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Most years around this time, I snatch a begrudging Scrooge-like look at critics' end of year lists, to see what overhyped and soon to be forgotten jazz and improv releases the critics are pushing that year, give a few a cursory stream, and then go retire back to my counting house, cursing the times.  But this year, it seems to me like there's been a real upswing in quality. I'm really impressed by what I have been hearing. This could be a feature of my age, but, for once there are a lot of records that I really enjoyed and will definitely go back to. They are also quite evenly spread between established and new artists, and across different styles and genres. The last time I enjoyed my end of year listens this much it was that pre pandemic period when International Anthem, Relative Pitch and the new London, LA, Chicago and SA scenes were all kicking into gear. I can't see any such narrative here. Just lots of unexpectedly good releases. I'm not able to set down my list just now (family times!) but will do so in the period between Christmas and New Year.  But in the meantime, I'd love to hear other forum members' views, and any favourites. 

Thanks, I will listen to that one. I love Hodes. I'm looking for slightly less A list bands: Those groups of portly men who were born in the 1940s and by the 1980s were playing the dixieland festival circuit in straw hats and stained stripey shirts, selling CDs at the merch table, and arguing about whether or not Eddie Condon should even be considered jazz, with beer foam on their beards. I'm making this all up, but hopefully you get the drift. Some of that music is quite good in its way and I enjoy it.  I don't know how many fans of that sort of music are on this forum, but thought it was worthwhile asking. As always, the 1980s - 1990s is a hard area to research via the internet, and trad / classic jazz more difficult than others. 

One album that I like quite a bit and that almost fits the bill is Echoes of Chicago by Art Hodes... It's from 1978 though and it's not Hodes' working band (it is a full dixieland band though, the usual Atlanta crew found on GHB Productions of that era)

Unfortunately only half of that album was added as a bonus to the United Artists Booker Little CD reissue. 

What about the Victorian wassailing classic "Ko-Ko"?