Jazz Top 10

The Jazz Top Ten reflects what other fans of jazz, as well as rock/pop, blues, electronica and easy listening, are buying now and might give you some good ideas for your next purchase. 

1 Mark Knopfler - Privateering

 Privateering is Mark Knopfler's first double album in a 35-year recording career. These 20 tracks of consummately crafted folk, blues, country and rock originals reflect the creative exuberance of an artist whose exceptional abilities were recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Ivor Novellos.

 

 

2 Eric Clapton - Old Sock

‘Old Sock' is a heartfelt and highly autobiographical release, detailing Clapton's favourite songs from his childhood to the present day; this album is a celebration of his musical life.

'He not only rips out a solo but also plays some of the tastiest fills this side of the Cook County Jail.' PremiereGuitar.com

 

3 The Rolling Stones - GRRR!

GRRR! tells the fascinating ongoing story of the Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band In The World, from their high octane version of Chuck Berry's ‘Come On', their first single issued in June 1963, via the thrilling chart-toppers ‘The Last Time', ‘(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' all the way to the present day with the inclusion of two new studio recordings recently completed by the group in Paris, France in August 2012.

 

4 Susan Wong - My Live Stories 

Recorded live at the world famous Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, USA, Susan describes 'My Live Stories' as her ‘best recording yet'. Her delicate, charming vocals and sensitive covers are delightful throughout.  Highlights include the bossa nova influenced Billie Jean, the blues tinged Cry Me A River, an up tempo version of Perfect and a spine tingling performance of Desperado.

  

5 Bob Marley - Legend

The best selling reggae album of all-time and one of Rolling Stone's '50 Greatest Albums of All Time'. A compilation where you may recognise more songs than you'd first expect. With so many great tracks to choose from, there is no shortage of familiar and timeless reggae numbers.

'The beauty and simplicity of Marley's music [is] captured particularly well here.' AllMusic.com

 

6 Amy Duncan - Cycles of Life

Amy Duncan is an Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter whose ambient, folk-inspired music is charming crowds across the country with its emotive, ethereal allure.  With beautiful harmonies and haunting melodies she weaves stories deeply familiar to us all.

‘Like other talented female vocalists from Joni Mitchell to Patti Smith, the sheer range and power of Duncan's vocal apparatus are breathtaking.' Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

 

7 Amy Winehouse - Lioness 

The 12 track collection features previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics as well as a couple of brand new Amy compositions, and has been compiled by long-time musical partners Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson in close association with Amy's family, management and record label Island Records.

‘...it lays bare what made her both such a unique and such a troubled artist.' The Telegraph

 

 8 Freddie Mercury - Barcelona

Freddie Mercury always had wider musical and cultural tastes than your average rock star... In the lead up to the release of the album, the singer at one time announced 'I'm moving into opera now. Forget rock and roll'

  

 

9 Claire Martin & Kenny Barron - Too Much in Love to Care

‘Too Much in Love to Care' is a collection of classic romantic songs and beautiful ballads from The Great American Songbook with many of the tracks recorded in just one take.

'...gorgeous tone, faultless pitch, exquisite phrasing...'  Jazzwise 

 

 

10 Bob Marley - Kaya

Moving away from previous more politically themed music, ‘Kaya' is a celebration of the peace loving and deeply spiritual Jamaican lifestyle which Bob Marley embraced. ‘Kaya' contains such timeless numbers as ‘Is This Love' and ‘Easy Skanking'.

'Bob has never sung more beautifully about love and romance.' Steve Morse, Boston Globe