Contemplative, mysterious excursions in the Russian psalms and folk-songs of the Finno-Ugric diaspora, songs of the Udmurtian, Vepsian and Karelian peoples. Drums, trumpet, piano.

With Lyle Mays and Nana Vasconcelos.

His debut, from 1976; emerging from the tutelage of Gary Burton. Lovely, out-in-the-wide-open Americana Jazz, with dazzlingly lithe bass-playing by Jaco Pastorius. Bob Moses nails it, too. It’s never sounded better than in this iteration as part of the Luminessence Series. Hang about for the Ornette cover, wrapping things up.

Playing guitar and guitar synthesizer in 1981 with Lyle Mays on keyboards,Steve Rodby, bass, Nana Vasconcelos on percussion and berimbau, Dan Gottlieb drumming.

With Lyle Mays, Mark Egan and Dan Gottlieb, in 1978.

Powerful new trio versions of Peacock classics, interspersed with recent compositions — including work by pianist Marc Copland and drummer Joey Baron — and a reading of Scott La Faro’s Gloria’s Step.
GP — bassist on Spiritual Unity — was eighty this year.

The harpist from Christian Wallumrod’s ensemble, with the Magical Orchestra singer, plus viola and nyckelharpa — performing Purcell, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, and a couple of Susanna’s.

‘The double bassist says this will be his last solo album, the final chapter of his Journal Violone. It is a beautiful and moving musical statement. All the qualities we associate with Barres playing are here in abundance: questing adventurousness, melodic invention, textural richness, developmental logic and deep soulfulness.’

Holy moly, June Tabor on ECM. ‘Quercus’, ‘oak’: ‘roots deep in British folk music; leaves and branches reaching upward in jazz-inspired lyrical improvisation.’ With Iain Ballamy and Huw Warren.

‘... sumptuous lyricism rich in improvisational detail…  Quite simply it numbers among the best jazz albums of the last decade’ (Jazzwise).