Twenty highlights from 2002

The list author says:
	"Evocative settings of texts from Romanian-Jewish poet Paul Celan in nine songs and nine string quartet movements. http://newfrontears.blogspot.com."

The list author says:
	"Five orchestral set-pieces for the BBC Symphony / Slatkin, with Evelyn Glennie and Peter Erskine excelling as soloists on ‘Fractured Lines’."

The list author says:
	"The definitive studio and live edition of Coltrane’s burning, spiritual classic. The original masters are lost, but this still seers the soul. http://newfrontears.blogspot.com."

The list author says:
	"Superb 2-disc survey of Frisell’s guitaristic alterity and FX spaciousness in a range of ECM settings. The definitive survey."

The list author says:
	"Godspeed! drone, deform, derange and crescendo their way towards a new world order in instrumental, post-rock soundscaping. http://newfrontears.blogspot.com."

The list author says:
	"One of the most adventurous pianists on the ‘contemporary classical’ scene checks out Sawnhey, Part, Schnittke, Messiaen and African melody with the Britten Sinfonia and Ensemble Bash."

The list author says:
	"Olivier Latry sheds new light on the textural, eerie, multi-chordal aural universe that lies at the heart of Messiaen’s organ music."

The list author says:
	"Virtuosity, poise, control, sweetness, mystery and ferocity characterise Steven Osbourne’s compelling take on this classic piano cycle."

The list author says:
	"The Australian piano, bass and keys trio traverse fresh territory in unexpected alt-jazz chamber music. http://newfrontears.blogspot.com."

The list author says:
	"Forget ‘In Absentia’ (though it’s not at all bad): these, vivid, twisted instrumental explorations are the real reason to get excited about the Tree."

The list author says:
	"Melting, pulsating instrumentation, shadowy electronic scatting across the far-northern lights of an ambient planet."

The list author says:
	"Amazingsinging and delicate chamber instrumentation lend these songs a vignette quality lost when they are merged into ‘Messiah’."

The list author says:
	"Post-minimalist percussive fireworks aided by Colin Currie and luscious, unapologetic Torkean tonality in ‘Rapture’ and ‘American Abroad’."

The list author says:
	"Remarkable après-Tortoise art music from the genre-defying new music kids on the block. They listen to the universe and play it back in miniature. http://newfrontears.blogspot.com."

The list author says:
	"An extraordinary guitar talent with an unselfish, uncluttered, liquid technique and strong compositional and arranging skills. Deirdre Cartwright is the very spirit of jazz. www.blowthefuse.com."

The list author says:
	"Scofield’s filigree guitar lines cross new jazz, hip-hop, funk and pysch. The one he reckons Miles Davis would have really liked. Who can disagree?"

The list author says:
	"Stylish, crisp performances of Monteverdi’s 1638 collection of passionate, secular songs. Poets set include Petrarch, Rinnuccini and Tasso. The music is sonorous and revolutionary."

The list author says:
	"Kolbeinn Bjarnason  plays piccolo, flute and bass flute gloriously on this rich collection of deceptively (and relatively!) simple reflections from the doyen of twenty-first century."

The list author says:
	"Exquisitely atmospeheric, rubato sax quartet blend of standards, early chants, folk song and classics like John Coltane’s ‘Naima’."

The list author says:
	"Along with ‘Artistry’, the fine jazz guitarist’s best lone workout. Musical sensitivity and unassuming (but jaw-dropping) technique make him among the most respected players of his era."