Gary Funston’s 2025 in Review
By WTJU
Nels Cline, Consentrik Quartet, Blue Note. All-star guitar-led band with great compositions. With saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock , drummer Tom Rainey, and bassist Chris Lightcap.
Mary Halvorson, About Ghosts, Nonesuch. The most original guitarist and composer of the last decade, with her octet.
James Brandon Lewis, a two-fer: Apple Cores on Anti, and Abstraction is Deliverance on Intakt. Prolific tenor sax man with a trio and a quartet recording in 2025.
Kassa Overall, CREAM, Warp Records. Basically straight ahead jazz versions of hip hop songs, many of which I don’t know, but they’re great.
Trio of Bloom, By Trio of Bloom, Pyroclastic. Power trio of the future–Nels again, Craig Taborn piano and Marcus Gilmore drums.Myra Melford, Splash, Intakt. Piano trio with the great Michael Formanek bass and Ches Smith drums.
`Splash, Intakt. Piano trio with the great Michael Formanek bass and Ches Smith drums.
Various Artists, Baker’s Dozen, Aperitif on Canteloupe Music. –Musicians include Craig Harris, Marty Erlich, Joel Harrison, Terri Lyne Carrington and others.
Linda May Han Oh, Strange Heavens, Biophlia. The bassist who is everywhere lately leads an amazing trio with Ambrose Akinmusire trumpet and Tyshawn Sorey drums.
Skullcap, Snakes of Albuquerque, Cuneiform. Cello-led power jazz/rock trio with Janel Leppin, Anthony Pirog guitar and Mike Kuhl drums
Branford Marsalis, Belonging, Blue Note. Had to throw in a more straight ahead album. Highly enjoyable versions of Keith Jarrett compositions
Gary Funston co-hosts Living Time, Wednesdays, 7 – 9 p.m.
