Listening to the Digression track, it doesn't really sound like free jazz, though I do see how it could be considered so.

Some Zappa stuff is definite jazz.

Just about...

Most of the great jazz went by the wayside when Miles Davis, along with Herbie Hancock and the dreaded Chick Corea released In A Silent Way in '69. Then came Bitches Brew in '70 although it was also recorded in '69. Herbie Hancock, frustrated that his brilliant sixties material (Empyrean Isles, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like A Child) got him virtually nowhere financially, lamentably started playing fusion with The Headhunters in the early seventies. Coltrane, after his band had grown weary and wary and left him, did his late period cat-strangling with some notable moments.

As far as good jazz post '65 there are some titles. Miles' own On The Corner has held up well as a progressive standard bearer of sorts. Then you have some talented piano player ensembles like those put together by Keith Jarrett and later, Brad Mehldau. Bill Evans was still putting out decent material in the seventies, as was Warne Marsh and Horace Silver, but their best material was definitely earlier. To a lesser extent there's Joe Henderson and Ramsey Lewis. And of course, there's the smattering of truly worthwhile free jazz recordings which are often discussed at this board.

Last year saw the release of Cornell 1964 by the Mingus Sextet and a bunch of other high quality recordings of that European tour featuring the soon-to-be-late Dolphy circulated just last year. I've seen a few of the bootlegs in a local record store for around thirty dollars each. Blue Note has been reissuing many a great album lately. McCoy Tyner (who played piano during Coltrane's best era (and arranged most of the music as well)) came out with Quartet, Ron Carter (bassist for Miles and later, Herbie) released Dear Miles last year, Hancock put out an album of Joni Mitchell covers and Brad Mehldau had a couple of decent ones. In the free area, the monumental The First Original Silence was released, and Nels Cline Singers had Draw Breath; Ornette Coleman had Sound Grammar in '06.
But yeah, overall there's not a whole lot of great new material, or at least much that truly stacks up.

Atari, for the most part you're talking about what I'm talking about. First and foremost, there are tons of great re-issues and "lost albums" and live performances released every year, many of which including this pre-66 era. In fact, a great deal of the "new" jazz records I'm interested in are just this. New releases of overlooked, out-of-print or forgotten old albums. (Your reference of ON THE CORNER is wonderful.)

As for new stuff, good call on the Mehldau and SOUND GRAMMAR. There's lots of good jazz released (be it old/new recordings) every year, every day. Just gotta know where to look.

I'm afraid I didn't do jack concerning 2008 though.

Google sez Brotz' Tenet has released a 2007 recording this year, and there's a Sun Ra reissue. Herbie's on a U.S. tour and Mehldau's on a European one. I missed Herbie here and when I was visiting out West, even though I knew he was playing.

Kinda liked The Bad Plus covering Rush's "Tom Sawyer" last year, well, especially the crazy bridge part of their take on it.

Suppose it's been the fad for awhile now to cover rock songs. Mehldau's good at it.

jazz is the best. i wonder if as i get older free jazz and improv jazz and avant jazz will be the only extreme music i listen too. i certainly cant see myself being 60 years old and popping in a government alpha/hijokaidan split. who knows though.

I can't really see it. I mean there are a couple of instances where the piano plays a bit randomly, but everything sounds to be playing cohesively.

polar bear have anew one out, always quality.

Atari, I have the Sun Ra. It's excellent. He's in a standards kinda place on that one. Good good stuff.

I like The Bad Plus, but didn't pick up PROG. Is the rest of the album worth it?

Everyone here fails to mention Dave Holland's live album Extended Play, recovered post 2000, which in my opinion is one of the greatest jazz albums of any decade.

I should start a ANY GOOD 2010 JAZZ ALBUMS thread. So far:

The Last Electro Acoustic Space Jazz Percussion Ensemble - Miles Away

wynton... is that you?

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=6878
http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=4267

How do folks feel about the Chicago scene? Frank Rosaly just released a great solo lp. I'm always down with Vandermark 5 and Frame Quartet and pretty much all those groups. Fred's Valentine Trio is always tops, too. There's a whole crop of slightly younger guys, too. Josh Berman and Paul Giallorenzo also released some nice albums under their own names.

Trying to think of other newer records I've been into...I'll stop back at this thread...I always love Barry Guy projects, too.

Vandermark is good.

I don't really know much about which jazz dudes are from which areas. I'm sort of aware of some current scenes, to a degree. But I'm lost geographically.

For instance... I'm very into the Thirsty Ear scene. All those dudes are amazing. The Blue Series Continuum is can't miss. I'd guess they're from NY?