Tag: Spiritual Jazz
Almost another year around the sun, and that means it’s that time again (hard to believe), where we revisit some of the best releases of the year. In regards of new music, 2023 was another incredible year. As always, it was admittedly extremely challenging pulling together a “best of” list, however I’m excited to have been able to expand to 40 releases, which still didn’t feel like enough. As always, I’m sure I missed a few worthy selections.
The London-based Night Dreamer label continues their string of incredible Direct-To-Disc recordings with arguably their best session to date, featuring Chicago multi-instrumentalist and composer Isaiah Collier with a superb group that includes gospel soul singer Jimetta Rose, AACM and former Art Ensemble of Chicago trumpet player Corey Wilkes and others, titled Parallel Universe.
Since the release of the series’ first compilation back in 2018, in addition to two follow-up compilation recordings and a growing number of select album reissues, BBE’s J Jazz has become the most definite collection exploring innovative and rare Japanese jazz. Curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, the highly anticipated fourth compilation dives deep into one of the biggest and most diverse labels in Japan, Nippon Columbia.
In much anticipation, the Ottawa-based collective Atlantis Jazz Ensemble return with a brilliant new recording on Marlow Records, titled Celestial Suite. Originally spawning as a project by pianist Pierre Chrétien and alto saxophonist Zakari Frantz of The Souljazz Orchestra back in 2013, this represents the group’s first release since their 2016 breakthrough album Ocean Suite.
Over the span of the last two decades, in which Jazzman Records has been issuing their incredible Spiritual Jazz series, the London-based label has issued a number of volumes that have focused on some of the most groundbreaking and prolific jazz labels, including Blue Note, Prestige, Impulse!, and Steeplechase. For the latest release, titled Spiritual Jazz 14: Private, label owner Jazzman Gerald dives deep into the well and unearths rare gems that didn’t come out on a label and were ultimately released as a private press recording.
Celebrating 50 years as a pioneering group led by the legendary bandleader Idris Ackamoor, and as a follow-up to their most recent retrospective box set release, The Pyramids return with a highly-anticipated and adventurous new full-length on Strut, titled Afro Futuristic Dreams.
With over 15 releases to his name since 2008, and the running of his fantastic label Gondwana Records, composer, trumpeter and bandleader Matthew Halsall has been one the most active and prominent jazz artists of his generation. It seems like with each release, the Manchester-based musician continues to push his sound to new heights, and that certainly is the case with his latest brilliant full-length, titled An Ever Changing View.
On September 24, 2022, the entire jazz world and beyond mourned the passing of the late great Pharoah Sanders, who was one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists of our time. Almost a year later, in what has become one of the most highly anticipated reissues of 2023, Luaka Bop has re-released an expanded edition of Pharoah Sanders’ classic 1977 album Pharoah.
The Australian 9-piece group, Menagerie follows up their breakthrough 2021 full-length Many Worlds with arguably their best recording to date, titled The Shores Of Infinity. Marking their third release for the London-based Freestyle Records label, this is one of the many notable projects led by producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Rare Groove Spectrum).
For about a decade, UK-based producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and 22a label boss, Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne has been one of today’s most forward-thinking artists, incorporating jazz, house, electronic beats, Latin, classical Indian music and more into his recordings. For his latest release, titled You Know I Care, he focuses his energy on exploring the classic jazz material that has inspired him over the years.
