It’s not always the melody that matters but it doesn’t hurt as this list of 20 tracks from some of the best jazz around in 2013 strongly suggests
20 Carleen Anderson singing ‘Superstar’ on Mark Edwards’ In Deep
The Leon Russell/Bonnie Bramlett given space with the utmost of poise and feeling.
19 ‘Laxness’, from Jakob Bro’s December Song.
The chordal dimension and languid wooziness that speak freedom to just play.
18 ‘Buffalo, Buffalo, Buffalo’, on Fringe Magnetic’s Clocca.
Delightful Precipice-like in Rory Simmons' writing, Phronesis bassist Jasper Høiby leading the way in his inimitably daring style.
17 A movingly raw clarinet solo on ‘Mississippi’ from Cleave Guyton against animated Abdullah Ibrahim accompaniment on Ibrahim’s just released Mukashi: Once Upon a Time.
16 ‘Spirit’, on a par with Lars Danielsson’s famous ‘Asta’ theme from Możdżer / Danielsson / Fresco's Polska.
That feeling of heightened emotion and at the same time possessing a sense of detachment you rarely hear together in one place on a jazz record.
15 ‘Shelter From The Storm’, not the Dylan song, but a ballad that’s worth the price of Arve Henriksen’s Places of Worship all by itself.
14 Skip the harpsichord tracks elsewhere and hone in on the beautiful piano version of ‘I’m Falling For You’ on Junior Mance’s reissued Harlem Lullaby.
13 Betty Carter’s ‘Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool’ is up there with Jimmy Scott’s seminal treatment available on Carter’s newly reissued ’Round Midnight.
12 Catch the very plangent ‘Quiet Steps’ on Oddarrang’s In Cinema with the strain taken up by trombone eventually moving to a great guitar figure that you could imagine sitting on an Animals record.
11 ‘Groovin’ For Basie’, with very Winwood-esque organ, and above all the formidable time-keeping of Pete York on Basiecally Speaking. Mod for absolute beginners, and old hands alike.
10 Jelly Roll Morton’s wondrous ‘New Orleans Bump’ from Various Artists The Great Gatsby: The Jazz Recordings Featuring The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, A Selection of Yellow Cocktail Music From Baz Luhrmann’s Film The Great Gatsby. Diamonds are, as it were, forever.
9 The beautifully aching ‘If Only You Would Know’ a tune Brad Mehldau would be proud of, on the Laborie piano trio release Reis/Demuth/Wiltgen.
8 ‘Spirals’ from Prism (no not Katy Perry’s latest album or the stuff of John Le Carré) is like a riddle, the rhythm mystery at the heart of Dave Holland’s beat, the improvising direction bouncing around like a good conversation that has the potential to explode into anarchy at any moment.
7 Kenny Garrett’s break out of the strict rhythm of ‘Chucho’s Mambo’ is one of the best solos of Pushing the World Away. That hearty cry in his alto wail, the dash for the salty sweet notes, and the joyful letting go a thrill.
6 The bluesily deadpan classic ‘Crank of Cam Bay’, a great quirk of Internationally Recognised Aliens, particularly the bit where Impossible Gentleman Steve Swallow bellows “the crank in me rises up every time.”
5 The moving ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ from Art Pepper’s Unreleased Art Vol. VIII Live at the Winery September 6, 1976. Tone to die for.
4 ‘All I Ask of You’ a reminder on Quercus of the moving version of the song that appeared on Balloon Man.
3 Like some sort of mirage Johnny Mandel’s ‘A Time For Love’ emerges after the silence on George Shearing’s At Home.
2 The blues become a miniature requiem on ‘I Shall Be Released’, a tribute to Levon Helm of The Band on Charles Lloyd/Jason Moran's Hagar’s Song
1 You’d need to be made of flint not to be moved by ‘Requiem for Willie Loman’, the tragic hero of Arthur Miller’s great play Death of a Salesman, the theme captured so well by Jan Garbarek on Eleni Karaindrou’s Concert in Athens.
Related: In search of the New Melodic