Best of 2018: Jim Dupuis - Jazz Notes
Follow our look back at 2018
The Top 200 of 2018
The definitive list of the best records of 2018 - including electronic, hip hop, international, jazz, loud and folk roots & blues.
Best of 2018
Full Best of 2018 lists from Programmers and Contributors
Jazz Notes
Jim Dupuis, !earshot contributor and host of Jazz Notes on Kamloops' CFBX give you his Best of Jazz for 2018
Broken Glass
Myles Gregory, host of Broken Gass on CFBX Kamloops, brings you the best of Punk, Hardcore and other heavy sounds for 2018.
Bravery, Repetition & Noise
Mike Taggert, host of
Bravery, Repetition & Noise on CHSR Fredericton, brings you the best of garage rock, noise pop, shoegaze, freak-folk and more with an Atlantic Canadian sprin.
Something to Write Home About
Sean Warkentine, Music Director at CKXU in Lethbridge Alberta and host of Something to Write Home About on the best music of 2018.
!earshot National Top 200 of 2017For January to December 2017 |
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| TW | Artist - Title - (Label) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alvvays 
Antisocialites - (Polyvinyl) |
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| 2 | Mac DeMarco
This Old Dog - (Royal Mountain) |
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| 3 | Austra
Future Politics - (Pink Fizz) |
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| 4 | Timber Timbre
Sincerely, Future Pollution - (Arts & Crafts) |
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| 5 | Faith Healer
Try ;-) - (Mint) |
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| 6 | Broken Social Scene
Hug of Thunder - (Arts & Crafts) |
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| 7 | Homeshake
Fresh Air - (Royal Mountain) |
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| 8 | Daniel Romano
Modern Pressure - (You've Changed) |
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| 9 | Whitehorse
Panther In The Dollhouse - (Six Shooter) |
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| 10 | Do Make Say Think
Stubborn Persistent Illusions - (Constellation) |
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View the full !earshot Top 200 of 2017 |
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| Specialty Charts #1s | |||
| Electronic: | Austra - Future Politics - (Pink Fizz) | ||
| Hip Hop: | Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 3 - (Run the Jewels, Inc.) | ||
| International: | The Souljazz Orchestra - Under Burning Skies - (Do Right! Music) | ||
| Jazz: | Ugly Beauties - Strange Attractors - (Self-Released) | ||
| Loud: | Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand - (Reprise) | ||
| Folk/Roots/Blues: | Rose Cousins - Natural Conclusion - (Outside Music) | ||
Share your choices in the comments...
Best of list for 2018 from Jim Dupuis – Jazz Notes -- (CFBX-FM) Kamloops, BC
I have been producing/hosting Jazz Notes for over 17 years. Jazz Notes is a mix of contemporary and classic jazz. Each show has a segment committed to traditional jazz called the Big Easy Gumbo Segment. Jazz Notes airs specials for Mardi Gras and International Women’s Day each year. Jazz Notes is open to live jazz performances and interviews. Generally, local musicians in other genres are also invited to appear on Jazz Notes, too. I have a personal Facebook page and I manage the Jazz Notes Radio Show page. I also manage the Jazz Notes Blog http://jimmyjazztopalbums2015.blogspot.com/2016/01/. I contribute blog/photo features to the CFBX website thex.ca. I contribute interview features to earshot-online.com from time to time.
Instrumentals
1 Jon Batiste -- Hollywood Africans – (Verve Records)
2 Robi Botos -- Old Soul -- (A440 Music)
3 John Scofield – Combo 66 – (Universal)
4 Bill Anschell -- Shifting Standards – (Origin Records)
5 Joshua Redman -- Still Dreaming – (Nonesuch Records)
6 Peggy Lee -- Echo Painting – (Songlines)
7 Hard Rubber Orchestra -- Kenny Wheeler: Suite For Hard Rubber Orchestra (Justin Time Records)
8 Kollage -- No Fuss No Muss – (G-THREE)
9 Cory Weeds Little Big Band – Explosion – (Cellar Live)
10 Jen Hodge All-Stars -- All is Fair in Love and Jazz (Independent)
Honourable Mention
Eddie Henderson -- Be Cool – (Smoke Sessions Records)
Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow – Music in My Mind --(Origin Records)
BC Double Quartet – Departure – (Cellar Live)
Steve Turre – The Very Thought of You – (Smoke Session Records)
Jodi Proznick – Sun Songs – (Cellar Live)
Vocals
1 Cecile McLoren Salvant -- The Wonder – (Mack Avenue Records)
2 Tony Bennett & Diana Krall -- Love is Here to Stay – (Verve Records)
3 Joani Taylor -- In a Sentimental Mood (Cellar Live)
4 Amy Cervini -- No One Ever Tells You – (Anzic Records)
5 Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley -- I Was Telling Him About You – (G-THREE)
6 Molly Johnson -- Meaning to Tell Ya – (Universal Music Canada)
7 Holly Cole – Holly – (Tradition & Moderne)
8 Andrea Superstein -- Worlds Apart – (Independent)
9 Ellen Doty -- Come Fall – (Alma Records)
10 Avery Raquel -- My Heart Away -- (GKM)
Best local release
Yale County Jug Band – Self Titled --(Independent)
Yale County Jug Band is a good time, country/roots band with rock and blues leanings from Kamloops BC. They play originals composed by band leader Gerry Sherk. YCJB is made up of two guitarists, double bass, washboard and a vocalist/percussionist. This rootsy group plays originals composed by band leader Gerry Sherk and all five band members are good vocalists, with Sherk and Marie Jackson generally taking the lead vocals.
Runners up: Practically any of the bands on the fledgling Factotum label. They are sort of a music co-op, under the leadership of JP Lancaster. The slew of young, talented musicians at Factotum play original music in each other’s bands and are getting many gigs at well known local events and clubs in the interior of BC. Factotum puts out cassettes and digital albums. It also brings upcoming bands from BC and Alberta and uses its artists as opening acts.
Best live show you saw this year
Any number of performances I attended at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival might fit this category, particularly the Joani Taylor show at Frankie’s Jazz Club. But, I have to admit that the shows that stick out in my mind were Five Alarm Funk and The Beaches. Five Alarm Funk gets honourable mention, but The Beaches Late Show Tour stop at The Blue Grotto in Kamloops BC on April 23/18 was epic. The show was booked before they won their Juno. I think they expected smallish, dull crowd on a Monday night in the interior of BC. This was anything, but that. The four, young women from Toronto rocked out and the full house was jumping and dancing all night. The Beaches fed off the enthusiasm of the audience and put on a great show.
Most under-rated record of the year
Amy Cervini -- No One Ever Tells You – (Anzic Records)
She put out a fine vocal album with dark moments and interesting arrangements. This is her best album, to date.
Most over-rated record of the year
Van Morrison and Joey Defrancesco – You’re Driving Me Crazy – (Legacy Records)
While this is a fairly good record, I can’t say I found much enjoyment in it. I find that Sir George Ivan Morrison’s voice doesn’t always work on it. “Miss Otis Regrets” was akin to the noise you get when scraping a chalkboard with your fingernails. Even the best musicians, money can buy, can’t fix everything.
Best personal campus/community radio moment or experience of the year.
I got to interview Peggy Lee of Vancouver this year. I always wanted to speak with her, but I feared my lack of expertise in the improvisational music field would not make for good radio. She was very easy to talk with and I learned quite a bit from our conversation. A feature including an edited version of this interview is available at http://www.earshot-online.com/features/2018/December/peggylee.cfm.
