Here we go again! End of a year and time to pick my favourite releases from an extraordinary group of albums played in the past year. 2023 had a most bountiful crop! In this 20 albums — and it could easily be 30 or more — there are several trios, albums of protest and concern for today’s world, tributes, and just great music.
The most played artists (and all saxophonists!!!) were Benjamin Koppel (mainly from one album), Ivo Perelman (released at least 8 different albums), Vinny Golia, Henry Threadgill, and James Brandon Lewis. Tracks from Clean Feed Records albums were played the most out of 1,250, with Intakt, Discus Music and 577 Records next in that order. And we touched on artists from 42 different countries!!!
Here’s the list in random order by album title:
BEYOND DRAGONS
Angelika Niescier, Tomeka Reid & Savannah Harris (Intakt ) – Fierce improvisation yet melodic
CAPTIVITY
Caroline Davis & Alula (Ropeadope) — Draws attention to incarceration & injustices through emotional music
WE SICK
deVon Russel Carter, Nathan Hanson & Davu Seru (Innova) – post-George Floyd impassioned improv
PROTECT YOUR LIGHT
Irreversible Entanglements (Impulse) – socially conscious statement with poetry and free playing band
CALIFORNIA STREET SESSIONS
JD Parran & Mark Deutsch (Infrequent Seams) – unusual instrumentation, unexpected delight
SPIRIT GATHERER
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (Spiritmuse) – tribute to Don Cherry, other tunes & the majestic voice of Dwight Trible
SONNET TO SILENCE
Kenneth Jimenez (We Jazz) – highly intelligent & entertaining music from a brilliant quintet
AS THINGS GO
Michael Formanek’s Elusion Quartet (Intakt) – do not pass this one up; Formanek’s compositions excel
HEAR THE LIGHT SINGING
Myra Melford Fire &Water Quintet (Rogue Art) – deep subtlety emerging from highly original music & band
FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE OPEN HEART
Steve Swell, Mark Tokar & Klaus Kugel (FSR Records) – Three masters of improv at their best
WHITE BUSES – PASSAGE TO FREEDOM
Benjamin Koppel (Cowbell Music) – Story-telling of the freeing of Nazi prisoners in WWII told in music and testimony
POLARITY
Daniel Rosenboom Quintet (Orenda) – powerful L.A. quintet with fire in their bellies
NOVOA/KAMAGUCHI/CLEAVER
Eva Novoa (577 Records) – Wonderful piano trio with sensitivity and curiosity
FOR MAHALIA WITH LOVE
James Brandon Lewis & Red Lily Quintet (Tao Forms) – a tribute to the great Mahalia wrapped up in typical JBL power & grace
AIN’T NO SAINT
Jim Black & The Schrimps (Intakt) – boys just wanna have fun, led by the always brilliant drummer
FIND LETTER X
Kate Gentile (Pi Recordings) – outstanding originality, power, creativity; this one has it all
BIRCHWOOD
Liba Villavecchia Trio (Clean Feed) – Spanish trio with much to say; very impressive and strong album
CAN YOU HEAR IT?
Mikko Innanen, Cedric Piromalli & Stefan Pasborg (Clean Feed) – kind of a tribute to the old organ trios, yet it’s its own thing.
CATCHING GHOSTS
Peter Brötzmann, Hamid Drake & Mahjid Bekkas (Act Music) – not meant to be a tribute, yet indeed it is. Viva Brötzmann!
LIVE IN OSLO
Trespass Trio (Clean Feed) – Sometimes mournful yet never without the spark of Martin Kuchen and the stark trumpet of Susan Santos Silva
I’ll be featuing music from these in my January 4th and 11th shows.