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 80th 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, 2nd 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)