CDs Present a Year of Listening Pleasure

As the shopping days of the holiday season whittle down to a precious few, it’s good to remember that CDs make inexpensive, thoughtful presents that last the whole year.

For the jazz lovers on your list, here is the second annual Jazz Notes Top 10 CDs, composed of a tasty batch of mostly post-be-bop albums that include works from some seasoned vets, some rising new stars and even a couple of debuts. The albums are listed alphabetically and are generally available, unless otherwise noted, at major record stores.

TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI JAZZ ORCHESTRA, “Desert Lady/Fantasy,” (Columbia). Akiyoshi’s keen arranging and composing abilities are showcased, as is her splendid crew of improvisers. Lew Tabackin offers breathy flute against dusky, shifting backdrops on the title track, then on the bustling “Hiroko’s Delight,” baritonist Scott Robinson plays a superb essence-of-be-bop solo, with trumpeters Joe Magnarelli, Greg Gisbert, John Eckert and Mike Pinella and fellow saxman Walt Weiskopf not far behind.

CHICK COREA, “Expressions,” (GRP). Playing unaccompanied, decided modernist, and individualist, Corea exhibits his extensive knowledge of jazz history on his piano. He gives Bud Powell’s “Oblivion” an Art Tatum sweep, and swirls sounds on “Stella by Starlight” a la Bill Evans. Then tunes like Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” moving forcefully due to an uplifting four-note bass line, are all his.

STEVE GROSSMAN, “In New York,” (Dreyfus). Working with pianist McCoy Tyner, the tenor saxophonist comes up with a mostly explosive, although occasionally meditative work. Recorded at New York’s Sweet Basil, the album fully captures the exhilaration of hearing a great band in a nightclub. Grossman, Tyner, bassist Avery Sharp and wham-bam drummer Art Taylor (a very young 61 at the time of the date) gloriously stretching out on “Impressions,” “Speak Low” and others.

ROY HARGROVE, “With the Tenors of Our Times,” (Verve). The trumpeter, now just 25, is maturing rapidly. Performing here alongside noble tenorists Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Stanley Turrentine, Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis and Ron Blake, he’s classy and impressive, issuing crisp, listenable ideas.

KEVIN HAYES, “Seventh Sense,” (Blue Note). This is the debut of a magnetic pianist who writes, arranges and improvises with equal aplomb. Aided by a front line of Steve Nelson (vibes) and formidable tenor upstart Seamus Blake, Hayes and company probe an appealing repertoire, from the luxurious “Black Narcissus” to the expressive “My Man’s Gone Now.”

STEPHANIE HAYNES AND DAVE MACKAY, “Two on a Swing,” (Why Not, P.O. Box 1323, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693, (714) 496-0537). The superb jazz vocalist teams with the resourceful pianist. There’s a splendidly diverse range of tunes, with the emphasis on intimacy and tenderness, as on the evocative “Someone to Light Up My Life” and the rarely sung “Out of the Night” by Horace Silver. (Note: Haynes and Mackay offer tunes from the album on Wednesday and Thursday at Legends of Hollywood in Studio City. Information: (818) 760-6631).

KEITH JARRETT, “At the Deer Head Inn,” (ECM). Another example of the magic that can happen at a live nightclub recording. The pianist, Gary Peacock (bass) and Paul Motian (drums) romp with elan through “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” outfitted with a Spanish-tinged vamp, the natty Jaki Byard be-bop blues, “Chandra,” and “Bye Bye Blackbird,” where the pianist is, as Ellington might say, excruciatingly ecstatic.

HANK JONES, “Upon Reflection,” (Verve). Here pianist Jones explores tunes by his younger brother, the late Thad, with sibling drummer Elvin on board--resulting in jazz at its elegant best. Aided by bass master George Mraz, pianist Jones is sublime as he offers renditions of “A Child Is Born,” “Mean What You Say” and others that are simply mesmerizing.

CHARLES LLOYD, CEDAR WALTON, DAVID WILLIAMS, BILLY HIGGINS, “Acoustic Masters I,” (Atlantic). An ingenious idea places the saxophonist Charles Lloyd in front of the rock-solid yet often fiery trio of Cedar Walton (piano), David Williams (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums). Lloyd’s a rhythmic dynamo here, swinging on tunes like “Sweet Georgia Bright” and “Hommage.”

DAVID SANCHEZ, “The Departure,” (Columbia). With his bold, captivating sound and exotic, affecting improvisational style, saxophonist Sanchez presents an auspicious initial release. Succulent mixed-tempo versions of “Woody N’ You” and “Cara de Payaso” are original in flavor, and show Sanchez to be a genuine storyteller. Trumpeter Tom Harrell and pianist Danilo Perez assist.