I only went to half as many shows as I did last year. Nonetheless, these were my favorites:

1. John Zorn's Electric Masada @ Tonic, NYC, 4/2

2. Vandermark 5 @ Rocco, LA, 6/29

3. The Bad Plus @ Village Underground, NYC, 4/1

4. Sam Rivers Trio @ The Jazz Bakery, LA, 9/25 (Sam’s 80^th b-day)

5. Dave Douglas Septet @ The Jazz Standard, NYC, 3/30

some other memorable gigs:

Tri-Factor (Hamiet Bluiett/ Kahlil El’Zabar/ Billy Bang) @ World Stage, LA, 5/15

Michael Blake & his Resolutions @ Tonic, NYC, 12/30

Fred Anderson Quintet (w/ Von Freeman, 2^nd set) @ St. Joseph’s Church, Chicago, 10/17

David Murray duo @ Conga Room, LA, 6/22

Paul Motian/ Joe Lovano/ Bill Frisell @ Village Vanguard, NYC, 9/5

Maghostut Trio (Malachi Favors/ Hannah Taylor/ Vincent Davis) @ The Velvet Lounge, Chicago, 10/16

Joseph Jarman/ Henry Grimes/ Alex Cline trio @ The Schindler House, LA, 9/20

Adam Rudolph’s Organic Chamber Orchestra w/ Ned Rothenberg @ Electric Lodge, LA, 1/3

Eugene Chadbourne duo/trio @ Salvation Theatre, LA, 5/5

James Blood Ulmer trio (w/ Reggie Workman & Andrew Cyrille) @ The Jazz Bakery, LA, 1/31

I've just started going through all the 2003 albums i bought this year, so a list is forthcoming...in a month or so when i've had a chance to listen to them all again.

jeff caltabiano

hollywood, ca

n.p. the cinematic orchestra: man with a movie camera (2003, ninja tune)