1998: The Year in Music, Part 2

Nicholas Payton, Payton's Place (Verve). Payton is taking New Orleans music to some very interesting places with his amazing trumpet style. Dave Holland Quintet, Points of View (ECM). The veteran bassist has put together a great band (Steve Wilson, Robin Eubanks, Steve Nelson, Billy Kilson), and they create some startling, unique music. Gregory Tardy, Serendipity (Impulse!) Former St. Louis sax player makes a powerful debut statement that proves he can write and arrange as well as he can play. Los Hombres Caliente, Los Hombres Caliente (Basin Street). New Orleans group includes teenagers Jason Marsalis on drums and Irvin Mayfield on trumpet in the company of veteran R&B percussionist Bill Summers -- all working in a Latin/second-line groove. Greg Osby, Banned in New York (Blue Note). Another St. Louisan with a great live date -- recorded on a minidisc recorder placed on a front table of the club. Who needs a 16-track board when the music's this good? Jacky Terrasson Trio, Alive (Blue Note). Terrasson and his excellent backing musicians (especially Leon Parker), in top form. Danilo Perez, Central Avenue (Impulse!) Pianist Perez continues to explore common ground between bop and Latin musical styles -- with positive results.

Jazz Reissues
Miles Davis Quintet, Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68 (Columbia Legacy) and The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (Columbia); John Coltrane, The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse Studio Recordings (Impulse!)

Rock
Bruce Springsteen, Tracks (Columbia); Lyle Lovett, Step Inside This House (MCA); Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road; Nick Lowe, Dig My Mood; Van Morrison, The Philosopher's Stone (Polydor); Bob Dylan, Live 1966: The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert (Columbia); Geoff Muldaur, The Secret Handshake (Hightone); Sons of Champlin, Live (Grateful Dead); Emmylou Harris, Spyboy (EMI); Chris Hillman, Like a Hurricane (Sugar Hill)

Blues/R&B
Johnny Adams, Man of My Word (Rounder); Alvin Hart, Territory (Hannibal); Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Black Tornado (Blind Pig); Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Funk Is in the House (Bullseye Blues); Maceo Parker, Funk Overload (WAR); Kinsey Report, Smoke & Steel (Alligator); Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, La Chanson Perdue; Olu Dara, In the World: from Natchez to New York; Charles Brown, So Goes Love (Verve); Otis Rush, Any Place I'm Going (House of Blues

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