As we lean back, seams bursting with turkey and all the leaves cleared in anticipation of upcoming snowfalls, a reflective mood takes over. We think back on the happenings of the past year: a move towards digital-only releases by such artists as Sonny Rollins, Dave Douglas and Bill Frisell and labels like Ayler and more musicians also releasing their own music like Rollins again, Ornette Coleman, Ellery Eskelin and a host of others. We take a moment to remember the jazz clubs and venues that closed and wish good cheer to those that opened. We mourn for those musicians lost over the past year (a complete list is on pg. 47). We offer congratulations again to those winners of competitions and grants in the hopes that those individuals will continue to promote jazz in all its wonderful forms. We even give ourselves another pat on the back for our nomination as “Best Jazz Publication" by the Jazz Journalists Association. All this remembering culminates with our annual Best Of lists: albums, performances and a slew of other categories. The complete spread is on pgs. 24-25. But as we close out 2006, there is still much listening to do. Legendary clarinetist Buddy DeFranco (On The Cover) is part of December's Highlights in Jazz event. Played-with-everyone pianist Harold Mabern (Interview) celebrates Christmas at Smoke. Brit saxophonist Paul Dunmall (Artist Feature) appears a few times at The Stone. In fact, much of our December coverage is given over to programming at The Stone - curated this month by Downtown Music Gallery's Bruce Gallanter and Manny Maris - such as our Encore (South African drummer Selwyn Lissack), our Label Spotlight (Cuneiform Records) and numerous CD reviews.
We'd like to close out this intro and this year with heartfelt thanks to the readers, musicians, clubs, listeners, supporters and others without which AllAboutJazz-New York simply would not exist. The only holiday present we ask for is more years of support. After all, we depend on you as much as you depend on us.
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones...
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