Recording of the Year

RECORDING OF THE YEAR: (tie) Blake Meister, Septagon Antonio Parker, Steppin' Out: Live @ HR-57 A mea culpa: Writing for City Paper's Annotated Guide to 2012, I credited only Parker with this title. I hadn't yet heard Meister's. Both, however, are stunning. The latter is a more cerebral effort, exploring complex, unusual (original) compositions with a cool demeanor and curious colors. Parker's live album is a traditional hard bop affair—-but a barn-burner, performed by D.C. warriors with fire and palpable exuberance.

Mike West, Washington City Paper