Jazz has continuously evolved over the years. However, there are some tried and true standards of the genre that will not be compromised. Case in point: a collective known as The Cookers (Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart, George Cables, Donald Harrison and David Weiss) have staked their claim as the best reminder that jazz requires an active listener.
The Cookers' fourth release, Time and Time Again, was singled out by iTunes as their 2014 Jazz Album of the Year. I agree. The Cookers serve up original compositions reminiscent of the early days of Hard Bop that sounds good, makes you feel good, and simply put...COOKS.
I listened to hundreds of new releases in 2014 and introduced you to an abundance of established artists, new artists, and artists deserving wider recognition. Listen to WRTI on Sunday, January 4th, from 9 pm to midnight to hear my Best of Jazz 2014 Countdown.
You'll find the complete list in this post as the Countdown progresses.