New Jazz Releases – Favorites of 2023
Lakecia Benjamin
Well, this wraps another exciting year of jazz – America’s contribution to world culture. Here are my favorite releases of the year. Whether these are the best of the year is a subject for significant debate, but you can be sure that I find this to be an exciting, virtuosic and moving collection of wonderful releases. My favorites of 2023 in order of release:
John Bailey – Time Bandits (Freedom Road Records, 01/13/2023).
Starting the year strong with a trumpet-led all-star quartet (George Cables, Scott Colley, Victor Lewis) playing straight-ahead jazz.
Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix (Whirlwind Recordings, 01/27/2023).
Following up her 2020 Coltrane tribute with authority, Lakecia Benjamin renews her place as a rising player to watch.
Ben Wolfe – Unjust(Resident Arts, 02/03/2023).
Nicholas Payton, Immanuel Wilkins, Nicole Glover, Orrin Evans, Addison Frei, Joel Ross, Ben Wolfe, Aaron Kimmel in twelve different configurations over an equal number of tunes – terrific.
Brad Mehldau – Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles (Nonesuch, 02/10/2023).
You know the tunes, but Mehldau makes them fresh with his amazing piano skills.
John D’earth Quintet – Coin of the Realm (Cosmology Records, released 02/14/2023).
Bandstand-tested all-star quintet playing seven lovely post-bop lines by the godfather of the Central Virginia scene.
Chris Potter – Got The Keys To the Kingdom (Edition Records, released 02/17/2023).
The third (and maybe best) live recording from the Village Vanguard by one of greatest performing tenor players.
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque – Playing With Fire (Linus Entertainment, 03/10/2023).
Still exciting after a decade together, Bunnett and her Cuban colleagues still thrill with their rhythmically-charged music.
Billy Childs – Winds of Change (Mack Avenue, 03/17/2023).
LA-based Childs brings a cinematic feel to a suite of compositions for a great quartet (with Ambrose Akinmusire, Scott Colley, Brian Blades).
Chembo Corniel Quintet – Artistas, Músicos Y Poetas(Chemboro Records, released 03/17/2023).
Percussion-rich and rhythm-saturated, this terrific release is among the best Latin Jazz discs of the year.
Wayne Escoffery – Like Minds (Smoke Sessions, 04/14/2023).
Assisted by Gregory Porter and Tom Harrell, Escoffery’s big tenor tone anchors a beautifully expressive release.
Artemis – In Real Time (Blue Note, 05/05/2023).
No longer novel as an all-woman band, this fine collection of players (Ingrid Jensen, Alexa Tarantino, Nicole Glover, Renee Rosnes, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller) delivers a strong sophomore set.
Avishai Cohen – Abraham Rodriguez Jr. – Iroko (Naive Records, released 05/05/2023).
Bass, percussion and two voices is all Israeli Cohen and Newyorican Rodriguez need to deliver a powerful and moving set.
Joe Farnsworth – In What Direction Are You Headed? (Smoke Sessions, releases 05/19/2023).
Much loved drummer and bandleader Farnsworth bring out a new band with fresh and exciting results.
Edward Simon – Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women (Artist Share, released 05/31/2023).
Simon and vocalist Magos Herrera pay tribute to eight Latin-American women composers as a bookend to Terri Lyne Carrington’s New Standards, a highlight from last year.
Buselli / Wallarab Jazz Orchestra – The Gennett Suite (Patios Records, released 06/09/2023).
Recalling the massively important output from Gennett in the 20s (King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Bix Beiderbecke), Indianapolis-based big band delivers a very modern set.
Johnathan Blake – Passages (Blue Note, released 08/11/2023).
Wonderful first-call quintet (Immanuel Wilkins, David Virelles, Joel Ross, Dezron Douglas, Johnathan Blake) pays tribute to the leader’s father.
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo – El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 (Miel Music, releases 08/25/2023).
A reprise appearance for bandmates Zenon and Perdomo, in a duet to play touching boleros from the Great Latin-American Songbook.
Jaimie Branch Fly or Die Fly or Fly or Die ((world war)) (International Anthem, released 08/25/2023).
The third (and last) outing for the recently deceased trumpeter and her signature band is the best yet.
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch, released 09/08/2023).
Four releases and four Grammy nominations in 15 years, Argue is patiently building a significant and important discography.
Mark Turner – Live At The Village Vanguard (Giant Step Arts, releases 09/08/2023).
The first live recording for perhaps the most important tenor player since Michael Brecker.
Clark Sommers – Feast Ephemera (Irabbagast Records, releases 09/15/2023).
Chicago bassist’s maiden voyage in composition for a twelve-piece large ensemble is a rousing success.
Shuteen Eredenebaatar – Rising Sun (Motéma Music, released 09/15/2023).
Newly arrived on the international scene from her home in Mongolia, Eredenebaatar has delivered a stunning debut.
Miho Hazama – m_unit: Beyond Orbits(Edition Records, released 09/23/2023).
Celebrating ten years with her thirteen-piece ensemble, Hazama continues to grow as a significant voice in composing for large ensembles.
Allison Miller – Rivers In Our Veins (Royal Potato Family, released 10/06/2023.
To an ensemble of long-term collaborators (Ben Goldberg, Carmen Staff, Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose), Miller adds Jason Palmer on trumpet for a suite of compositions honoring America’s waterways.
I find it interesting to review year end lists from critics and websites whose opinion I respect. I love seeing the diversity of opinion. The following is a consensus list of the high points of jazz releases in 2023 from many points of view.
Darcy James Argue – Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
Jamie Branch – Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) (International Anthem)
Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter five: In The Garden (Constellation)
Cecile McLorin Salvant – Mélusine (Nonesuch)
Jason Moran – From Dancehall To The Battlefield (Yes Records)
Chris Potter – Got The Keys To the Kingdom: Live At The Village Vanguard (Edition)
Aroof Aftab / Vijay Iyer / Shahzad Ismally – Love In Exile (Verve)
Yussef Days – Black Classical Music (Brownswood)
Alabaster DePlume – Come With Fierce Grace (International anthem)
Aaron Diehl – Zodiac Suite (Mack Avenue)
Sulivan Fortner – Solo Game
Mette Henriette – Drifting (ECM)
Irreversible Entanglements – Protect Your Light (Impulse!)
Darius Jones – Fluxxit Vancouver (WE Jazz)
Steve Lehman – Ex Machina (Pi Recordings)
Brad Mehldau – Your Mother Should Know – Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles (Nonesuch)
Mendoza Hoff Revels – Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note)
Kassa Overall – Animals (Warp)
Tyshawn Sorey – Continuing (Pi)
My favorites for 2023 will be featured on the first edition of Jazz at 100 Now! of 2024. Please join us on January 2, 2024 from 9:00 – Noon.
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
