The Zydepunks – Finisterre
The third record from these New Orleans cult favorites is a kick ass good time with Eastern European, Breton and Cajun grooves infused with a fierce punk energy and lyrics in Spanish, English, French Creole and Yiddish. Comparisons to Gogol Bordello are inevitable but these five would absolutely hold their own in a sweat soaked dance floor throw-down. With any luck they’ll come back to the Bay Area again (apparently they played 924 Gilman & The Balazo Gallery in December of ’06).
Buy their records here. Check out more songs and a handful of tour dates at their homepage (sadly they seem to prefer Europe to the West Coast). They’ve been nominated for zydeco band of the year, vote for ‘em here.
Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall
How in the world could World Circuit/Nonesuch have been sitting on these tapes for over ten years is beyond comprehension. Well, better late than never. Another lock for my best of the year list. Music that was a revelation in 1998 on the studio record is nothing short of incendiary in this live setting. The sheer joy and exuberance of these incredible musicians, many playing the US for the first time, pours out of the speakers. Several tracks from that amazing album get extended workouts with ‘El Carretero’ almost doubling in length and half the songs here did not appear on that recording.
Dave Holland Sextet – Pass It On
Another stellar release from the best bassist as composer since Charles Mingus. I hear elements of Brazilian and African music, boogaloo, hard bop and free form improv. Older tunes are revisited and new songs rock in a sextet setting with the addition of trumpeter Alex Sipiagin (from his big band) and pianist Mulgrew Miller replacing vibe man Steve Nelson. Robin Eubanks just kills it on the trombone. Maybe the best jazz album of the year.
