Since the end of 2022 is right around the corner, I thought I'd start another Favorite Jazz Discoveries of the Year thread.
If you were sitting in a bar with some jazz-loving friends, what artists & albums would you tell them about that you discovered this year? As usual, let's not limit ourselves to new releases; the recording date doesn't matter, as long as you discovered the music in the last 12 months or so.
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Here's a dozen new favorites of mine:
- Gary Bartz - Ju Ju Man (Catalyst, 1976)
- Abdullah Ibrahim/Dollar Brand - Blues for a Hip King (Kaz Records, 1970s) - recordings made in South Africa with Basil "Mannenberg" Coetzee
- George Russell - Live in an American Time Spiral (Soul Note, 1983)
- Dave Holland - The Seeds of Time (ECM, 1985)
- Bill Perkins - Journey to the East (Contemporary, 1985)
- Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy - Twilight Dreams (Venture, 1987)
- Geri Allen - Twylight (Minor Music/Verve, 1989)
- John Lewis - Midnight in Paris (EmArcy, 1989)
- Conrad Herwig - New York Hardball (Ken Records, 1990) - with Richie Beirach
- The Manhattan Project - The Manhattan Project (Blue Note, 1990) - with Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke & Michel Petrucciani
- Alan Broadbent - Trio in Motion (Savant, 2020)
- Renee Rosnes - Kinds of Love (Smoke Sessions, 2021)
I also spent a TON of time this year listening to jazz vocalists, enough to compile them in a separate list:
- Jackie & Roy - Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (Storyville/Black Lion, 1955)
- Mel Torme - Mel Torme and the Marty Paich Dek-Tette (Bethlehem, 1956)
- Jackie & Roy - Like Sing: Songs by Dory & André Previn (Columbia, 1963)
- Carmen McRae - Live at Sugar Hill San Francisco (Time/Mainstream, 1963)
- Sammy Davis Jr. - The Wham of Sam (Warner Archives, 1960s) - with Marty Paich arrangements
- Carol Sloane - Sophisticated Lady (Trio/Audiophile, 1977)
- Lorez Alexandria - How Will I Remember You? (Discovery, 1978)
- Helen Merrill & Gordon Beck - No Tears, No Goodbyes (Owl, 1984)
- Nancy Harrow - You're Nearer (Tono Records/Baldwin St, 1986)
- Marlene Ver Planck - Sings Alec Wilder (Audiophile, 1986)
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So which new-to-you albums have left the most lasting impression on YOU in 2022?