Best of 2013: Chris Barton picks Matana Roberts, Cécile McLorin Salvant Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd. "Holding It Down: The Veterans' Dreams Project": Jazz meets hip-hop and poetry to detail the costs of war. Haunting. Charles Lloyd and Jason Moran, "Hagar's Song": A masterful duet-as-conversation, examining familiar and undiscovered ground with grace. Matana Roberts, "Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile": Family history as social history in a swirling mix of free jazz, opera and spoken word. Challenging yet ultimately beautiful. Albert Heath, "Tootie's Tempo": A clinic in jazz swing from one of the keepers of its heartbeat, backed by Ethan Iverson and Ben Street. Craig Taborn Trio, "Chants": A first-call sideman delivers on the promise of his ethereal solo debut with arresting energy and atmosphere. Dawn of Midi, "Dysnomia": Telepathic piano trio spins one ever-evolving, 47-minute song. Is it jazz? Who can say, but it's spellbinding. Jonathan Finlayson, "Moment & the Message": A knotted but melodic puzzle with an off-centered drive from the Berkeley-born trumpeter. Cécile McLorin Salvant, "Womanchild": Just try and find a more joyful album in 2013 than this 24-year-old singer's vintage jazz and blues. Marc Cary Focus Trio, "Four Directions": A funky electro-acoustic split from a pianist who can draw from India, DC go-go and Betty Carter. Ben Goldberg, "Unfold Ordinary Mind": Bay Area clarinetist anchors the bass for a gruff, melodic band featuring Nels Cline and Ches Smith.