We're pretty obsessive fans here at NPR Music. We make lists. And because the Internet periodically demands these sorts of things, we've put together a multi-genre listening list of our favorite 25 records of the year to date. Plus, here's our listeners poll — it's massive — where you can vote and tell us how wrong we were.
Our group consensus worked out such that new albums from Gretchen Parlato (The Lost and Found) and Ben Allison (Action-Refraction) made the top 25. I was happy to contribute short blurbs about both — both albums are definitely among my favorite of this year so far. Additionally, my colleague Tom Huizenga, who's on the classical beat, informs me that the top-25-ed release from France's Ebene Quartet, Fiction, is practically a jazz release too.
But there are plenty of other great jazz records from the first half of 2011. What are yours? Do tell us in the comments.
To get you started, here's a quick brainstorm of 25 other, well-received jazz/-ish records from the first half of this year. Some have been featured at NPR Music; others are on the tips of critics' tongues or radio airplay charts. What else would you add?
I have my own sleeper records I've been waiting to spring on folks ... but you first. Comment, you!
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