Nothing to see here for Rockists, Popticians or Folk Purists.
I have got, or at least heard some of these albums. A few that I ought to have heard. Some names I’ve not seen/heard of before.
One or two I’m pretty sure I won’t like. Plenty more for me to give a listen to.
https://www.jazzwise.com/features/article/jazzwise-albums-of-the-year-2023
Thanks Mike. Surprised Milke Nock’s album missed out. Maybe it never reached them.
There are a few I’ve liked that didn’t get a mention.
Such is the way with these end-of-year lists. Some things slip under the radar and some other things just aren’t to the list-compilers tastes.
Good to see the Emma Rawicz album at 25.
Yep – the only one out of the 100 that I actually bought (and appeared in my top 20 this year).
But even with a cursory glance through, I’ve spotted at least four more that I missed/want to hear/might buy. Lists like this (and our end of year charts) are great resources, especially if you’ve not been paying attention!
And, since you’re all wondering (!): Shakti, Hedvig Mollestad, Mette Henriette and Metheny…
Thanks for the link, Mike!
I recommend the Joshua Redman album they have as their pick for best of the year. It’s a very fine album indeed. Along with a few others mentioned in this article I should have given it far more ear time upon it’s release. Better late than never I guess.
I’ll be playing it today! Ta.
And have. Very lovely. Off to Dodgers. Thanks P!
Cheers, Mr P – I’ll seek it out!
Yes handy list. I’ll be dipping in.
Norwegian saxophonist, Mette Henriette, sounds right up my street, fitterstoke.
Here’s an ECM podcast with an interview with her.
And here is a snippet of her live a few years ago.
Finally, an Oslo orchestra playing one of her compositions.
Huzzah! Many thanks, KFD!
That Billy Valentine, then: any good? Sounds as if it might be.
His voice is still in fine fettle on the whole and the album is peppered with some top notch musicians but it’s not my bag. Give it a listen though as it may be more in tune with you my friend than me.
I’ll get back to you.
It’s really good. It’s all covers of jazz/soul classics and he does a great job.
Yes. It’s a covers album that should have been in any covers albums top ten. 😉
I particularly like the Stevie Wonder cover.
“Should have been in any covers album top 10”…….
Woops, hangs head in shame….
I listened to that Billy Valentine album today and it hit the spot for me from the word go. He is superb and his band are a joy to listen to too,
This track is not on the album but gives an excellent idea of what he’s about.
If he is not very soon a big Afterword Favourite, I will be very upset!
And I will eat my hat, my undercrackers or my greatcoat
Thanks Mike!
I’m delighted to see As good as it gets by the Espen Eriksen Trio and Andy Shepherd at No 6. Well deserved!
I’m making a Spotify list
and then dipping into it.
Quite by chance, first up was a an album by Claire Martin, Scott Dunn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Marking the 10th anniversary of the death of celebrated composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, ‘I Watch You Sleep’ is a tenderly curated album conceived by American conductor, arranger, and pianist Scott Dunn, featuring award-winning British jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, produced by Grammy award-winning Joshua Blair and Exec-produced by Richard’s dear friend and publisher Gill Graham.”
https://clairemartinjazz.co.uk/discography/i-watch-you-sleep/
@Morrison had quite a few of these in his top twenty of the year.
Great to see Tyshawn Sorey so high up. (Another covers album😉). This is a fantastic list.
Here’s a playlist of the top 20
Another exciting discovery from the Jazzwise list is Cecile McLorin Savant.
Here she is doing a Tiny Desk.
Cécile’s “Mélusine” is one for the two Chanson threads we enjoyed (well, some of us) earlier at the AW.
Magnifique!
I’ll certainly be adding her to my Chansons playlist @Mike_H. But she’s much more than a chanson singer.
Mélusine includes five original songs and nine rearrangements, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English and Haitian Kreyòl.
What a polyglot!
https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/arts/cecile-mclorin-salvant-melusine-interview
I had a listen to Lakecia Benjamin’s “Phoenix” earlier.
From the dolled-to-the-nines cover image in red, gold and white, I was expecting some of that R&B/Jazz fusion stuff that’s prevalent right now, but I was wrong.
Good proper straight-ahead jazz for the most part, with some black feminist politics and a bit of spirituality added and not dwelt upon unduly, leaving plenty of room for excellent ensemble playing and soloing by Ms. Benjamin and others too. Good guest vocals on a couple also.
Thanks for the tip Mike. She sounds very promising.
I see what you mean by that album art. Not the sort of sleeve that would attract the more “serious” jazz aficionado who contributes to this site!
Here she is in a complete show dedicated to the music of the Coltranes complete with guest artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater and violinist Regina Carter.