A lot of jazz fans get scared off John Zorn because there's so much of it and in such widely divergent styles, but if we're talking about the great jazz albums of the 21st century then I think some space should be made for:
Masada, 50th Birthday Celebration: Volume 7 (recorded September 18th 2003 at Tonic) - This is Zorn's quartet of alto sax, trumpet, drums and bass playing themes on Jewish scales. It's probably my favourite jazz album not to feature piano.
John Zorn, Nova Express (recorded October 2010 in the studio) - A quartet of piano, vibes, bass and drums. Although this shows more of the influence of Zorn's "game" style (slightly more quirky and idiosyncratic but nowhere near "Emperor's New Clothes" territory), it's for the main part a very solid acoustic jazz set and was my Album of the Year last year.
Stepping away from Zorn now:
Brad Mehldau, Live in Marciac (recorded August 2nd 2006 at the Marciac Jazz Festival). There are lots of great recordings by Mehldau, and the two solo piano live albums (this one, and 2003's Live in Tokyo) both deserve a place in anyone's jazz collection. This was my runner-up for Album of the Year last year.
Gwilym Simcock, Blues Vignette (2009) Simcock is a young British pianist who performs with Acoustic Triangle (a band well worth hearing but too dry for my taste) and has garnered huge critical attention for his two (more or less) solo albums. For me, this one has the edge over Good Days At Schloss Elmau, which was a nominee for the Mercury prize last year. Very much in the ECM/Keith Jarrett tradition.
