High Rotation #1 — Because what’s life without records?

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A baker’s dozen of what’s on Bradley’s personal jukebox…

  1. Frank Kimbrough, Solstice (Pirouet, 2016), with Jay Anderson and Jeff Hirshfield. A pianist’s pianist, positing jazz as soul music – with a kindred-spirit rhythm team.
  2. The Afghan Whigs, In Spades (Sub Pop, 2017). Rock as noir, with the 21st-century edition of Greg Dulli’s classic ’90s band going strong, maybe as strong as ever.
  3. Lucia Cadotsch, Speak Low (Yellowbird/Enja, 2016), with Otis Sandsjö & Petter Eldh. Berlin-residing Swiss chanteuse completely and wonderfully re-imagines a set of standards, in league with a free-jazz duo.
  4. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy (Sub Pop, 2017). Singer-songwriter Josh Tillman’s playfully ambitious third Father John Misty LP is as lyrically profound as it is melody-rich. Gavin Bryars contributes arrangements!
  5. Ben Frost & Daniel Bjarnason, Solaris (Bedroom Community, 2011). Electro-acoustic composers envision a moving new score for the classic Tarkovsky film.
  6. Nick Millevoi’s Desertion Trio: Live at Caledonia Lounge, Athens, GA (NYC Taper, 2017). Philly avant-rock guitarist sounds like Neil Young playing free jazz – thrilling.
  7. Marc Copland, Better By Far (InnerVoiceJazz, 2017), with Ralph Alessi, Drew Gress & Joey Baron. Subtly progressive band, gorgeous musicianship.
  8. Lawrence English, Peregrine (Room40, 2015). A prime example of this Australian indie artist’s ambient-electronica – entrancing with an edge.
  9. Wolfert Brederode Trio, Black Ice (ECM, 2016), with Gulli Gudmundssun & Jasper van Hulten. European piano-trio jazz in the grand ECM tradition, with striking tunes in ravishing hi-def sound.
  10. Tatiana Nikolayeva, Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87 (Melodiya, 1987/2014). Shostakovich invested every fiber of his being into this Bach-evoking music, with Tatiana Nikolayeva’s recording the very definition of poetry in motion.
  11. André Matos, Múquina (Robalo, 2017). Portuguese guitarist’s electric solo album – quiet and contemplative, billowing and beautiful.
  12. Tindersticks, Claire Dénis Film Scores 1996-2009 (Constellation, 2011) + Les Salauds (Lucky Dog, 2013). Untypecastable English band Tindersticks has written scores for the films of French director Claire Dénis for two decades; even sans the images, the group’s beautiful music evokes movies for the mind.
  13. Thelonious Monk, Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (Saga/Sam, 2017). Will archival jazz wonders never cease? A Monk soundtrack – with saxist Charlie Rouse and company – cut for a French New Wave film and, finally, released as an album nearly 60 years later…

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