Author: TJ Gorton
In what can already be considered a front-runner for album of the year, UK-based drummer, producer and vocalist Andy Hay returns with a 2xLP spiritual jazz masterpiece, titled Children Of The Sun.
Scottish trumpeter Malcolm Strachan has been one of the most active UK musicians for over the past 20 years, recording and performing with Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, The New Master Sounds and many others, as well as leading the notable UK jazz-funk band The Haggis Horns. He steps out on his own again and follows up his critically acclaimed 2020 solo debut album About Time with a superb new full-length on Haggis Records, titled Point Of No Return.
When it comes to seamlessly blurring the sounds of jazz, house, and Afro-Latin music, Italian composer and producer Gerardo Frisina has set the standard, releasing six highly acclaimed full-length albums and numerous essential EPs, 12inch singles, remixes and more over a two decade span. As a follow-up to last year’s superb Soul Drum EP, the modern-day jazz dancefloor pioneer has returned with a brilliant new 2xLP on Schema Records, titled Joyful Sound.
In what certainly is one of the most anticipated albums of 2023, legendary UK producer, deejay, and acid jazz pioneer Chris Bangs is set to release his new full-length record Firebird this week on the iconic Acid Jazz Records.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of arguably the greatest Afrobeat album ever recorded, in Fela Kuti and The Africa 70’s Shakara, Brooklyn’s Partisan Records has put out a special edition reissue of the two-track classic that includes an additional 7inch record featuring new renditions of both “Lady” and “Shakara (Oloje)” by one of the leading lights among the London jazz scene, Ezra Collective.
The legendary London-based Decca Records continues their superb British Jazz Explosion Series, with two massive additions in trumpeter Harry Beckett‘s 1970 heavy-hitting classic Flare-Up and the groundbreaking large ensemble masterpiece Tales Of The Algonquin led by John Surman and John Warren.
Paul Murphy’s superb label, Jazz Room Records is back at it again, releasing a brilliant 7inch single featuring two excellent dancefloor primed covers by Tokyo’s remarkable jazz-funk trio Nautilus.
A record that seemed to receive a lot of worthy play across numerous notable online radio shows (Colin Curtis, Kev Beadle, and others) during the final two months of 2022, was 45trio’s brilliant instrumental of Weldon Irvine’s soulful 1976 classic ‘I Love You’. Led by pianist and producer SWING-O, the Tokyo-based group, which formed back in 2009, also features bassist Sunapanng and drummer Masahiko Kubo.
As we forge our way into the new year, let’s first take a look at one of the fantastic 7inch released on vinyl at the end of 2022 — An incredible two track single, titled Vamo Vive from Italian producer, singer, vinyl collector, DJ and music producer Mistura Pura (aka Federica Grappasonni).
Happy New Year! Before we turn the page and look ahead to 2023, let’s spend one more moment in celebrating some of the best music from the past twelve months and dive into some of the best tracks of 2022.
As we wind down the final days of 2022, we take a look back at just some of the essential compilation releases over the past 12 months. From rare dance floor jazz to spiritual grooves and obscure Brazilian gems, there was a lot to absorb from some of the year’s best compiled releases. Similar to what we’ve seen with recent reissues, each year it seems like the quality of compilations continue to excel, with labels, record collectors, archivists, and DJs putting together some of the most interesting selections of music from all corners of the world.
This year, even what feels like more so than in the past, there were many incredible EP releases, especially in jazz (which hasn’t been a common format for the genre). Many of which resulted in some of the overall best releases of 2022.
As with new releases, 2022 was a remarkable year for reissues and previously unreleased recordings. It feels like with every great new release or artists that breaks through on the scene, there are still so many records from the past to still discover, or make more readily available again. I also feel that with each year that goes by, the quality of reissues get’s better and better. The care and work that goes into many of these releases is astonishing.
