Congratulations to all artists whose works were given recognition at the end of 2007!

Zaid Nasser – Escape From New York

Best Debut of 2007
Zan Stewart, The Newark Star-Ledger

Best Debut of 2007
Thomas Conrad, The Village Voice

Best Ten of 2007
Andrew Scott, Coda Magazine

Best Ten of 2007
David A. Orthmann, All About Jazz

2007 Honorable Mention, Editors’ Choice, All About Jazz

Best Ten of 2007
Derek Taylor, Dusted Features Magazine

“The Smalls label is still low on radar of most jazz listeners, this despite several euphonic coups, chief among them the stewardship of deceased bebop doyen Frank Hewitt’s recorded legacy. Producer Luke Kaven isn’t shy about expounding on unsung talent and in addition to sheparding new releases by the likes of erudite saxophonists Ned Goold and Chris Byars he also pressed his promoter’s acumen in the service of one Zaid Nasser. Nasser’s back-story, full of colorful character details like a glass eye and several years spent as an expatriate in Armenia, is the usual one of a great talent gone largely ignored. He’s since departed these shores again, this time for Dubai, and while there’s no telling when he’ll return, at least he left behind a debut album, one prophetically titled Escape From New York.”

Chris Byars - Photos in Black, White and Gray

Best Ten of 2007
Martin V. Johnson, The Village Voice

Best Ten of 2007
Tom Hull, The Village Voice

“Referencing Gigi Gryce’s alto and Lucky Thompson’s tenor, Byars finds new niches in old bebop, making you wonder whether postbop wasn’t premature.”

Omer Avital – Room To Grow

Best Ten of 2007
Tom Greenland, The Village Voice

Best Ten of 2007
Jeff Stockton, All About Jazz

Best Ten of 2007
David A. Orthmann, All About Jazz

Best Ten of 2007
Nathan Dorward, Coda Magazine

2007 Honorable Mention, Editors’ Choice, All About Jazz

Charles Davis – Land of Dreams

Best Ten of 2007
Zan Stewart, The Newark Star-Ledger

Gil Coggins – Better Late Than Never

Best Ten of 2007
Owen Cordle, The News & Observer

“A first-generation bebopper who never achieved the fame of his contemporaries, the late pianist Coggins has a semi-minimalist style full of dark, tart chord voicings and playful accents. The reflective side of bebop has rarely sounded better.”

Ari Roland – And so I lived in old New York…

Best Ten of 2007
Will Smith, Jazz Times

Sacha Perry – Not Brand X

Best Ten of 2007
Will Smith, Jazz Times

Best Ten of 2007
Duck Baker, Coda Magazine

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