Who doesn’t love a “Top Ten” list?  All of us who thoroughly enjoyed the record junkie nerdiness of the movie "High Fidelity", know that there is nothing more debatable, and inspiring of true camaraderie than a good “Top Ten.” We’ve been reading a lot of “Best of the Decade” lists lately- we’ve read Rolling Stone’s opinion, Metacritic’s opinion, Hipster Runoff’s opinion, and now it’s our turn.
Looking back over the last decade, and for us that would actually be since our inception in October 2005- over hundreds of brilliant, breathtaking performances- what would be our staff favorites and picks by our artistic contributors?  
It was virtually impossible to comparatively rate any of the amazing artists who have performed at The Seasons, but we did try, really, just for the sake of fun.

When asked for his top five, Doug Ramsey, one of our top artistic contributors in jazz and writer of the blog Rifftides, was not able to do so, but instead gave us a top-of-head best list of his favorite nine. (In no particular order):

October 13, 2005: Bill Mays Trio

September 9, 2006 : Jessica Williams

September 30, 2006: Bill Mays Trio plays the Mendelssohn with Kwan Bin and Kevin Krentz

July 21, 2007: Ingrid Jensen quartet with Benny Green

May 8, 2007: The Alexander String Quartet

October 15, 2008: Ernestine Anderson

October 28, 2006: Miguel Zenon

March 18, 2009: SF Jazz Collective

February 16, 2008: The Bill Charlap Trio

If you are interested in other current releases in jazz , here is a list of  the choices Doug Ramsey made for the 2009 Village Voice annual critics poll:

NEW RELEASES:
Jim Hall & Bill Frisell: Hemispheres (ArtistShare)
Denny Zeitlin: In Concert (Sunnyside)
Wadada Leo Smith: Spiritual Dimensions (Cuneiform)
Ella Fitzgerald: Twelve Nights in Hollywood (Hip-O Select/Verve)
Joe Lovano: Folk Art (Blue Note)
John Hollenbeck: Eternal Interlude (Sunnyside)
Chuck Berghofer: Film Music of Ralph Rainger (Fresh Sound)
Kurt Rosenwinkel: Reflections (Word of Mouth Music)
Bob Brookmeyer: Music for String Quartet and Orchestra (Challenge)
Ximo Tebar: Celebrating Erik Satie (Xabia Jazz)

VOCAL:
Dena DeRose: Live at Jazz Standard, Volume Two (MaxJazz)

DEBUT:
Linda Oh: Entry (Linda Oh Music)

LATIN:
Miguel Zenón: Esta Plena (Mar)

President of the board and founder, Pat Strosahl, was not able to give us a simple top ten list either, but instead produced lists in a few different categories.
 
"Ten" best performances in order of impact:
1. Sept 30, 2007: Finisterra Trio: Debut of Angel Band Trio (our own commission) with Finisterra, composer Daron Hagen, and Bill McGlaughlin.  It was an amazing work of music, a sentimental moment for our mother, and wonderful to have the presence of Bill Mc.

2. October 13, 2005.  Bill Mays inaugural concert: got to hear music played in a fantastic sound environment by musicians who understood the hall and understood how to play it.

3. February 14 2007: Taj Mahal, Valentine's Concert.  Taj was at his best in this joyful blues fest, his first time at The Seasons.  At the end people were dancing in the aisles.

4. September 30, 2006: Bill Mays Trio Plays Mendelssohn w/Finisterra, Matt Wilson's Carl Sandburg, etc.  An eclectic and stimulating range of pieces, concluding with Bill Mays "jazz" arrangement of the C minor Mendelssohn Trio which made us all breathless.  One of our first Fall Festival triumphs!

5. July 21, 2007, Ingrid Jensen Quintet w/Benny Green  Their link-up was an accident of timing, but the way Ingrid, Jon & Benny worked together was just magic and like they'd been working together for a lifetime.

6. February 22, 2008:  Modigliani Quartet: their rendition of the Debussy Quartet was the best I've ever heard... and the rest of their playing wasn't too shabby either.

7. September 9, 2006: Jessica Williams in Concert.  A masterful outing by one of the great modern pianists.  It was recorded and later released as "Live at The Seasons"

8. March 30, 2007 Spoleto Festival w/Charles Wadworth illuminated how the best players can create musical experience with completely assured technical performances

9.  May 6, 2006.  Karrin Allyson was just releasing her Grammy-nominated "Footprints" CD.  Her phenomenal voice and connection with the audience had us all falling in love.

10. October 28, 2006: Miguel Zenon Quartet Even before he became a star and got a "Genius Grant" and other honors, Miguel Zenon was a sax player that carved out a totally new territory. He also brought one of the great bands: Perdomo, Henry Cole, Hans Glaushwig.  His second concert at The Seasons had us on the edge of our seats.

11. March 9 2007: Tierney Sutton's second appearance at The Seasons, followed her Grammy nominated: "I'm With the Band."  Was she ever.

Best performances of 2009:  
1. October 9: Brubeck Brothers Performance from "Classified" including a brilliant nonet with/Imani Winds

2. February 7: Blue Note 7 Tour w/Bill Charlap

3. January 20, Stephen Beus, Beethoven Hammerklavier

4: Fall Festival: October 14 & 16, Matt Wilson Quartet/Dena Derose

5. Fall Fesival, October 15: YSO Chamber Orchestra w/New composers & new conductors paired.

6. November 6: Jay Thomas' East/West Alliance

Top Five picks of recent CD's of people who have visited The Seasons:
Finisterra: Trios of Daron Hagen
 Naxos Records

Jay Thomas/John Stowell: Streams of Consciousness.
 Pony Boy Records

John Hamar: Hereafter
  iTunes/CD Baby

Karrin Allyson:  Footprints
  Concord

Bill Anschell/Brent Jensen: We Couldn't Agree More
  Origin Records

Thomas Marriott: Both Sides of the Fence
  Origin Records

Jessica Williams: Art of the Piano
  Origin Records

Tierney Sutton: I'm with the Band  
   Telarc

Luciana Souza/Roberto Lumbambo: Brazilian Duos  
   Sunnyside Records

The Alexander Quartet; The Beethoven Quartets  
    Forhorn Classics

Staff Picks:
Chosen by former Manager and current Marketing Director Ellie Strosahl.

Ellie’s Top “Ten”:
Sept 30, 2007:  The Finisterra Trio Debut of The Angel Band Trio by Daron Hagen

Dec 31, 2009:  Picoso

January 15, 2009:  Carrie Rodriguez

March 22, 2008: Paoli Mejias Quintet

October 28, 2006: Miguel Zenon Quartet

May 6, 2006: Karrin Allyson

August 18, 2007: Rory Block

February 16, 2008: Bill Charlap

February 2, 2008: Linda Tillery and The Cultural Heritage Choir

October 16, 2008: The Bill Mays Rivers Suite

April 5, 2008: Matt Jorgensen + 451

July 23, 2009: The Michael Carlos Band

November 11, 2006: Jay Thomas and the East West Alliance

So, did we get our Top Ten's right?  Any of you Seasonites out there want to join in the display of camaraderie and debate?