patty Griffin
3. Adagio Sostenuto, Moonlight Sonata - California Guitar Trio
4. Lauren Z - Astral Project
5. Dance the Night Away - The Mavericks
6. Cowboys & Africans - The Paul Wertico Trio
7. Stupid Texas Song - Austin Lounge Lizards
8. Little Ship - Loudon Wainwright III
9. Waterbed Lou - Sax Gordon
10. I Can't Stop Lovin' You - Count Basie
11. Stop Thinking Take - Darrell Nulisch
12. Twilight for Nancy - Yellowjackets
13. High on a Hilltop - Nick Lowe
14. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Brad Mehldau
15. Got Me a New Love Thing - James Andrews
16. What - Joey Baron
17. Metal Firecracker - Lucinda Williams
18. Follow On - Jerry Douglas
19. Better Left Unsaid - Spajazzy
20. Hey Seniorita - Big Sandy