Sunday, December 25, 2022

Free Jazz Blog's Top 10s of 2022

Winter Landscape with CDs, by DALL-E


I am assuming that by now you have heard about the surprisingly advanced writing capability of the ChatGPT artificial intelligence. My first thought (like I assume many others) was "well, that's it, there goes another irreplaceable profession." However, embracing my mantra of being the change that I fear, I asked the AI to help me out and "write an introduction to a top 10 list of avant garde and creative jazz recordings from 2022." Aside from that "experimental jazz fusion" quip (machines can be quite cold!), the AI did a perfectly anodyne job. So, without further ado, here is ChatGPT:
Welcome to our top 10 list of avant garde and creative jazz recordings from 2022! This list highlights the best of the current jazz scene, featuring a diverse array of styles, sounds, and influences. From experimental jazz fusion to free-form improvisation, these recordings showcase the overwhelming creativity of the jazz world. As you explore each of these recordings, you'll find something unique and inspiring in each one. So, let's dive in and explore the top 10 avant garde and creative jazz recordings of 2022!
Granted, ChatGPT isn't privy to all the nuances of our work here, so let me editorsplain ... below you will find the top 10 lists from the writers of the Free Jazz Collective -- the intrepid, open-eared engineers behind the Free Jazz Blog. From each list, the most listed recordings were culled to produce the following list of top 10 recordings of the year. Our rules are simply, anything that appears on a list must have been reviewed by someone on the blog (or by the reviewer personally, somewhere). So, you will be able to search for any of the recordings here and read a review of the recording. Our next step is to collectively vote on the top album from the list below for our top album of the year, which we will present on January 1st.

We also welcome your thoughts on the top recordings of 2022 in the comments.

Drawn from the lists below, the Free Jazz Blog's 2022 Top 10:

  • ATTIC (Rodrigo Amado / Gonçalo Almeida / Onno Govaert) - Love Ghosts (NoBusiness Records)
  • Christoph Erb, Magda Mayas, Gerry Hemingway – Bathing Music (Veto Records)
  • Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra - Eurythmia (Clean Feed)
  • Fred Moten, Brandon López, Gerald Cleaver - Moten/Lopez/Cleaver (Relative Pitch Records/Reading Group)
  • Zoh Amba - Bhakti (Mahakala Music)

And now, alphabetically by first name, the top 10's from the writers...


Eyal Hareuveni

  • Ruben Machtelinckx + Arve Henriksen - A Short Story (Aspen Edities)

  • Kobe Van Cauwenberghe - Ghost Trance Septet plays Anthony Braxton (el NEGOCITO)

  • Gordon Grdina’s Haram - Night’s Quietest Hour (AttaBoyGirl)

  • Torben Snekkestad / Søren Kjærgaard - Another Way of the Heart (Trost)

  • Gammelsæter & Marhaug - Higgs Boson (Ideologic Organ)

  • René Lussier - Au diable vert (ReR Megacorp/Circum Disc)

  • Mats Gustafsson & NU Ensemble - Hidros 8 - Heal (Trost)

  • Paal Nilssen-Love Circus - Pairs of Three (PNL)

  • Gerry Hemingway - Afterlife (Auricle)

  • Satoko Fujii - Hyaku: One Hundred Dreams (Libra)

Historical

  • Brötzmann / Van Hove / Bennink – Jazz In Der Kammer Nr.71 (Deutsches Theater / Berlin / GDR / 04 / 11 / 1974) (Trost)

  • Brötzmann / Bennink - Schwarzwaldfahrt (Trost, Book + Disc)

  • Daunik Lazro / Jouk Minor / Thierry Madiot / David Chiésa / Louis-Michel Marion - Sonoris Causa  (NoBusiness)

Book

  • Markus Müller - FMP: The Living Music (Wolke)


Fotis Nikolakopoulos

  • Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott) with Will Holder - “Akisakila” / Attitudes of Preparation (Edition Gamut)

  • Küchen/ Fernández / Kaučič - The Steps That Resonate (Not Two Records)

  • Agnel/ Butcher - La Pierre Tachée (Ni-Vu-Ni-Connu)

  • Dave Rempis/ Avreeayl Ra - Bennu (Aerophonic Records)

  • Leroux/Van Isacker/Vanderstraeten – Als Ik Niets Meer Van De Kano Zie (Aspen Edities)

  • Susie Ibarra & Tashi Dorji – Master Of Time (Astral Spirits)

  • Christoph Erb, Magda Mayas, Gerry Hemingway – Bathing Music (Veto Records)

  • Masked Pickle - 7 (Relative Pitch Records)

  • Rachel Musson, N O Moore, Olie Brice, Eddie Prévost - Under the Sun (Matchless Recordings)

  • Andy Moor & Tommaso Rolando - Sessione Pre Angiou (Torto Editions)

Historical

  • Masayuki Takayanagi, New Direction - Station '70: Call In Question / Live Independence (Black Editions)

  • Akira Sakata & Takeo Moriyama - Mitochondria (Trost Records)

  • Peter Brötzmann/ Milford Graves/ William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive, 2021)

Book

  • Markus Müller – FMP: The Living Music (Wolke)
    For anyone interested in European Improvisation


Gary Chapin

  1. Mary Halvorson - Amarylis/Belladona (Nonesuch)

  2. Julie Tippets and Martin Archer - Illusion (Discus)

  3. Matthew Shipp and Chad Fowler - Old Stories (Mahakala)

  4. Daniel Carter, Ayumi Ishito, Eric Plaks, Zach Swanson, Jon Panikkar - Open Question, Volume 1 (577)

  5. Fred Moten, Brandon Lopez, Gerald Cleaver - Moten/Lopez/Cleaver (Relative Pitch / Reading Group)

  6. Ivo Perelman - Reed Rapture in Brooklyn (Mahakala)

  7. Tim Berne and Matt Mitchell - One More, Please (Intakt)

  8. Liba Villavecchia Trio - Zaidín (Clean Feed)

  9. Nate Wooley - Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes (Pyroclastic)

  10. Kobe Van Cauwenberghe - Ghost Trance Septet Plays Anthony Braxton (el Negocito)

Historical

  • Julius Hemphill - The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony (New World, 2021)


Gregg Miller

  • The Attic - Love Ghosts (NoBusiness Records)

  • Martin Küchen - Utopia (Thanatosis Produktion)

  • Matthew Shipp Trio - World Construct (Esp-Disk) 

  • Adams, Dunn, Haas - Future Moons (Ansible Editions)

  • The International Nothing - Just None of Those Things (Ftarri)

  • Pedro Alves Sousa - Má Estrela (Shhpuma)

  • Anna Kaluza & Jan Roder - Am Frankfurter Tor (Relative Pitch)

  • Wadada Leo Smith - The Emerald Duets (Tum)

  • Forbes Graham - Another Day, Another Vector (Relative Pitch)

  • Cameron/Horne/Flaten/Thomas - Place is the Space (Personal Archives)


Guido Montegradi

  • Bill Orcutt - Music for Four Guitars (Palilalia)

  • Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott) with Will Holder - “Akisakila” / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)

  • Rob Mazurek - Father's Wing (RogueArt)

  • Fire! - Requiēs (Rune Grammofon)

  • Thurston Moore, Mats Gustafsson, Stephen O'Malley – Born Without Word/At A Worn (Slowboy, 2021)

  • N. O. Moore - Llanfechain (Scatter)

  • Derviche – Murs Absurdes (Ayler)

Historical

  • William Parker - Universal Tonality (Centering Records/AUM Fidelity)

  • Soft Machine – Facelift - France & Holland (Cuneiform Records)

Keith Prosk

  • Jacob Wick - Standards (Full Spectrum Records)

  • Jessica Pavone - When No One Around You is There but Nowhere to be Found (Relative Pitch Records)

  • Fred Moten, Brandon López, Gerald Cleaver - Moten/Lopez/Cleaver (Relative Pitch Records/Reading Group)

  • Hugjiltu 胡格吉乐图 - Cycle 循环 (Dusty Ballz)

  • gabby fluke-mogul, Joanna Mattrey - Oracle (Relative Pitch Records)

  • Markus Eichenberger & Christoph Gallio - Unison Polyphony (ezz-thetics)

  • Kobe Van Cauwenberghe - Ghost Trance Septet plays Anthony Braxton (el NEGOCITO Records)


Lee Rice Epstein

  • Fred Moten, Brandon López, Gerald Cleaver - Moten/López/Cleaver (Relative Pitch/Reading Group)
    From the moment I heard this, I was under its spell. López and Cleaver are brilliant improvisers, and Moten’s poetry is some of the most evocative and captivating in recent years.

  • 2. Pat Thomas & XT (Paul Abbott and Seymour Wright) - “Akisakila” / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)
    As I wrote earlier this year, this album is “deliriously engaging, frenetic and charged with a hot energy that burns brilliantly.” Months later, it burns as brightly as ever. I’ve listened to it dozens of times and will surely listen to it dozens more.

  • 3. Myra Melford Fire and Water Quintet - For the Love of Fire and Water (Rogue Art)
    A couple months ago, I caught Melford’s quintet live at the Angel City Jazz Festival. Already the music leapt from the speakers, and live, the quintet was every bit as energetic and delightful.

  • 4. Wadada Leo Smith - The Emerald Duets (TUM Records)
    Another banner year for the great Wadada Leo Smith, and the music on The Emerald Duets seemed like the peak amidst his highest mountains. Politically engaged, philosophical, and deeply felt, this set of trumpet-drummer duets is an instant classic.

  • 5. Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra - Eurythmia (Clean Feed)
    I’ve been waiting for the proper recording of Risser’s Red Desert Orchestra since I first saw clips, shortly after the release of her landmark White Desert Orchestra. Its arrival surpassed expectations, textured and thrilling and fulfilling any and all promise.

  • 6. The Attic (Rodrigo Amado / Gonçalo Almeida / Onno Govaert) - Love Ghosts (NoBusiness Records)
    It’s impossible to deny Amado’s Refraction Solo (Live at Church of The Holy Ghost) is one of the all-time best solo albums. The Attic trio slightly nudged ahead on my personal list as they remain one of the most incredible free trios. Love Ghosts, recorded just before the pandemic, is all fire and heart.

  • 7. Survival Unit III - The Art of Flight: For Alvin Fielder (Astral Spirits)
    As mentioned in the liner notes, this was recorded the same night as McPhee’s final performance with the great Alvin Fielder. That Survival Unit III’s finest should be dedicated to his memory is lovely and poetic.

  • 8. Kirk Knuffke Trio - Gravity Without Airs (Tao Forms)
    A spectacular double album from Knuffke, Michael Bisio, and Matthew Shipp. Bisio is something of a connective tissue between Knuffke and Shipp, on their first recording together, but the comfort and ease the trio displays gives the feeling of a long-time conversation, inviting audiences to listen deeply and linger at length.

  • 9. Ra Kalam Bob Moses & Damon Smith - Purecircle (Balance Point Acoustics)
    Smith has a catalog filled with fantastic duos, and this one featuring the legendary Moses is truly exceptional. Each of them is a sensitive and inspired improvisor, and Purecircle is daring, rich, and dynamic.

  • 10. Daniel Carter, Ayumi Ishito, Eric Plaks, Zach Swanson, Jon Panikkar – Open Question, Volume 1 (577 Records)
    I’m not sure what I expected once Carter and Ishito teamed-up, but through Playfield and now their Open Question quintet, they seem to have unlocked something exciting in each other. I continue to look forward to anything they might be working on, and I really hope to hear more from this group soon.

Historical

  • Cecil Taylor - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion Records)

  • Peter Brötzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink - Jazz in der Kammer Nr. 71 (Trost)

  • Curlew - CBGBs, NYC, 1987 (Cuneiform)


Martin Schray
(In order):

  1. Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott) with Will Holder - “Akisakila” / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)

  2. Zoh Amba - Bhakti (Mahakala Music)

  3. Oxbow feat. Peter Brötzmann - An Eternal Reminder of Not Today: Live at Moers (Trost)

  4. Ballister - Chrysopoeia (Not Two)

  5. McPhee Marker - McPhee Marker (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

  6. Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin - Ghosted (Drag City)

  7. Zoh Amba (with William Parker and Francisco Mela) - O Life, O Light Vol. 1  (577 Records)

  8. Rodrigo Amado - Refraction Solo (Trost)

  9. Myra Melford - For the Love of Fire and Water (Rogue Art)

  10. Keiji Haino - My lord Music, I most humbly beg your indulgence in the hope that you will do me the honour of permitting this seed called Keiji Haino to be planted within you (Purple Trap / Black Editions)

Historical

  • Albert Ayler - Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Elemental)

  • Peter Brötzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink - Jazz in der Kammer Nr. 71 (Trost)

  • Derek Bailey - Domestic Jungle (Scatter)

  • Peter Brötzmann/ Milford Graves/ William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive, 2021)


Matty Bannond

  1. Georg Demel Quartett – Pale Blue Dot (Unit Records, 2021)

  2. Spacepilot – Hycean Worlds (Orbit 577)

  1. Taxi Consilium – Spiritual Car Wash (PMGJazz)

  2. Wolves and Mirrors – Wolves and Mirrors (Klaeng Records, 2021)

  3. Zoh Amba – Bhakti (Mahakala Music)

  4. Basher – Doubles (Sinking City Records)

  5. Adams, Dunn, Haas – Future Moons (Ansible Editions)

  6. Marta Warelis – a grain of Earth (Relative Pitch)

  7. Denis Gäbel – The Good Spirits Part 2 (Mons Records)

  8. Volker Jaekel – Short Stories (Jazzwerkstatt, 2021)


Nick Metzger

  • Andrew Cyrille, William Parker, Enrico Rava - 2 Blues for Cecil (TUM Records, 2021)

  • Tyler Mitchell featuring Marshall Allen - Dancing Shadows (Mahakala)

  • Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet - For the Love of Fire and Water (Rogue Art)

  • Ra Kalam Bob Moses & Damon Smith - Purecircle (Balance Point Acoustics)

  • Fred Moten, Brandon López, Gerald Cleaver - Moten/Lopez/Cleaver (Relative Pitch Records/Reading Group)

  • Isaiah Collier & Michael Shekwoaga Ode - I Am Beyond (Division 88)

  • Die Hochstapler - Beauty Lies Within (Umlaut)

  • Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott) with Will Holder - “Akisakila” / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)

  • James Brandon Lewis - MSM Molecular Systematic Music (Live) (Intakt, 2022)

  • Makaya McCraven - In These Times (International Anthem)

Historical

  • Cecil Taylor - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion Records)

  • Albert Ayler - Revelations - The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Elemental)

  • Elton Dean Quartet (Dean, Tippett, Miller, Moholo) - On Italian Roads (Live at Teatro Cristallo, Milan, 1979) (British Progressive Jazz, 2022)

  • William Parker - Universal Tonality (Centering Records/AUM Fidelity)


Nick Ostrum

  • Wendy Eisenberg – Bloodletting (OOYH, 2021)

  • I AM (Isaiah Collier & Michael Shekwoaga Ode) – BEYOND (Division 81)

  • Wills McKenna / Norman W. Long / Ishmael Ali / Bill Harris – Anemoi (Amalgam)

  • Joe McPhee – Route 84 Quarantine Blues (Corbett vs. Dempsey, 2021)

  • New Monuments – Language is the Skin (Torn Light)

  • Fred Moten/Lopez/Gerald Cleaver – S/T (Relative Pitch)

  • Mali Obomsawin – Sweet Tooth (OOYH)

  • Eldritch Priest - Omphaloskepsis (Halocline Trance)

  • Wadada Leo Smith – Emerald Duets (TUM)

  • URUK – Ame (Live at Artacts) (Trost)

Historical

  • Peter Brötzmann/Han Bennink/Fred van Hove – Jazz in der Kammer 1974 (Trost)


Paul Acquaro

  • Myra Melford - For the Love of Fire and Water (Rogue Arts)

  • Rodrigo Amado - Refraction Solo (Trost)

  • Samo Salamon - Dolphyology: Complete Eric Dolphy for Solo Guitar (Samo Records)

  • Anna Kaluza & Jan Roder - Am Frankfurter Tor (Relative Pitch)

  • Cécile Cappozzo Quintet - Hymne d'automne (Ayler)

  • James Brandon Lewis Quartet - MSM Molecular Systematic Music (Live) (Intakt)

  • José Lencastre - Common Ground (Phonogram Unit)

  • Patricia Brennan - More Touch (Pyroclastic)

  • Dave Gisler Trio with jaimie branch and David Murray - See You Out There (Intakt Records)

  • Colin Stetson, Billy Martin, Elliott Sharp & Payton MacDonald - Void Patrol (Infrequent Seams)

Historical

  • Cecil Taylor - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion Records, 2022)

  • Soft Machine – Facelift - France & Holland (Cuneiform Records, 2022)

  • Sam Rivers - Caldera (NoBusiness, 2022)

  • Peter Brötzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink - Jazz in der Kammer Nr. 71 (Trost)

Books

  • Markus Müller – FMP: The Living Music (Wolke)

  • Phil Freeman - Ugly Beauty (John Hunt)


Sammy Stein

  • Mats Gustafsson and Tony Lugo - Vertical (Superpang)

  • Tyler Mitchell featuring Marshall Allen - Dancing Shadows (Mahakala)

  • Sothiac Feat Paul Jolly (with Phase 3) - Superluna (33Xtreme)

  • Tamarisk - Plays a Word for Sun (Waveform Alphabet)

  • The Bad Plus - The Bad Plus (Edition)

  • Kobe Van Cauwenberghe - Ghost Trance Septet plays Anthony Braxton (El Negocito)

  • Ivo Perelman (and many others) - Reed Rapture in Brooklyn (Mahakala Music)

  • Sun Ra Arkestra - Living Sky (Omni)

  • MC3 - Sounds of The City (Phonocene)

  • Mats Gustafsson and NU Ensemble - Archival Series 002 (Self release)

Historical

  • Peter Brötzmann, Milford Graves & William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive, 2021, recorded 2002)

  • Albert Ayler - Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 ( Fondation Maeght Recordings)


Stef Gijssels

  1. Rob Mazurek - Father's Wing (RogueArt)

  2. Wadada Leo Smith – The Emerald Duets (TUM)

  3. Pedro Alves Sousa - Má Estrela (Shhpuma Records)

  4. Lisa Ullén, Elsa Bergman, Anna Lund - Space (Relative Pitch)

  5. Almeida, Gibson, Melo Alves, Trilla, Vicente - Dog Star (Spontaneous Music Tribune, 2021)

  6. Joe McPhee, Jen Clare Paulson, Brian Labycz – The Mystery J (Corbett vs Dempsey, 2021)

  7. Torben Snekkestad & Søren Kjærgaard - Another Way of the Heart (Trost)

  8. Myra Melford - For the Love of Fire and Water (Rogue Art)

  9. ÜberMartin Küchen - Utopia (Thanatosis Produktion)

  10. Christoph Erb, Magda Mayas & Gerry Hemingway Trio - Bathing Music (Veto)


Stuart Broomer

  • John Butcher/ Angharad Davies/ Matt Davis/ Dominic Lash/ Dimitra Lazaridou-Chatzigoga - nodosus (Empty Birdcage Records)

  • Cécile Cappozzo Quintet - Hymne d'automne (Ayler Records)

  • Keiji Haino - My lord Music, I most humbly beg your indulgence in the hope that you will do me the honour of permitting this seed called Keiji Haino to be planted within you (Purple Trap / Black Editions)

  • hyper.object (Rodrigo Pinheiro/ João Almeida/ Carlos Santos/ Hernâni Faustino/ João Valinho) - inter.independence (Phonogram Unit)

  • Rachel Musson, N O Moore, Olie Brice, Eddie Prévost - Under the Sun (Matchless)

  • John Oswald, Henry Kaiser, Paul Plimley - At One Time (Improvisations for Cecil Taylor) (Metalanguage, 2021)

  • Jeff Parker ETA IVtet - Mondays at The Enfield Tennis Academy (Eremite)

  • Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra – Eurythmia (Clean Feed)

  • Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott), with Will Holder - "Akisakila" / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)

  • Nate Wooley Columbia Ice Fields - Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes (Pyroclastic Records)

Historical

  • Peter Brötzmann/ Milford Graves/ William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive, 2021) (recorded 2002)

  • Daunik Lazro, Jouk Minor, Thierry Madiot, David Chiesa, Louis-Michel Marion - Sonoris Causa (No Business) (recorded 2003)

Book

  • Markus Müller - FMP: The Living Music (Wolke)

Troy Dostert

  1. Tyshawn Sorey Trio +1 (With Greg Osby), Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism (Pi Recordings)

  2. Tomas Fujiwara’s Triple Double, March (Firehouse 12)

  3. James Brandon Lewis Quartet – MSM: Molecular Systematic Music - Live (Intakt)

  4. Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra - Eurythmia (Clean Feed)

  5. Sélébéyone - Xaybu: The Unseen (Pi Recordings)

  6. Pat Thomas and XT - “Akisakila”/Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees)(Edition Gamut)

  7. Ches Smith - Interpret It Well (Pyroclastic)

  8. Zoh Amba - Bhakti (Mahakala Music)

  9. Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet - For the Love of Fire and Water (RogueArt)

  10. The Attic (Rodrigo Amado, Gonçalo Almeida, and Onno Govaert) - Love Ghosts (NoBusiness)


William Rossi

  • Keiji Haino/Jim O'Rourke/Oren Ambarchi - “Caught in the dilemma of being made to choose” This makes the modesty which should never been closed off itself Continue to ask itself: “Ready or not?” (Black Truffle, 2022)

  • Ben LaMar Gay - Certain Reveries (International Anthem, 2022)

  • Mats Gustafsson & NU Ensemble - Hidros 8 - Heal (Trost Records, 2022)

  • Christoph Erb, Magda Mayas & Gerry Hemingway Trio - Bathing Music (Veto, 2022)

  • Antoine Chessex, Francisco Meirino, Jérôme Noetinger - Maiandros (Cave12, 2022)

  • Wolves and Mirrors - Wolves and Mirrors (Klaeng Records, 2021)

  • Fire! with Stephen O'Malley and David Sandström - Requiēs (Rune Grammofon, 2022)

  • Wadada Leo Smith - The Emerald Duets (TUM Records, 2022)

  • Mali Obomsawin - Sweet Tooth (Out Of Your Head Records, 2022)

  • Mind Fiber - Ya Cha Ban (Dusty Ballz, 2022)




25 comments:

Shaun said...

I'd add a couple from the always-interesting Leo Records label. 'No Kharms Done' by Simon Nabatov Quintet, and the eponymous 'Tales' by the young German (?) piano+ trio. Both unreviewed here, but both deserving of much wider attention.

Anonymous said...

Many thanks to all reviewers for your great work. Some of my 2022 favourites not included above:
Janel Leppin, Ensemble Volcanic Ash
Konjur Collective, Blood in my eye (reviewed on this blog)
M.Shipp/C. Fowler, Old stories
Izumi Kimura, Kind of light

All best for 2023,
reinhard

Richard said...

Here's my list. I hope lots of readers will post theirs too.

1-Pat Thomas & XT with Will Holder-"Akisakila" / Attitudes​ ​of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees)
2-Satoko Fujii-Hyaku, One Hundred Dreams
3-Water Damage-Repeater
4-MoE y Escalantes-Saint Vitus Dance
5-GAF & The Love Supreme Arkestra-Garden Island
6-Oxbow & Peter Brotzmann-An Eternal Reminder Of Not Today
7-Plastic Dogs-Ivert
8-Sergio Armaroli, Veli Kujala, Harri Sjöström, Giancarlo Schiaffini-Windows and Mirrors
9-Izumi Kimura, Artur Majewski, Barry Guy & Ramon Lopez-Kind Of Light
10-Ballister-Chrysopoeia
11-John Escreet-Seismic Shift
12-Nina de Heney & Lina Järnegard-Solo Piece For Peace, Please
13-gabby fluke-mogul & Joanna Mattrey-Oracle
14-John Dikeman, Péter Ajtai & Nicolas Field-The Throes
15-Brandon Lopez-Santeria
16-Lisa Ullen, Elsa Bergman & Anna Lund-Space
17-Pedro Alves Sousa, Rodrigo Pinheiro & Gabriel Ferrandini-Cloud At Rest
18-Francois Carrier, Alexander von Schlippenbach, John Edwards & Michel Lambert-Unwalled
19-Old Believers (self-titled)
20-Aurelijus Užameckis-Signals
21-There Be Monsters-Rubikon
22-JakTar (self-titled)
23-IKZ-I Saw The Cryptic Problem Of My Generation Destroyed
24-Mark Molnar-Saturn's Son
25-Gonçalo Almeida-Improvisations On Amplified & Prepared Double Bass


Historical Reissues:

1-Cecil Taylor-The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973
2-Peter Brötzmann, Milford Graves, William Parker-Historic Music Past Tense Future
3-Derek Bailey-Domestic Jungle

Richard said...

And thank you to everyone at the Free Jazz Collective, for doing such great job of shining a light on this beautiful music.

Lee said...

Thanks for sharing, Richard! I love that Water Damage record and wrote about Plastic Dogs for FJB. Love when readers share their personal picks, many titles here that are new to me!

Gary Chapin said...

Au contaire, Reinhard, the Shipp/Fowler disc was on my list. I loved it to pieces, along with the Shipp/Bisio recording.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for another year of new discoveries and daily reading FJB!
Here are 3 more albums for your consideration from my 2022 Bandcamp collection:

https://redhookrecords.bandcamp.com/album/two-centuries

https://falsewalls1.bandcamp.com/album/then-through-now

https://andrewcyrilleelliottsharprichardteitelbaum.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to all the reviewers!

Bests
Giulio

Börje Fridolf said...

Thank you for a great year!

Here's my list:

Tell no Lies - Hide Nothing
Mary Halvorson Amaryllis/Belladonna
Anthropods - Anthropods
Fade In - Live Fast, Die a Legend
Bekah Simms - Bestiaries
Trevor Dunn - Seances
Mazam - Pilgrimage
Earth Room - Earth Room
Weserbergland - Sacrae Symphoniae No.1
Jacob Garchik - Assembly
The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra - Dieu Poulet
Yaroslav Likhachev Quartet - Occasional Sketches
Ensemble SuperMusique - Sonne l'Image
John Escreet - Seismic Shift
Chris Abrahams - Follower
Joao Lencastre - Safe in your Own World
Whit Dickey Quartet - Root Perspectives
Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit - Clusterfuck
Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit - New Map
Paal Nilssen-Love Circus - Pairs of Three
Jacob Davidsen - Uden Alder
Per Zanussi - Li (and the Infinite Game)
One Small Step - Gol Variations
Ghost Trance Septet plays Anthony Braxton
Glass Canyon Ensemble - Collision Theory
Pat Thomas & XT - Akisakila
Secret People - Secret People
Steamboat Switzerland - Terrifying Sunset
Denman Maroney, Denis Fournier & Scott Walton - Ο Κόσμος Μετά
Rache Musson, Eddie Prevost, N O Moore & Olie Brice - Under the Sun
Zoh Amba - Bhakti
Nate Wooley - Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes

Richard said...

Thanks to Börje Fridolf for a great list. Tell No Lies, Anthropods, Weserbergland, Secret People, Steamboat Switzerland (with one of my favorites, Lucas Niggli) all sound fantastic, and I wasn't familiar with them.

And thanks to the second anonymous for the Henry Dagg & Evan Parker.

Anonymous said...

Tom Skinner - Voices Of Bishara
Whit Dickey Quartet - Root Perspectives
Yuko Fujiyama, Graham Haynes, Ikue Mori - Quiet Passion
Zoh Amba - O, Sun
Janel Leppin - Ensemble Volcanic Ash
Horace Tapscott Quintet - The Quintet

Anonymous said...

my bad, gary. great choice ;) another disc i had on heavy rotation this year was anteloper's pink dolphins. and over christmas i was repeatedly drawn to alexander hawkins mirror canon. all best for 2023. reinhard

Ernst Grgo Nebhuth said...

These recording I certainly did enjoy in 2022 - listed here in no particular order.

New releases

-Joëlle Léandre & Núria Andorrà – Bla Bla Bla Duo (Fundacja Sluchaj)
-Gabriele Mitelli, John Edwards, Mark Sanders – Three Tsuru Origami (We Insist!)
-Philip Zoubek Trio – Labyrinthus (WhyPLayJazz)
-Amidea Clotet – Trasluz (Relative Pitch)
-Peter Jacquemyn + Quentin Stokart – qter (qeerecords)
-Marlies Debacker – Shimmer (Sirulita)
-Reza Askari Roar Feat. Christopher Dell – Reza Askari Roar (QFTF)
-Nichunimu – Un Cacho De Metal, Un Resto De Vaiv​é​n (577 Records)
-Pat Thomas & XT – "Akisakila" / Attitudes​ ​Of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition GAmut)
-Ensemble Nist-Nah – Elders (Black Truffle)
-Tamara Stefanovich, Christopher Dell, Christian Lillinger, Jonas Westergaard – SDLW (Bastille Musique)
-Marek Pospieszalski – Polish Composers Of The 20th Century (Clean Feed)
-Liba Villavecchia Trio – Zaidín (Clean Feed)
-Bauer | Graewe | Lindberg – Sottobosco (Random Acoustic)
-Die Unwucht Feat. Achim Kaufmann – Red And Blue Don't Make Purple (Label 11)
-Alexander Hawkins Mirror Canon – Break A Vase (Intakt)
-Punkt.Vrt.Plastik – Zurich Concert (Intakt)
-Gordoa / Malfon / Edwards / Narvesen – Substantial Myths (Fundacja Sluchaj)
-John Edwards / Steve Noble / Yoni Silver – Heme (Shrike Records)
-Yamabiko Quintet – Yamabiko Quintet (Nemu Records)
-Alex Bayer – Radar (Mono-Ton Records)
-Dell, Lillinger, Westergaard & Maneri – Monuments (Edition Nieler Werft)
-Jordina Millà & Barry Guy – String Fables (Fundacja Sluchaj)
-Matthias Müller / Matthias Bauer / Rudi Fischerlehner – Der Dritte Stand (Not Applicable)
-Rudi Mahall - Jan Roder - Olaf Rupp – Skyhook (Audiosemantics)
-Susana Santos Silva – All The Birds And A Telephone Ringing (Thanatosis Produktion)
-Kaja Draksler - Susana Santos Silva – Grow (Intakt)
-Le Un – Le Havre (Unrec)
-Wadada Leo Smith – The Emerald Duets (Tum Records)
-Aoa Impro Group – Live At Pariser Platz (Evi Rabbit)
-Hamid Drake – Dedications (Corbett vs Dempsey)

Reissue + archive

-Cecil Taylor Unit - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion Records)
-Peter Brötzmann, Milford Graves, William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive)
-Tomasz Stańko Quintet – Wooden Music I (Astigmatic)
-Euphorium_freakestra – Free Acoustic Supergroup (Euphorium)
-Philippe Mate / Jef Gilson – Workshop (Souffle Continu)
-Derek Bailey, Charlie Morrow & Friends – New York 1982 (Recital)
-William Parker – Universal Tonality (Centering)
-John Zorn – Fencing 1978 (John Zorn's Olympiad Volume 2) (TZadik)
-Mototeru Takagi, Kim Dae Hwan, Choi Sun Bae – Seishin-Seido 正心正道 (No Business)
-Bergisch Brandenburgisches Quartet – Live '82 (Black Truffle)
-Yamash'ta & The Horizon – Sunrise From West Sea "Live" (Wewantsounds)
-Barney Wilen – Zodiac (We Are Busy Bodies)
-Brötzmann / Van Hove / Bennink – Jazz In Der Kammer Nr.71 (Trost)
-Daunik Lazro, Jouk Minor, Thierry Madiot, David Chiesa, Louis-Michel Marion – Sonoris Causa (No Business)
-Mototeru Takagi | Motoharu Yoshizawa – Duo & Solo (Live At Galerie De Café 伝 Tokyo 1987・1989) (Nadja 21)
-Tony Oxley – Unreleased 1974 - 2016 (Discus)


Plus two more - re-re-discovered in my collection
-Marian McPartland – Interplay (Halcyon Records)
-Marian McPartland Trio – Ambiance (The Jazz Alliance)

gomad361 said...

Thanks all - I'm sure I'll be adding things from these lists to mine in retrospect but the following rather ambient/drone leaning list is what I've enjoyed most of all this year:

Oùat - Elastic Bricks
Chris Abrahams / Clayton Thomas / Miles Thomas - Words Fail
Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin - Ghosted
Kim Myhr - Sympathetic Magic
Rob Mazurek Quartet - Father's Wing
RedGreenBlue - The End and the Beginning
Martin Küchen - Utopia
García / Navas / Reviriego / Trilla - Les Capelles
Here's To Us - Kaukasus
Keiji Haino - My lord Music...
Slagr - Linde
Schindler / Kneer / Erhard - RAUMspiel
Sarah Davachi - Two Sisters
Louis Sclavis - Les Cadences du Monde
Christoph Erb / Magda Mayas / Gerry Hemingway Trio - Bathing Music
Chris Abrahams - Follower
The Sounds of VÖ - VÖ
Shabaka - Afrikan Culture
Clarice Jensen - Esthesis
Razen - Regression
Dai Fujikura & Jan Bang - The Bow Maker
Kaja Draksler / Susana Santos Silva - Grow
Dominic Lash / Pat Thomas - New Oxford Brevity
Christina Vantzou, Michael Harrison & John Also Bennett - self titled
Alawari - Alawari

Anonymous said...

Hello, guys! I would like to add a few more (ladies first)

• Martina Verhoeven Quintet – Driven (Live At Roadburn 2022) (Klanggalerie)
• Lila Bazooka (Céline Grangey & Sophie Bernado) – Arashiyama (Ayler Records)
• Chad Fowler, Ivo Perelman, Zoh Amba, Matthew Shipp, William Parker & Steve Hirsh – Alien Skin (Mahakala Music)
• Jon Irabagon – Rising Sun (Irabbagast Record)
• Butcher / Lash / Russell / Sanders – Discernment (Spoonhunt)

Happy holidays!
Milko

Magan said...

I want to thank everyone at the Free Jazz Blog for helping to bring the music of our life and times to a world lost in mundane and un-creative mindsets. For those who are willing to be open and curious, these lists are a goldmine!

rod j said...

thanks for another year of top work

couple of things i enjoyed that i dont see metioned in anyone's lists yet

Adam Rudolph & Bennie Maupin - Symphonic Tone Poem for Brother Yusef
Jone Takamäki, Umut Çağlar, Fahrettin Aykut - Myth Of The Drum

GENNARO said...

Hello everyone!
Here is my list:

Fade In (Federico Calcagno)- Live Fast, Die Legend (Clean Feed)
Bloodmist - Arc (5049 Records)
Martin Kuchen - Utopia (Thanatosis Produktion)
Fire! w/ S. O'Malley & D. Sandstrom - Requies (Rune Grammofon)
Marker with Joe McPhee - McPhee Marker (Corbett vs Dempsey)
Satoko Fujii - Hyaku, One Hundred Dreams (Libra)
Wadada Leo Smith - The Emerald Duets (TUM)
Jeremiah Cymerman - Citadels & Sanctuaries (5049 Records)
Angles - A Muted Reality (Clean Feed)
Anteloper - Pink Dolphins (International Anthem)

Best wishes to all!
Gennaro

Umberto said...

I think they all forgot many important records like Horace Tapscott "Legacies for Our Grandchildren – Live in Hollywood" (dark tree), Sylvain Kassap "octobres" (rogue art), and, between reissues, James Newton Flute Music ....

Alexander said...

My 2022 favorites – seven as it turns out – in order by the artists' surnames since I can't choose any further:

Christopher Culpo – Culpo Solo at the Pavillon
Matthieu Donarier – Bestiaire #01 I Explorations
Alexandra Grimal – Refuge
Anna Kaluza, Jan Roder – Am Frankfurter Tor
Travis Laplante – Wild Tapestry
Emanuele Maniscalco, Francesco Bigoni, Mark Solborg – Canto
Catherine Sikora – Winter Solos

Alexander said...

And how could I have forgotten?

Kartet (Benoît Delbecq) – Silky Way

jeff said...

I am just going to add a few that I did not see listed that are worth mention. (If I missed any that are on a list, sorry) Many great selections in these lists above mine. Always love end of the year lists.
In no order, but I can't believe this first one has yet to be seen on any here. I love this album!
Tomeka residency coming up in Moers early in 2023. That should be interesting.
Congrats to Tomeka Reid for her MacArthur Fellowship! Looking forward to the fruits of that.

-Tomeka Reid, Joe McPhee - Let Our Rejoicing Rise (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
-Tomeka Reid, Fred Lonberg-Holm - Eight Pieces for Two Cellos (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
-Ingrid Laubrock, Tom Rainey - Counterfeit Mars (Relative Pitch)
-Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble - Margaret and Katie
-Dopolarians - Blues For Alvin Fielder
-Chad Taylor Trio - The Reel
-Luke Stewart's Silt Trio - The Bottom

7"/EP
-[ahmed] - [ahmed] (A Cheeseboard Production)
-Irreversible Entanglements - Down to Earth (Sub Pop)

Archival / reissue
-Hal Russell & Joel Futterman - The Chicago River (Fundacja Słuchaj)
-The Keith Tippett Group - How Long This Time? Live 1970 (British Progressive Jazz)
-Malik's Emerging Force Art Trio - Time & Condition (moved-by-sound)
-Sirone - Artistry (moved-by-sound)
-ICP 30 Year Jubileum, 1997: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 (ICP Orchestra Bandcamp)
-Alan Braufman - Live in New York City, February 8, 1975 (Valley of Search)
-Cecil Taylor - Respiration: Live in Warsaw '68 (Fundacja Słuchaj)
-Joachim Kühn Trio – Scream For Peace (Biennale De Paris 1969) (Linoleum)

And I see Ernst picked up Tony Oxley – Unreleased 1974-2016 (Discus) and Bergisch Brandenburgisches Quartet – Live '82 (Black Truffle).
Those are both heavy hitters.

Those are my additions for now.
Happy New Year.
Jeff

Giuseppi said...

Hi :)
Here is my list:
Tyshawn Sorey Trio + 1 with Greg Osby – The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism (Pi Recordings)
Tyshawn Sorey – Mesmerism (Yeros7 Music)
Jeff Parker ETA IVtet - Mondays at The Enfield Tennis Academy (Eremite/Aguirre)
Zoh Amba - Bhakti (Mahakala Music)
James Brandon Lewis Quartet - MSM Molecular Systematic Music (Intakt)
James Brandon Lewis/Floy Krouchi/Benjamin Sanz - Cliffs (Off)
Pat Thomas & XT (Seymour Wright, Paul Abbott) with Will Holder - "Akisakila" / Attitudes of Preparation (Mountains, Oceans, Trees) (Edition Gamut)
Josh Sinton's Predicate Trio Quartet - Four Freedoms (FIP Recordings)
Ballister - Chrysopoeia (Aerophonic Records / Not Two Records)
I AM (Isaiah Collier & Michael Shekwoaga Ode) - BEYOND (Division 81)
Battle Trance – Green of Winter (New Amsterdam)
Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp - Fruition ESP-Disk)
Immanuel Wilkins - The 7th Hand (Blue Note Records)
Tomas Fujiwara's Triple Double - March (Firehouse 12 Records)
Thumbscrew - Multicolored Midnight (Cuneiform Records)
Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis/Belladonna (Nonesuch)
Avram Fefer - Juba Lee (Clean Feed)
Dave Rempis/Tomeka Reid/Joshua Abrams - Allium (Aerophonic Records)
Paal Nilssen-Love Circus – Pairs of Three (PNL)
Matthew Shipp Trio - World Construct (ESP-Disk)
David Murray Brave New World Trio - Seriana Promethea (Intakt Records)

Italian Jazzcore:
Kossiga – Antropocene (Superpang)
Minimal Experimental Avant:
Oren Ambarchi – Shebang (Drag City)
Sam Gendel - blueblue(Leaving Records)
Keiji Haino - My lord Music, I most humbly beg your indulgence in the hope that you will do me the honour of permitting this seed called Keiji Haino to be planted within you (Purple Trap / Black Editions)
REISSUES/HISTORICAL
Albert Ayler – Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (INA / Elemental Music, 2022)
Peter Brötzmann/ Milford Graves/ William Parker - Historic Music Past Tense Future (Black Editions Archive)
Steve Lacy/Evan Parker - Chirps - (Corbett Vs. Dempsey)
John Coltrane - Blue Train: The Complete Masters (Blue Note)
John Coltrane Quartet - Song Of Praise, New York 1965 Revisited (Ezz thetics by Hat Hut)
Masahiko Togashi with Don Cherry & Charlie Haden – Session In Paris, Vol. 1 - Song Of Soil. (Wewantsounds)
Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai - Seikatsu Kōjyō Iinkai (Aguirre)
Charles Mingus - The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott's (Resonance Records)
Cecil Taylor - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion Records)
Paul Desmond /Jim Hall Quartet – Complete Recordings (4 cd Essential Jazz Classic)
Cecil Taylor - With (Exit) To Student Studies Revisited (Ezz thetics by Hat Hut)
Paul Bley Trios - Paul Bley Trios play Annette Peacock revisited (Ezz thetics by Hat Hut)
Elvin Jones - Revival: Live At Pookie's Pub (Blue Note)
Dickie Landry – Solos (Unseen Worlds)
Dickie Landry – 4 Cuts Placed In "A First Quarter" (Unseen Worlds)
P(4aroah Sanders & Alice Coltrane - Antibes 68 & New York 71: The Radio Broadcasts (Fat Alberts Bag)
Lol Coxhill/Pierre Courbois/ Jasper Van't Hof - Toverbal Sweet (Lantern Heights)

Valentina Goncharova - Ocean: Symphony for Electric Violin and Other Instruments in 10+ Parts (Hidden Harmony Recordings)
V.A.- Dark Exotica - As Dug By Lux and Ivy (Righteous)
Bag)
Masayuki Takayanagi – Station 70: Call in Question / Live Independence ((Black Editions)
Takayanagi Masayuki New Direction for the Art - La Grima (Aguirre)
Masayuki Takayanagi And New Directions - Independence: Tread On Sure Ground (Cinedelic Records)
Masahiko Togashi/Masayuki Takayanagi - Pulsation (Holy Basil Records )
Peter Brötzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink - Jazz in der Kammer Nr. 71 (Trost)
Akira Sakata / Takeo Moriyama - Mitochondria (Trost Records)

Thank at the Free Jazz Collective ;))
All best for 2023!

Unknown said...

Thank you for the ever inspiring & adventurous musics & Musicians!

My personal highlights:
- Rodrigo Amado: refraction solo (Trost)
- The Attic: Love Ghosts (No Business)
- Zoh Amba: O Live, O Light (577 Records)
- Whit Dickey Quartet - Astral Long Form: Staircase In Space (TAO Forms)
- Whit Dickey Quartet: Root Perspectives (TAO Forms)
- Camille Émaille: Belisama - The metallic roots (Takoruko)
- Alexandra Grimal: refuge (Relative Pitch Records)
-Mats Gustafsson & Nu Ensemble: Hidros 8 Heal Heal (Trost)
- Kirk Knuffke Trio: Gravity Without Airs (TAO Forms)
- Ingrid Laubrock & Brandon Lopez & Tom Rainey: No Es La Playa (INTAKT)
- Rob Mazurek Quartet: Father's Wing (RogueArt)
- Joe McPhee & A Pride Of Lions: No Questions No Answers (RogueArt)
- Jordina Millà & Barry Guy: String Fables (Stuchaj Fundacja)
- Dave Rempis & Tomeika Reid & Joshua Abrams: Allium (Aerophonic)
- Guilherme Rodrigues: Acoustic Reverb (Creative Sources Recordings)
- Matthew Shipp Trio: World Construct (ESP Records)
- Susana Santos Silva: all the birds and a telephone ringing (Thanatosis)
- Martina Verhoeven Quintet: Driven - live at Roadburn 2022 (Klang Galerie)
- Luis Vicente & Seppe Gebruers & Onno Govaert: Room With No Name (Stuchaj Fundacja)

Anonymous said...

Thanks December 16th Anonymous for Tom Skinner - Voices Of Bishara. I love it.

Anonymous said...

I hope to find some nice stuff from those mentioned above. Here are my types:


Magda Mayas, Tony Buck, John Butcher - glints
Burkhard Beins, John Butcher, Werner Dafeldecker - induction
Lisa Ullén, Elsa Bergman, Anna Lund - space
Rempis, Abrams, Ra + Baker - scylla
Reid, Kitamura, Bynum, Morris - geometry of trees
Daunik Lazro, Jouk Minor, Thierry Madiot, David Chiésa, Louis-Michel Marion - sonoris causa
Cranes: Matthias Müller, Eve Risser, Christian Marien - formation < deviation
Child of Illusion - khimaira
Rob Mazurek - father's wing
Friedl, Gratkowski - moon
Biliana Voutchkova, Michael Zerang - the emerald figurines
Susie Ibarra, Tashi Dorji - master of time
Jeff Parker - mondays at The Enfield Tennis Academy
Nate Wooley Columbia Ice Fields - ancient songs of burlap heroes
Myra Melford - for the love of fire and water
Dave Rempis, Avreeayl Ra - bennu
Rempis, Reid, Abrams - allium

Post a Comment

Please note that comments on posts do not appear immediately - unfortunately we must filter for spam and other idiocy.