Read numbers 40 through 31 and 30 through 21.
Lucas Santtana, O Deus que Devasta Mas Tambén Cura (Mais Um Discos) Lucas Santtana is a genuine auteur of Brazilian popular music, using every new album as a kind of stylistic or procedural exercise. He’s made deep excursions into funk and dub, and on his previous record all of the sounds were generated by acoustic guitars—including the beats. With his latest record he made a straight-up modern Brazilian-pop record with slick full-band arrangements wrapped around his typically gorgeous melodies and seductive singing.
Joe Lovano Us Five, Cross Culture (Blue Note) Joe Lovano has long been one of the most skilled, tasteful, and versatile saxophonists in jazz, but this excellent quintet has allowed his adventurous side to come out. It’s hardly a free-jazz record, but stoked by twin drummers Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela, his harmonic genius and rhythmic ingenuity are on full display. The group’s original bassist Esperanza Spalding only appears on a handful of tracks, but her replacement Peter Slavov has no problem getting the job done. My favorite mainstream jazz record of 2013.
Michael Bates’ Outside Sources, Live in New York (Greenleaf)Hilary Hahn, Bach Concertos (Deutsche Grammophon)Mills Blue Rhythm Band, 1936-1937 (Chronological Classics)Alexander Tucker, Dorwytch (Thrill Jockey)Various artists, Os Ossos do Barão sound track (Som Livre)
