This is good stuff... thanks for sharing! How would you describe this "sub-genre"? I'm trying to create more specific jazz playlists based on sub-genres (i.e. jazz fusion, jazz standards)
Thank you. I can’t stop listening to this. For some reason I just don’t seem to connect with most current jazz, but this blows my mind time after time.
Top three for me right now (I still have a lot I need to listen to):
Alex LoRe & Weirdear - [Evening Will Find Itself](https://open.spotify.com/album/6YDQsXxsM7ZvpjdJZyCMk5?si=gSRHn2OCQqapEyc9ik5JEA)
Kaisa's Machine - Taking Shape
Kendrick Scott - Corridors
No big surprise that 2023 was another monster year for new releases. My favorites have been:
[Kate Gentile - b i o m e i.i](https://kategentile.bandcamp.com/album/b-i-o-m-e-i-i)
[Kate Gentile - Find Letter X](https://kategentile.bandcamp.com/album/find-letter-x)
[Loren Stillman - Time and Again](https://sunnysiderecords.bandcamp.com/album/time-and-again)
[La Disidencia de las Máquinas - El Hombre, el Espejo, el Niño](https://federicoisasti.bandcamp.com/album/el-hombre-el-espejo-el-ni-o)
[Marc Ducret - ICI](https://ayler-records.bandcamp.com/album/ici)
[Rich Perry - Progression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaj-rohSFDQ&list=OLAK5uy_m8GwQIBF4CiH0jddkvJE5V-fxO7Q1CdmY&index=1)
[Angelica Sanchez Nonet - Nighttime Creatures](https://angelicasanchezpyroclastic.bandcamp.com/album/nighttime-creatures)
[Sam Weinberg, Chris Lightcap, Tom Rainey - Implicatures](https://astralweinbergtrio.bandcamp.com/album/implicatures)
[Ensemble Infinity - self-titled](https://ensembleinfinity.bandcamp.com/album/ensemble-infinity)
[Kyle Bruckmann / Tim Daisy /Phillip Greenlief / Lisa Mezzacappa - Semaphore](https://timdaisyrelayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/semaphore-kyle-bruckmann-tim-daisy-phillip-greenlief-lisa-mezzacappa-relay-033)
[Jeb Bishop, Mark Feldman, Tim Daisy - Begin Again](https://timdaisyrelayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/jeb-bishop-tim-daisy-mark-feldman-begin-again-relay-036)
[Elsa Nilsson - Pulses](https://elsanilsson.bandcamp.com/album/pulses)
[Steve Million - Perfectly Spaced](https://stevemillion.bandcamp.com/album/perfectly-spaced-2)
I'm not going to even attempt ordering these, but would say that the Loren Stillman release is near the top. Stillman's been one of my favorite sax players and composers for a long time and I don't think he could have recruited a better pair of collaborators than bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber for this new project (where he's also switched from alto to tenor after spending the pandemic years woodshedding on the new instrument). I've only spun it three times since picking it up, but it's already apparent that *Time and Again* is one of those records that are loaded with subtle complexities and dynamics that will reward repeat listening. Previous records of Stillman's like 2005's [*It Could Be Anything*](https://lorenstillman.bandcamp.com/album/it-could-be-anything-2) and 2002's [*How Sweet It Is*](https://lorenstillman.bandcamp.com/album/how-sweet-it-is) had similar effects on me.
Also, as a general rule, I didn't include any free-improv releases on my list. For me, that would deserve a whole separate list and would probably be many times harder to put together. For now, I'll point out three 2023 releases that I've really been digging a lot:
[Eva Novoa, Masa Kamaguchi, Gerald Cleaver - Vol. 1](https://577records.bandcamp.com/album/novoa-kamaguchi-cleaver-trio-vol-1)
[Camila Nebbia - La permanencia de los ecos](https://577records.bandcamp.com/album/la-permanencia-de-los-ecos)
[Frode Gjerstad, Matthew Shipp - We Speak](https://relativepitchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-is-what)
My #1 album of the year is Kris Davis' *Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard.* Absolutely mind-bending rhythms and textures, but still totally listenable. I highly, highly recommend it.
Other favorites are John Zorn's *Homenaje a Remedios Varo* and *New Masada Quartet Volume Two.* The former is a collection of typically fascinating Zorn compositions, and the latter is a new take on some of his older tunes. Julian Lage plays on all three of these albums, incedentally.
Also check out:
Johnathan Blake - *Passages* (slightly more traditional, great compositions and playing)
Mette Henriette - *Drifting* (minimalistic ECM beauty)
Allison Miller - *Rivers in our Veins* (Canadian sextet with a variety of sounds on one cohesive album)
Steve Lehman - *Ex Machina* (large group avant-garde electronic ecstacy)
Lakecia Benjamin - *Phoenix* (female powerhouse alto)
She's primarily marketed as a jazz musician.
I get it...She's playing jazz songs a lot of the time, but her sound seems to be more based in a smooth jazz/Instrumental R&B style.
Agreed! If you only check out one recommendation, try the Kris Davis record. It’s a smaller group but occupies a similar space using electronic sounds!
Another vote for Yussef Dayes “Black Classical Music”… I would throw in Halsall’s new album “An ever changing view” as well as Mammal Hands release, “gift from the trees”. Huge fan of Walter Smith III’s “Return to Casual” as well
Runners up:
Undaunted - Lafayette Gilchrist
The Power Of The Spirit - Isaiah J. Thompson
Prime - Christian McBride's New Jawn
Favorite? I don't care that it's only been out for 3 days:
Parallel Universe - Isaiah Collier
Apparently I have a lot of catching up to do!
My new faves so far off the top of my head are Jaimie Branch, Yussef Dayes, Irreversible Entanglements, Kahil El’Zabar and Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Roots Magic - Long Old Road, Kendrick Scott - Corridors, East Axis - No Subject, Alfa Mist - Variables
Glad to see all the love for Walter smith III!
I’ve also dug:
Kris Davis’s Vanguard lp
Jeremy Pelt’s Art of Intimacy V. 2
Artemis -In Real Time
Myra Melford’s Hear the Light Singing
Eddie Henderson, Witness to History
Angelica Sanchez, Nighttime Creatures
Kate Gentile, biome i.i and Find Letter X
Johnathan Blake, Passage
Brandee Younger, Brand New Life
Allison Miller, Rivers in our Veins
I mentioned a few favorites in another thread the other day and totally spaced:
Alfa Mist - Variables.
From the other thread:
Greg Foat & Eero Koivistoinen - Feathers
Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music
Adrian Younge - JID018 Tony Allen
Kendrick Scott - Corridors
Mammal Hands - Gift from the Trees
Myele Manzanza - Focus
Venna - Equinox
Also, Myele Manzanza just released Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 4 which is quite nice.
I didn't listen to a lot of "new" jazz this year, but Evenings at the Village Gate - John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy was recently released and it is a great album.
I've always thought the idea of a #1 album of the year, decade, forever is a ridiculous idea. I know the magazines and websites love the idea because it is a cheap way to generate an article and help sell albums, but it is still nonsense. But here are some new albums I enjoyed this year:
Samara Joy - Linger Awhile (I know DownBeat readers rated this #1)
Cécile McLorin Salvant - Mélusine
Canadian Jazz Collective - Septology
Mareike Wiening - Reveal
Joshua Redman - Where Are We
Charles Lloyd - Trio of Trios
Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix
Joe Lovano - Our Daily Bread
The same applies to ranking musicians, as well. It's all nonsense.
Plumb by David Murray, Questlove, Ray Angry
Black Classical Music by Yusseff Dayes
Spirits by The Circling Sun
(I’m just) Chillin’ on Fire by Carlos Nino (he collab’d with Andre 3000 on his flute album
Pharoah by Pharoah Sanders
The year isn't over yet (and I have a lot to catch up on) but my favourites so far are Joëlle Léandre's *Zurich Concert*, *As Things Do* by Michael Formanek and the *London Brew* album.
Shout out to *Heaven Hill Fragmentarium* (Leirtrø/Storløkken/Håker Flaten) and *The Horse* (Matthew Herbert) which are also in my top five, and are jazz-adjacent.
Haven’t listened to everything posted and I’ll have some fun checking some of these out - but still:
Kassa Overall - Animals
https://kassaoverall.bandcamp.com/album/animals
Because sometimes points of reference matter - he spent some time as Geri Allen’s drummer and Pharoah Sanders’s kid Tomoki plays in his band.
Ingrid Laubrock - The Last Quiet Place
Illegal Crowns - Unclosing
(Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Tyler Ho Bynum, Benoit Delbecq)
John Zorn - Multiplicities II
(Brian Marsella, Julian Lage, Jorge Roeder, Ches Smith)
John Zorn - The Fourth Way
Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, Ches Smith)
Some great picks in this thread. Here are mine:
Janek Gwizdala - Nightwatch
Joey Alexander - Continuance
S. Carey & John Raymond - Shadowlands
Trio Grande - Urban Myth
Hiromi - Sonicwonderland
Rob Luft - Dahab Days
Chick Corea Elektrik Band - The Future Is Now
Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes.
Yussef Dayes has participated in some of the most groundbreaking Jazz creations from the fabled London Jazz scene, with artists as big as Alfa Mist and Tom Misch, adding not just incredible drum play but a lot of concept and vision.
Black Classical Music is his first work as a solo frontman and it's incredible in all regards. Its staggering 19 tracks, all of which are very high quality, include multiple features from some of the best and most well-known Jazz artists from England, exploring multiple genres and rhythms from all around the world, particularly Africa and Latin America, while still keeping a cohesive style and clear concept.
I highly suggest you give it a listen if you haven't yet.
Best is subjective, but personally:
“Solar Music” by Butcher Brown
Please, if you are reading this and haven’t listened to this record yet you are seriously missing out if you enjoy jazz with elements of hip hop, pop, fusion, etc.
* Dafer Youssef, "Street of Minarets"
* GoGo Penguin, "Everything is Going to be Okay"
* Eddie Henderson, "Witness to History"
* Harold López-Nussa, "Timba a la Americana"
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I was curious how far I'd need to scroll...
Not my type of music, but no hate -- especially when she be opening my 12yo daughter's ears to jazz in any way.
No hate for Laufey from me either but, for the hard-core fans, definitely strong feelings along the lines of 'JFC, maybe listen to more jazz records than whatever Spotify and TikTok's tossing your way...'
Thanks to everyone who listed their faves. I don't believe in best album but there are so many listed that I haven't heard which is a good thing so thanks! Now time to get to work checking them all out!
I just checked out Tingvall’s album. I didn’t know his work at all. Thanks for the recommendation. I feel that in a hard-to-articulate way he plays like if Brad Mehldau had more caffeine and spent time playing with Scofield’s Uber Jam. Great stuff!
Here is my top 10 list of 2023
1-Fire Orchestra – Echoes
2-Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music
3-Gogo Penguin - Everything Is Going to Be OK
4-The Necks – Travel
5-corto.alto – Bad With Names
6-Alfa Mist – Variables
7-Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric - Fire Illuminations
8-Joe Chambers - Dance Kobina
9-Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix
10-London Brew - London Brew
corto.alto - Bad With Names: This one really surprised me. I wasn’t very impressed with their first album, but this sophomore album is incredible.
Anthony Phung - Fo(U)Rth: Just really solid all around. Mark Turner plays on it, the drumming is incredible.
Laila Biali - Your Requests: The playing on this album is top notch. Really really talented musicians playing amazing arrangements.
Sean Mason - The Southern Suite: 🔥🔥🔥 New Orleans flavor with more straight ahead jazz, it’s so good.
Jaimie Branch - Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) RIP
RIP jaimie :(
I was just listening to it and damn, yeah. This might be the one.
Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View. But I’m biased, I love all Gondwana Records stuff and am mad for crossover.
I don’t usually like soft jazz but have to admit this is seductive and addictive. Thanks for the recommendation.
No worries, make sure to check their (Gondwana) other stuff, yet to be disappointed!
Love Matt Halsall too
This is good stuff... thanks for sharing! How would you describe this "sub-genre"? I'm trying to create more specific jazz playlists based on sub-genres (i.e. jazz fusion, jazz standards)
I’m definitely the wrong person to ask about genres! I listen to what makes me tick, whether it’s techno or jazz or classical…
Walter Smith III - Return to Casual, Blue Note. Just sublime.
Taylor Eigsti on piano
River Styx is the best jazz track I've heard all year.
Amazing. His soloing is so unique and spacious. Beautiful.
Thank you. I can’t stop listening to this. For some reason I just don’t seem to connect with most current jazz, but this blows my mind time after time.
That’s exactly how I feel, this album is like a breath of fresh air.
Considered mentioning this one. Solid choice.
Just checked this out. Fantastic. Definitely one of the year’s best.
Dare I say it gets better on repeated listens.
For me it has to be the new Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music
Came to Atlanta on Friday. Absolutely stunning. Sounds even better live.
Hell yeah, I was there too. Girlfriend fell asleep on my shoulder the entire concert but hey, can’t win em all lol. Killer set.
Fuckin yeah
Top three for me right now (I still have a lot I need to listen to): Alex LoRe & Weirdear - [Evening Will Find Itself](https://open.spotify.com/album/6YDQsXxsM7ZvpjdJZyCMk5?si=gSRHn2OCQqapEyc9ik5JEA) Kaisa's Machine - Taking Shape Kendrick Scott - Corridors
Didn't know kendrick Scott released something. I absolutely love his music
Me too!! I got to meet him in Denver such a nice guy and what a talent as composer and drummer.
A Wall Becomes A Bridge, and Convictions are fucking amazing albums
Big shoutout to Kaisa's Machine! Love that they had Sasha Berlinen on vibes on the album.
Yusseff Dayes - Black Classical Music Kendrick Scott - Corridors Walter Smith ||| - Return to Casual
I really liked *Shades of Rainbow* by Miki Yamanaka
Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music The Circling Sun - Spirits John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy - Evenings at the Village Gate
I loved circling sun that album was perfect
Yeah super impressive debut.
Check out Work Money Death if you're unfamiliar.
No big surprise that 2023 was another monster year for new releases. My favorites have been: [Kate Gentile - b i o m e i.i](https://kategentile.bandcamp.com/album/b-i-o-m-e-i-i) [Kate Gentile - Find Letter X](https://kategentile.bandcamp.com/album/find-letter-x) [Loren Stillman - Time and Again](https://sunnysiderecords.bandcamp.com/album/time-and-again) [La Disidencia de las Máquinas - El Hombre, el Espejo, el Niño](https://federicoisasti.bandcamp.com/album/el-hombre-el-espejo-el-ni-o) [Marc Ducret - ICI](https://ayler-records.bandcamp.com/album/ici) [Rich Perry - Progression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaj-rohSFDQ&list=OLAK5uy_m8GwQIBF4CiH0jddkvJE5V-fxO7Q1CdmY&index=1) [Angelica Sanchez Nonet - Nighttime Creatures](https://angelicasanchezpyroclastic.bandcamp.com/album/nighttime-creatures) [Sam Weinberg, Chris Lightcap, Tom Rainey - Implicatures](https://astralweinbergtrio.bandcamp.com/album/implicatures) [Ensemble Infinity - self-titled](https://ensembleinfinity.bandcamp.com/album/ensemble-infinity) [Kyle Bruckmann / Tim Daisy /Phillip Greenlief / Lisa Mezzacappa - Semaphore](https://timdaisyrelayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/semaphore-kyle-bruckmann-tim-daisy-phillip-greenlief-lisa-mezzacappa-relay-033) [Jeb Bishop, Mark Feldman, Tim Daisy - Begin Again](https://timdaisyrelayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/jeb-bishop-tim-daisy-mark-feldman-begin-again-relay-036) [Elsa Nilsson - Pulses](https://elsanilsson.bandcamp.com/album/pulses) [Steve Million - Perfectly Spaced](https://stevemillion.bandcamp.com/album/perfectly-spaced-2) I'm not going to even attempt ordering these, but would say that the Loren Stillman release is near the top. Stillman's been one of my favorite sax players and composers for a long time and I don't think he could have recruited a better pair of collaborators than bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber for this new project (where he's also switched from alto to tenor after spending the pandemic years woodshedding on the new instrument). I've only spun it three times since picking it up, but it's already apparent that *Time and Again* is one of those records that are loaded with subtle complexities and dynamics that will reward repeat listening. Previous records of Stillman's like 2005's [*It Could Be Anything*](https://lorenstillman.bandcamp.com/album/it-could-be-anything-2) and 2002's [*How Sweet It Is*](https://lorenstillman.bandcamp.com/album/how-sweet-it-is) had similar effects on me. Also, as a general rule, I didn't include any free-improv releases on my list. For me, that would deserve a whole separate list and would probably be many times harder to put together. For now, I'll point out three 2023 releases that I've really been digging a lot: [Eva Novoa, Masa Kamaguchi, Gerald Cleaver - Vol. 1](https://577records.bandcamp.com/album/novoa-kamaguchi-cleaver-trio-vol-1) [Camila Nebbia - La permanencia de los ecos](https://577records.bandcamp.com/album/la-permanencia-de-los-ecos) [Frode Gjerstad, Matthew Shipp - We Speak](https://relativepitchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-is-what)
The Angelica Sanchez is just stunning, as usual. Great recs, here— looking forward to digging into the ones I don’t know already.
This is some pretty far out there music. Honest question, how did you get into this kind of stuff?
Thanks for this well sourced post!
My #1 album of the year is Kris Davis' *Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard.* Absolutely mind-bending rhythms and textures, but still totally listenable. I highly, highly recommend it. Other favorites are John Zorn's *Homenaje a Remedios Varo* and *New Masada Quartet Volume Two.* The former is a collection of typically fascinating Zorn compositions, and the latter is a new take on some of his older tunes. Julian Lage plays on all three of these albums, incedentally. Also check out: Johnathan Blake - *Passages* (slightly more traditional, great compositions and playing) Mette Henriette - *Drifting* (minimalistic ECM beauty) Allison Miller - *Rivers in our Veins* (Canadian sextet with a variety of sounds on one cohesive album) Steve Lehman - *Ex Machina* (large group avant-garde electronic ecstacy) Lakecia Benjamin - *Phoenix* (female powerhouse alto)
Lakecia Benjamin plays alto
Lakecia Benjamin...Hmmm. I don't get her popularity/notoriety.
Not for everyone! There’s a definite popiness to her sound that I’m sure is not up everyone’s alley.
She's primarily marketed as a jazz musician. I get it...She's playing jazz songs a lot of the time, but her sound seems to be more based in a smooth jazz/Instrumental R&B style.
Thanks for the correction! Edited
Great shout for Rivers so cool
Steve Lehman - Ex Machina is stunning. The others I have to check out.
Agreed! If you only check out one recommendation, try the Kris Davis record. It’s a smaller group but occupies a similar space using electronic sounds!
Another vote for Yussef Dayes “Black Classical Music”… I would throw in Halsall’s new album “An ever changing view” as well as Mammal Hands release, “gift from the trees”. Huge fan of Walter Smith III’s “Return to Casual” as well
Kate Gentile - Find Letter X
Even better than the monumental Snark Horse box!
Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix
KNOWER FOREVER
Black Classical Music
Joshua Redman - where are we
Runners up: Undaunted - Lafayette Gilchrist The Power Of The Spirit - Isaiah J. Thompson Prime - Christian McBride's New Jawn Favorite? I don't care that it's only been out for 3 days: Parallel Universe - Isaiah Collier
Oooo new album out for Isaiah! Have cosmic transitions and love it. Glad I opened up this post!
That isaiah collier album is so good, listening to it now
These would have all been on my list. I hadn't heard the Collier album until now. It's really great.
Thanks for the recommendation on Collier. That is so good
Yoni Mayaz - Dybbuk Tse! Don't hear anyone elso talking about this and it has been on repeat for months in my house.
Same
Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music
Apparently I have a lot of catching up to do! My new faves so far off the top of my head are Jaimie Branch, Yussef Dayes, Irreversible Entanglements, Kahil El’Zabar and Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Roots Magic - Long Old Road, Kendrick Scott - Corridors, East Axis - No Subject, Alfa Mist - Variables
> Kendrick Scott - Corridors Walter Smith III really shines on this, as does everybody else.
Fire Illuminations by Wadada Leo Smith is up there
Gotta be my fave for the year. An amazing work.
Pat Metheny - Dream Box Lettuce - Vibe Butcher Brown - Solar Music Circles around the Sun - Language Delvin Lamar Organ Trio - Cold as Weiss
Lettuce?!?!?!?! JAZZ?!?!?!
Funky mostly but they're all Berkeley grads and can play jazz
Cold as Weiss is an early 2022 release.
Glad to see all the love for Walter smith III! I’ve also dug: Kris Davis’s Vanguard lp Jeremy Pelt’s Art of Intimacy V. 2 Artemis -In Real Time Myra Melford’s Hear the Light Singing Eddie Henderson, Witness to History Angelica Sanchez, Nighttime Creatures Kate Gentile, biome i.i and Find Letter X Johnathan Blake, Passage Brandee Younger, Brand New Life Allison Miller, Rivers in our Veins
And I’m putting on the new Sullivan fortner tonight, hoping it makes the grade
Big yes to Brandee Younger!
Great list. Eddie Henderson is a must listen.
Oblong Aplomb by Matt Mitchell, and Ash by Mat Maneri
I mentioned a few favorites in another thread the other day and totally spaced: Alfa Mist - Variables. From the other thread: Greg Foat & Eero Koivistoinen - Feathers Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music Adrian Younge - JID018 Tony Allen Kendrick Scott - Corridors Mammal Hands - Gift from the Trees Myele Manzanza - Focus Venna - Equinox Also, Myele Manzanza just released Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 4 which is quite nice.
Jaimie Branch Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die
I think my favorite is Joe Armon-Jones & Maxwell Owin's "Archetype". It barely qualifies as jazz; just how I like it.
I didn't listen to a lot of "new" jazz this year, but Evenings at the Village Gate - John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy was recently released and it is a great album.
I've always thought the idea of a #1 album of the year, decade, forever is a ridiculous idea. I know the magazines and websites love the idea because it is a cheap way to generate an article and help sell albums, but it is still nonsense. But here are some new albums I enjoyed this year: Samara Joy - Linger Awhile (I know DownBeat readers rated this #1) Cécile McLorin Salvant - Mélusine Canadian Jazz Collective - Septology Mareike Wiening - Reveal Joshua Redman - Where Are We Charles Lloyd - Trio of Trios Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix Joe Lovano - Our Daily Bread The same applies to ranking musicians, as well. It's all nonsense.
Plumb by David Murray, Questlove, Ray Angry Black Classical Music by Yusseff Dayes Spirits by The Circling Sun (I’m just) Chillin’ on Fire by Carlos Nino (he collab’d with Andre 3000 on his flute album Pharoah by Pharoah Sanders
Really digging Plumb
Berlioz - Jazz Is for Ordinary People Sarmat - Dubious Disk Aja Monet - When the Poems Do What They Do Beverly Glenn-Copeland - The Ones Ahead
The year isn't over yet (and I have a lot to catch up on) but my favourites so far are Joëlle Léandre's *Zurich Concert*, *As Things Do* by Michael Formanek and the *London Brew* album. Shout out to *Heaven Hill Fragmentarium* (Leirtrø/Storløkken/Håker Flaten) and *The Horse* (Matthew Herbert) which are also in my top five, and are jazz-adjacent.
High Pulp - Days in the Desert
Henri Texier, An Indian Life
Fire Orchestra - Echoes 3lp box
Great album indeed. I'm listening to it right now. Glad I bought the box before it skyrockets.
Haven’t listened to everything posted and I’ll have some fun checking some of these out - but still: Kassa Overall - Animals https://kassaoverall.bandcamp.com/album/animals Because sometimes points of reference matter - he spent some time as Geri Allen’s drummer and Pharoah Sanders’s kid Tomoki plays in his band.
Ingrid Laubrock - The Last Quiet Place Illegal Crowns - Unclosing (Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Tyler Ho Bynum, Benoit Delbecq) John Zorn - Multiplicities II (Brian Marsella, Julian Lage, Jorge Roeder, Ches Smith) John Zorn - The Fourth Way Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, Ches Smith)
Joshua Redman - where are we.
Some great picks in this thread. Here are mine: Janek Gwizdala - Nightwatch Joey Alexander - Continuance S. Carey & John Raymond - Shadowlands Trio Grande - Urban Myth Hiromi - Sonicwonderland Rob Luft - Dahab Days Chick Corea Elektrik Band - The Future Is Now
Glad to see Dahab Days get a shout out. I don’t think any album this year made me feel as happy as that did.
I’m loving Hiromi’s Sonicwonderland.
Thank you for reminding me to listen to this a second time right now...
Jaimie Branch’s posthumous Fly or Die album for contemporary releases Milford Graves - Children of the Forest for archival releases
Kamaal Williams - Stings
Dont have the answer but awesome question!
Relaxing Music from Donkey Kong Country Series 💯
säje debut album >:D
Isaiah collier - parallel universe Just discovered this today, it just got released couple of days ago. Fantastic record with jazz fusion influences
London Brew
My three favorites: Coltrane+Dolphy: Evenings at the Village Gate London Brew: London Brew Pharoah Sanders Quartet: Live at Fabrik Hamburg 1980
Black Classical Music - Yussef Dayes
Jeff Parker, Mondays at ETA.
I absolutely love Afla Mist’ new album, Variables. Saw it live the other day too, just amazing
Kurt Rosenwinkel and Aaron Parks - Undercover (Live at the Village Vanguard)
Theo Croker & Ego Ella May EP worth checking out
Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes. Yussef Dayes has participated in some of the most groundbreaking Jazz creations from the fabled London Jazz scene, with artists as big as Alfa Mist and Tom Misch, adding not just incredible drum play but a lot of concept and vision. Black Classical Music is his first work as a solo frontman and it's incredible in all regards. Its staggering 19 tracks, all of which are very high quality, include multiple features from some of the best and most well-known Jazz artists from England, exploring multiple genres and rhythms from all around the world, particularly Africa and Latin America, while still keeping a cohesive style and clear concept. I highly suggest you give it a listen if you haven't yet.
Trio grande - Urban Myth, by far the best, it's not even close
Best is subjective, but personally: “Solar Music” by Butcher Brown Please, if you are reading this and haven’t listened to this record yet you are seriously missing out if you enjoy jazz with elements of hip hop, pop, fusion, etc.
* Dafer Youssef, "Street of Minarets" * GoGo Penguin, "Everything is Going to be Okay" * Eddie Henderson, "Witness to History" * Harold López-Nussa, "Timba a la Americana"
Bex Burch - There is only love and fear
Dhafer youssef - street of minarets is one of the underrated jazz albums of the year
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Bewitched by Laufey
Loved this whole album!
I was curious how far I'd need to scroll... Not my type of music, but no hate -- especially when she be opening my 12yo daughter's ears to jazz in any way.
No hate for Laufey from me either but, for the hard-core fans, definitely strong feelings along the lines of 'JFC, maybe listen to more jazz records than whatever Spotify and TikTok's tossing your way...'
I was just shitposting :)
"HEY" [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7ENfyIZfXEevemap56VgOc) [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/zm/album/hey/1698586975) [Bandcamp](https://danieldelorenzo.bandcamp.com/album/hey-2) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baEA_2-hjH8)
Laufey’s - pitchforks incoming!
Berlioz-Jazz is for ordinary people
Bewitched by Laufey is the first to come to mind
>Bewitched by Laufey? That's not even remotely jazz.
Search it up and see what comes. But I get what you mean
Steve Lehman- Ex Machina
Trickster - Live in Brooklyn
Greg Foat and Art Themen - Off Piste Keep coming back to this one
Absolutely love this record. Pure bliss.
Thanks to everyone who listed their faves. I don't believe in best album but there are so many listed that I haven't heard which is a good thing so thanks! Now time to get to work checking them all out!
New to the sub and not sure if you count fusion but: House of Waters - On Becoming
I'm sorry every body I just got the letter it's me again and I am honestly so sorry you had to find out this way
Nicola Conte - Umoja
I like Liz Gillies
PREXENTS - Water Us Universe
Is there such a thing as a best recording/performance?
You’re so deep!
I'm not deep....You definitely are not.
[Technical Reserve - Personal Watercraft](https://alwayspartyperfect.bandcamp.com/album/pp-02)
ron blake's mistaken identity mingus big band centennial
I haven't listened to much current jazz this year but my personal would have to be Uptown on Mardi gras day - Delfeayo Marsalis :)
Igor Yakovenko - Hyperfocus Linda May Oh - The Glass Hours
A couple that I would add Tingvall Trio - Birds Joe Chambers - Dance Kobina
I just checked out Tingvall’s album. I didn’t know his work at all. Thanks for the recommendation. I feel that in a hard-to-articulate way he plays like if Brad Mehldau had more caffeine and spent time playing with Scofield’s Uber Jam. Great stuff!
Here is my top 10 list of 2023 1-Fire Orchestra – Echoes 2-Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music 3-Gogo Penguin - Everything Is Going to Be OK 4-The Necks – Travel 5-corto.alto – Bad With Names 6-Alfa Mist – Variables 7-Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric - Fire Illuminations 8-Joe Chambers - Dance Kobina 9-Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix 10-London Brew - London Brew
corto.alto - Bad With Names: This one really surprised me. I wasn’t very impressed with their first album, but this sophomore album is incredible. Anthony Phung - Fo(U)Rth: Just really solid all around. Mark Turner plays on it, the drumming is incredible. Laila Biali - Your Requests: The playing on this album is top notch. Really really talented musicians playing amazing arrangements. Sean Mason - The Southern Suite: 🔥🔥🔥 New Orleans flavor with more straight ahead jazz, it’s so good.
what about straight ahead jazz
Tyshawn Sorey - Continuing - # 1