Kids have their summer reading lists, and I have my self-assigned summer listening list. There’s recent listening here that I have enjoyed, and also discs I haven’t gotten to yet, but am very interested to hear.

I wish I could offer more than a few words about some of the discs, but that’s not practical; at least this bare bones list makes you aware of a few options that you might have overlooked. While some of these are relatively new, many are not – it’s simply a list of what happens to be stacked around my desk at the moment.

Recently heard and enjoyed:

– Undercurrent: Bill Evans and Jim Hall.
– Live at Blues Alley: Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Robert Hurst, Jeff “Tain” Watts.
– The Great Divide: Von Freeman, Richard Wyands, John Webber, Jimmy Cobb. Freeman is an elder statesman of the tenor who was new to me.
– Eternal Interlude: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. Brilliant writing and playing. Much for “classical” composers to learn here.
– An Exaltation of Larks: Jennifer Higdon; Lark Quartet, Gary Graffman, Blair McMillen, Todd Palmer.
– Go: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Clark, Butch Warren, Billy Higgins.
– Our Man in Paris: Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke.
This and Go are essential Blue Note classics. Check this re: Sonny Clark.

On deck:

– Crackpot Hymnal: Dimitri Tymoczko; Corigliano Quartet, Amernet Quartet, John Blackow, Kevin Weng-Yew Mayer, Daniel Schlossberg, Illinois Modern Ensemble, Stephen Taylor.
– Beyond Quantum: Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Milford Graves
– Written on Skin: George Benjamin; various artists.
– Piano Music (1960-2010): Bernard Rands; Ursula Oppens, Robert Levin.
– Time Machines: Sebastian Currier; Anne-Sophie Mutter, New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert (disc includes works by Penderecki and Rihm).
– Clouds: Chou Wen-Chung; Brentano String Quartet, Boston Musica Viva.
– Out of Chaos: Jason Eckardt; Ensemble 21.
– Body Mandala: Jonathan Harvey; Anu Komsi, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov, Stefan Solyom.