Over the past few weeks, our most active record reviewers have had the task of choosing their 5 favorite recordings of 2023, and here they are. This selection is unique and quite different of all you can find on the web or through traditional medias.
A sixteenth album for the prolific Canadian trumpeter, and on her own label, which celebrates its 20th anniversary. Between composition and improvisation, Allemano deconstructs the concept of the canon, solo (superb 3 Trumpet Canon), in pairs, threes or fours. Some pieces happily incorporate electronics into structures that can become quite abstract (see the four pieces from his BLOOP project, a duo with tinkerer Mike Smith). We find cellist Peggy Lee on Bobby’s Canon, an almost bucolic trio where the trumpeter also joins clarinetist Brodie West, a long-time accomplice. A varied program, which finds a nice balance between areas of exploration and melodic breathing, as in Twinkle Tones, with guitarist Tim Posgate, double bassist Rob Clutton and Ryan Driver on analog synthesizer. Finally, it can serve as a business card and make you want to explore her catalog.
To see the complete list, click here!
