!earshot year-end picks 2005

Al Lovoie

I am with CHRW 94.9 FM. University of Western (London Ontario) and I have a jazz show every Monday from 12 to 1:30 called All That Jazz and also have a similar show alternating Tuesdays, same time, called Jazz Lane.

Top 3 CDs of 2005 are:
This One's For Barney by Canadian guitarist Andrew Scott; After Four and More a local London jazz vocal and accapllea group and The Clayton- Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Most under-rated record of the year
Most underrated jazz CD was Ranee Lee/ Oliver Jones Just You Just me.  Two Canadian veterans of the jazz scene with very little air play.

Most over-rated record of the year
Most overrated Jazz CD was Diana Krall's Small Room. The new Krall/ Costello makeover with little of the finer jazzy qualities of previous CD's such as Live in Paris.

Best local release
Best local release is the After Four and More with superb backing by local musicians.  Ken Foster, Larry Ernewein, Fred Blumas and Sandy Mackay.

Best personal campus/community radio moment or experience of the year.
Best moment were two on air interviews. One with Grammy award winner Robert Michaels  and the other with Michelle Gregoire and rising young jazz pianist from Manitoba.

Record You Are Most Anticipating For 2006
Record I am most anticipating is the forthcoming June Garber release due out by the end of the year, I hope. She is originally from South Africa but makes her home in Toronto Canada now. I had an opportunity to interview her in London and she is once again back on the jazz scene after a hiatus of about 10 years. Still has great delivery, feel for the songs and a great set of pipes!