This post worked out really well last year and is bookmarkable in terms of the amount of recommendations people gave. I'm still getting to records in that post. Let's do it again. I'll start off by asking what is anyone anticipating for this year - announced releases that you are looking forward to? Or maybe something dope has already came out.

Right now I'm looking forward to:

Mary Halvorson's Code Girl
Shabaka Hutchings - Sons of Kemet
Thumbscrew (announced that they would be releasing an album of covers and an album of originals)

Can we do local (Jazzish) artists as well? I'm in South Florida and there's this band called Shenzi from the U that's really really really good. They've been performing around town and most recently they performed at (Aja and Umi's) Smoke Signals (http://www.thefader.com/2016/01/28/aja-monet-smoke-signals-interview) Our Basel concert. Where Eryn Allen Kane performed (Shenzi played behind her) Samaora Pinderhughes performed (he's working w/ Glasper and Terrace on Herbie's new project) Jesse Boykins performed and Talib was a surprise special guest (My brother James Klynn and his outfit Royal Court opened for Talib). Well here is a track Shenzi put out last year and their project will be coming out this year.
https://shenzimusic.bandcamp.com/
And last year Yasiin was a surprise guest at Smoke Signals Our Basel concert that was filmed by Boiler Room (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyaHSGQGgwA)

Been looking forward to this since I saw The Glasper Expermient w/ Yasiin @ the Blue Note in NYC in ‘09. And The Experiment hasn’t sounded as good since Chris left. Dude is definitely unmatched on the drums and he has a really nice band around him. All three leaks are pretty dope too. Track list and guests looks crazy! Anderson .Paak is on two tracks, so is SiR. Really interested in these tracks w/ Bilal and Shafiq.

https://www.npr.org/2017/12/07/568782182/songs-we-love-chris-dave-and-the-drumhedz-destiny-n-stereo

“Dat Feeling” Ft. SiR
https://youtu.be/5WEXTZ0fIUA

“Destiny & Stereo”
https://youtu.be/PSyB5rtMgSs

“Job Well Done” Ft. Anna Wise & SiR
https://youtu.be/2x3dOieDGoU

🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾

It's definitely a good album. Something to play with black radio. I LOVE "Whatever"

rather than another robert glasper type compilation record.

but it has its moments.

while the record is solid, I don't really find myself coming back to it as often as I would if it were not a Glasper-ish compilation. Then again I find myself more interested in jazz(y) stuff with more improv these days.

I'd say Soulive are my favourite band ever but I can't honestly say I know what a Soulive album sounds like in 2018. It's been so long since their last release: Krasno productions are really bluesy now and Alan Evans is all funk. I'm excited about how they've all evolved but I'd like to see them go a bit more towards their Blue Note years ('Doin Something' and 'Next'). Still very excited though!

First track, somewhat un-jazzy with an incredible guitar solo:

https://soundcloud.com/hubro/skydive-trio-decending-from-the-upcoming-album-sun-sparkle

We've been rolling out remixes from Braxton's 2017 debut LP, Somewhere In Between (http://smarturl.it/braxtoncooksib)

The first two out so far –

Swarvy remixing the title track: http://smarturl.it/braxtonswarvy

Kiefer remixing "Pariah": http://smarturl.it/braxtonkiefer

More to come...

Fresh Selects label: http://freshselects.bandcamp.com | http://soundcloud.com/freshselects
Tight Songs playlist (Spotify & Apple Music): http://smarturl.it/tightsongs

Trance-y electronica influenced jazz. Insanely good shit on this release, such as these two:

“Strid”
https://youtu.be/7cgHJUVHsRk

“Transient State”:
https://youtu.be/SGML70z8qy4

if you had told me i'd be well into a jazz edm record, i would have looked at you like you were a trump supporter.

but here we are.

Save room for this one, out in two weeks. The new record from trombonist Ryan Porter (a member of the West Coast Get Down with Kamasi): https://worldgalaxyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-optimist

It's *really* good.

This is a nice peek into the explosive UK Jazz scene right now.

https://daily.bandcamp.com/2018/02/07/we-out-here-album-review/
or
https://open.spotify.com/album/02RrqvEv45gBBqOOtBX78p?si=K2DSSmRTQbyKz-Dcg3mc2w

That Kokoroko track is pure magic in any genre

https://quinkirchner.bandcamp.com/album/the-other-side-of-time

really dope stuff, definitely influenced by people like Sun Ra and Mingus who he covers on a few tracks here. Favorite track is probably "Brainville" or "Wondrous Eyes"

http://der.org/community/new-releases/new-releases-february-2018

http://www.der.org/films/jazz-cosmopolitanism-in-accra.html

Five one-hour video collaborative documentaries (two with additional shorts) reveal Accra's resonances with jazz histories, styles, and performance practices ranging from New Orleans to bebop and the avant-garde, featuring famed percussionist Guy Warren/Ghanaba, multi-instrumentalist, afrifone inventor, and sound sculptor Nii Noi Nortey, percussionist and guitarist Nii Otoo Annan, the horn honking La Drivers Union Por Por Group, and master puppeteer J.C. Abbey. The Jazz Cosmopolitanism in Accra films series, alone or joined by the companion book and CD series of the same title, convey a sense of diasporic intimacy and musical cosmopolitanism in Ghana.

Films in the Jazz Cosmopolitanism in Accra series:
Hallelujah! (60 min, 2009)
Accra Trane Station: The Music and Art of Nii Noi Nortey (60 min, 2009)
Includes the short film From Accra to Santa Fe (18 min, 2009)
A Por Por Funeral for Ashirifie (60 min, 2009)
The Story of Por-Por (60 min, 2013)
Includes the short film M.V. Labadi (20 min, 2013)
J.C. Abbey, Ghana's Puppeteer (55 min, 2016)

UK-based jazz trio with a solid release and here's their cover of The Stones' Paint it Black...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee_tr22bNI8

I'd recommend ya'll to check this one out even if you didn't like her previous stuff, the inclusion of a vocalist and Mary showing more of her rock/folk influences in some of the compositions here make it pretty different from her previous records. This track is insane - https://maryhalvorson.bandcamp.com/track/the-unexpected-natural-phenomenon

This is such a fun record. Even though it is mainly groove based, meaning that there is a bit less room for improvisation, Shabaka Hutching still finds room for some dope improvisation and generally I found it hard to sit still during this one. I'd really like to see this band live: https://youtu.be/twjaSC5Ym9s

they must be amazing live.

Walter Smith is a great sax player and this is a great straight ahead release.

http://music.whirlwindrecordings.com/album/twio

There is a lot I really like here, but "Ask Me Now" and "The Peacocks" are fantastic imo

Probably the best album that I've picked up this year so far. Fantastic!

https://toshiomatsuuragroup.bandcamp.com/

i've been pushing it - and the sons of kemet - on everyone. i even got miles mosley to download it after kamasi washington's recent show here!

but, yeah, the musicianship on the toshio record is stellar. the covers are sublimely chosen and the one original is a fiercely funky jam.

Would've liked maybe one more vocal track - Jose James would've been perfect but I'm being picky. Still holding strong amongst the year's releases for me.

Can't believe it's been ten years but a new reissue has just been released featuring the following four bonus tracks:

Equinox
Central Park West
Resolution
Coltrane (Dear Alice)

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=3004346&mesg_id=3004346&page=

Same usual suspects on personnel. Should be dope.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kamasi-washington-previews-heaven-and-earth-with-new-songs-w518939

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington unveiled two new songs, "Fists of Fury" and "The Space Travelers Lullaby," from his forthcoming double-LP, Heaven and Earth, out June 22nd via Young Turks.

"The Space Travelers Lullaby" and "Fists of Fury" – which is a new arrangement of the theme song from the classic kung-fu movie of the same name – open the album's Heaven and Earth discs, respectively. Washington also shared minute-long videos for each song. The clips are from director Jenn Nkiru's forthcoming film project to accompany Heaven and Earth, expected to arrive later this year.

"...Washington recorded Heaven and Earth with his band, the Next Step, as well as members of the Los Angeles collective known as the West Coast Get Down. The project's contributors include Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Ronald Bruner, Jr., Cameron Graves, Brandon Coleman, Miles Mosley, Patrice Quinn and Tony Austin. Along with Washington's take on the Fists of Fury theme, Heaven and Earth will also feature his new arrangement of Freddie Hubbard's "Hubtones" and a new song by bandmate Ryan Porter."

Heaven and Earth Track List

Earth
1. "Fists of Fury"
2. "Can You Hear Him"
3. "Hubtones"
4. "Connections"
5. "Tiffakonkae"
6. "The Invincible Youth"
7. "Testify"
8. "One of One"

Heaven
9. "The Space Travelers Lullaby"
10. "Vi Lua Vi Sol"
11. "Street Fighter Mas"
12. "Song for the Fallen"
13. "Journey"
14. "The Psalmnist"
15. "Show Us the Way"
16. "Will You Sing"

cant wait to hear the whole song. Same for Space Travelers Lullaby. His EP was amazing. Cant wait to hear this and see him live again.

seeing him on may 23rd. very excited!

I was a bit disappointed with the lack in progression of his sound/writing. I didn't like Harmony of Difference because I felt the band (outside of Truth, which was awesome) was a bit too constrained in those short songs, so I was really looking forward to this record (despite me taking forever to check it out).

The new album from London saxophonist Sean Khan is now out on Far Out Recordings which looks excellent. His last album 'Muriel' a few years ago is soooo good too!

https://seankhanfo.bandcamp.com/album/palmares-fantasy-featuring-hermeto-pascoal

https://kamaalwilliams.bandcamp.com/album/the-return

Shortly after Yussef Kamaal dropped Black Focus (a must listen if y'all haven't copped), the band broke up. One half of the London band just dropped his next project, and it appears it picks up where Black Focus left off. I still need to go through it but it sounds on point so far.

so much great stuff out of london right now.

We Out Here:

https://youtu.be/NwCCfWiYk2s

great compilation album too.

Am I the only one who liked this but thought it really missed Yussef's drumming. I just can't avoid it due to the styles of the two albums being similar lol. This is good, but the dynamic between them both was out of this world on black focus, it's a shame they broke up.

>Am I the only one who liked this but thought it really missed
>Yussef's drumming. I just can't avoid it due to the styles of
>the two albums being similar lol. This is good, but the
>dynamic between them both was out of this world on black
>focus, it's a shame they broke up.

You know I never looked at it like that. To me it was a solid project just like Yussef will have a dope project (hopefully with Alfa Mist). You wish that Kamaal and Yussef would’ve stayed together, but what can you do?

I definitely approached it that way because Black Focus was one of the records that defined my year when it came out.

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mEEaHJUgL4xL5-cL9Ld-c246BlnFtiK7w

Not sure how many of you have heard of him, but this is a solid record.

https://pirecordings.com/albums/double-up-plays-double-up-plus/
https://pirecordings.com/albums/dirt-and-more-dirt/

it's from last year but whatevs. :-)

they clearly had a lot of fun with this.

https://youtu.be/9DIJ4JGzXuU

Brilliant new album from Conte and his supergroup of musicians. Benching the bossa for this release and embracing spiritual jazz for a lush selection of tunes. Zara McFarlane appears on a track as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u473vfMYX8

3 unreleased takes from the original album sessions + remixes by Swarvy, Kiefer, quickly quickly, Allmos (of The Stuyvesants) and a feature from Pell: http://smarturl.it/braxtonremixes


Fresh Selects label: http://freshselects.bandcamp.com | http://soundcloud.com/freshselects
Tight Songs playlist (Spotify & Apple Music): http://smarturl.it/tightsongs

I know we're all digging on that new Kamasi right now, but just a suggestion to take some time and check out Charles Lloyd and the Marvels' new record w/Lucinda Williams, "Vanished Gardens" ...

(in fact, though Lloyd's general vision and aesthetic is rather different from Kamasi's, his actual style of playing shares more than a few similarities...)

Fair warning though: the first half of the album is pretty dark and soul-crushing, particularly the tunes w/Lucinda singing.

On that: Lucinda, Lucinda, maybe this is your time to take center stage in my listening life? I've always liked Lucinda, never *loved* her (though loved many of her tunes and admired both her voice and lyricism), often thought I just needed to spend more time with her and really dig in. This album doubles down on that: her voice on "Dust" is just... so rich with age and time and experience and all things that make music a force of cosmological scope and power. (It comes from Williams' most recent album, itself no small thing to be reckoned with.)
And could you come up with a more perfect match than Frissell's steel guitar and Lucinda's natural folkish cadence...

We don't talk enough about Lloyd around here --- that's a shame. He's on a roll right now at the end of a career that has been nothing but one long roll (from what I know of it, which is quite little in relation to his productivity): he's got a kickass band, kickass guests, and an impeccable sense of how to bring the many genre currents of American music together into something surprisingly organic and seamless.

Since ECM's stuff is available on streaming now, maybe time to visit that part of his catalog for a bit...

I listened to this last weekend and it was a decent listen. To me the vocals kinda took away from the project.

Have you checked out these two releases?

Joshua Redman - Still Dreaming

Binker & Moses - Alive in the East

Matthew Shipp

Zero - solo piano effort

Sonic Fiction - his quartet with an excellent avant garde effort

Our second jazz release on Fresh Selects (after Braxton Cook), the debut album from trombonist/composer Reginald Chapman

The album features most of the players from the Richmond, VA scene – DJ Harrison, Butcher Brown, Reggie Pace, Sam Reed, etc.

Check it out: http://smarturl.it/regprototype


Fresh Selects label: http://freshselects.bandcamp.com | http://soundcloud.com/freshselects
Tight Songs playlist (Spotify & Apple Music): http://smarturl.it/tightsongs

very tasty indeed! very smooth without being too smooth (which is a delicate balance).

>very tasty indeed! very smooth without being too smooth
>(which is a delicate balance).

thank you, man... glad you dig it, that's pretty exactly what i heard in it too
a nice blend of the brass traditionalism with just enough of the beat generation timing / edge to it

we're working on remixes for it now, should be fun

Fresh Selects label: http://freshselects.bandcamp.com | http://soundcloud.com/freshselects
Tight Songs playlist (Spotify & Apple Music): http://smarturl.it/tightsongs

i look forward to that.

Where We Come From (Chicago x London)

Put me in the mind frame of In the Moment. Nevertheless it is definitely a good listen and worth the purchase.

These two new songs sound fantastic.
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/universal-beings

Is his older stuff along these same lines? I'm gonna start digging in.

Going to pre-order this right now!!!!!

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/universal-beings

Where We Come From (Chicago x London)

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/where-we-come-from-chicagoxlondon-mixtape

Released a few months ago through Brownswood - another name in the long list of emerging UK jazz talent with the usual names involved (Nubya, Moses). Really good!

https://joearmon-jones.bandcamp.com/

An Angel Fell

https://idrisackamoorandthepyramids.bandcamp.com/

https://fperecs.bandcamp.com/album/maroon-cloud

This is just a beautifully strange live recording. Nicole Mitchell is definitely at her very best. Would’ve love to be present for this!!!!

Not really a jazz record but it's from the bassist from Kneebody plus it's from Ropeadope Records which is another great reason to check it out. Chris Dave drums on like 4/5 tracks and Becca Stevens appears too.

Outside of Kneebody, Rastegar has played and produced for De La (Anonymous), Meshell, Ledisi, Cee Lo, ANthony Hamilton, Beck. Hell of a resume.

https://kavehrastegar.bandcamp.com/

It’s sounds okay though.

Please take these 10 mins and do yourself a favour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwVtIPeYIeQ&list=LLWT-CJXwimNTwXM60x8kb_A&index=2&t=0s

I have been listening to this single for a couple of months now.

or Brandon Coleman's upcoming album, or Miles Mosley.

https://villagelive.bandcamp.com/album/robohands-green

Check this out and let me know what you think!!!!!!

Just came across this early this morning.

I dig this.

Part of the Kamasi camp. First single is already out. Album sounds amazing.

https://kamaalwilliams.bandcamp.com/

Haven't' had a chance to listen, but I copped.

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/kudu

Spiritual jazz outfit from London who I think are going to do really well. The drummer and band leader Jake Long is a genius plus the lineup includes Nubya Garcia.

https://maisha.bandcamp.com/

https://jazzrefreshed.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-a-new-welcome

Lol

I immediately looked that up after I checked that single... very dope EP

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=enJH4c8Llkw

Beautiful record

https://emanative.bandcamp.com/album/earth

https://dwighttrible.bandcamp.com/album/colors

...

Yes indeed

Love Is The Message (Live At Abbey Road)

Studio performance of the year?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwVtIPeYIeQ

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-over-the-rainbow

Pleiades: A Jazz Symphonique
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/pleiades-a-jazz-symphonique

The Cymbals/Symbols Sessions (New York, 1973)
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-cymbals-symbols-sessions-new-york-1973

Astro Black
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/astro-black-remastered-2018

God Is More Love Than Ever Be
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/god-is-more-than-love-can-ever-be-cd-lp-digital

Discipline 99 (Out Beyond the Kingdom Of)
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/discipline-99-out-beyond-the-kingdom-of

Pictures of Infinity
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/pictures-of-infinity

Taking a Chance on Chances
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/taking-a-chance-on-chances

https://mosesboyd.bandcamp.com/album/displaced-diaspora

Went through it a few times. It should be good rotation music for the rest of the year... can’t wait for that Maisha to drop.

Also if you get a chance try and check out that reissue from Takeo Moriyama called East Plants. If I can find a link I will post it.

Another Moses Boyd gem...

Footsteps Of Our Fathers EP

https://mosesboyd.bandcamp.com/album/footsteps-of-our-fathers-e-p

Thanks man!

Guitarist on Black Focus Records - he played on the Yussef Kamaal alubum too.

https://mansurbrown.bandcamp.com/album/shiroi-2

https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/east-plants

Really great find! I'm a little hypnotised by track #2 at the moment.
Sheesh, this post is getting expensive!

More UK jazz released today...

https://1000kings.bandcamp.com/album/raw-cause

Very good avant-garde record.

this is amazing.

https://binkerandmoses.bandcamp.com/album/alive-in-the-east

Just checked out "How Land Learnt To Be Still" sounds super dope, will be checking out the rest later.

It's basically avant-garde jazz that you can bob your head to - the drums are so tight throughout and the horns can be extremely wild/harsh. Love it.

yeah - I loved it so much that I eventually ended up writing about it, here my take on it: https://www.nextbop.com/blog/binker-and-moses-alive-in-the-east-album-review

Dat Dere
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x5mqwp1Sca0

Chasin’ Kendall
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nUcUnIDRM

Let’s Take a Trip to the Sky (feat. Jean Baylor)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LRKzN2AIr0w

The Cape Verdean Blues
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytDeKNbf50E

Go
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LmgW3ewciFI

Song of Samson
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eVAVM5HQyTc

Throw It Away
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ds33CuNAEes

Now (feat. Jean Baylor)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=daUa87p-_3c

Gone Too Soon
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HrO2jdH33Gs

There are other records that I’m waiting for i.e. Maisha, Makaya, Keith Jarrett (live solo), and I am getting that 1000 Kings. I spent a ton of money getting my Sun Ra collection complete. So Sonic Creed is going to have to be put on hold.

Jazz at the University of Utah

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXLXQCGWqEsNc66HrCt2vG5EfITpBQO6Y

Here are some of the tracks from this recording that was reissued this year. It is definitely worth the purchase.

https://music.beatsnpieces.net/album/ten

Sam Gendel, the saxophonist really steals the show. Kind of a stripped down spiritual jazz with some ambient production. Love this album.

They also collaborated on another album released earlier a few months ago. Both are good records.

WILKES
https://samwilkes.bandcamp.com/album/wilkes

Music for Saxofone and Bass Guitar
https://leavingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-saxofone-and-bass-guitar

She started yesterday, and for 12 days she will be putting out a song per day for her album 12 Little Spells.


http://www.esperanzaspalding.com/

Resolve
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9oXpz-p8iog

Exit (Feat 2nd Exit)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VGnm7e4CITA

They're an improv jazz group from New York - their album came out last Friday.

https://brightdogred.bandcamp.com/album/means-to-the-ends

Hey the music on this album is top notch. The emceeing though... not so much.

Planning on giving it a few more listens to see if the rappin’ grows on me.

Great post though

sick of shitty rappers ruining otherwise fine tunes.

You might find the emceeing to be on par with the music (which is phenomenal btw).

Just gave it another listen, and I really love the music. It one of those albums where I would suffer though the bad rappin.

Happy you checked it out though.

a blooming bloodfruit in a hoodie
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X5d5c5r8tYE

miracle and streetfight
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xm3MREETUQ

Americana / the garden waits for you to match her wilderness
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tMNkovunICI

particle / spectra
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrOkVPQ6jg

Free, White and 21
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPBKmcWTzM

the lingering velocity of the dead’s ambitions
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SjPrwRClSs

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2DpC86qGHHmFVDiN1bGQNBqWiiN4h-Xt

tremendous stuff. the UK has been on FIRE this year.

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/szun-waves-new-hymn-to-freedom/

whatchu think of these guys?

Went and checked out their other album as well. Very cosmic in their approach. They blend very well together. I would like to see them get more out there in the future. Their live recording that they just released is great as well.

Szun Waves Live from Space
https://szunwaves.bandcamp.com/album/szun-waves-live-from-space

Part I
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YC7He8O31D8

Part II
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2UeCbc82hdQ

Part III
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5rIwcT_MeOc

Part IV
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wwGnRm0XtB8

Part V
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2lY0EhQNTOY

Part VI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gca-85Rijrs

The Sun Whose Rays
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3uxWhwCKZN4

Part VII
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7QDr8faizJQ

Part VIII
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qq05bMxtZx4

My Wild Irish Rose
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wPmtFxJQeco

Stella By Starlight
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HCmugRbNrgw

Blossom
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MYOy_EvX5YM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000w02

They need to do a doc on him if there isn’t one done on him already.

UK Jazz is killing it right now (longlist)
https://open.spotify.com/user/onetwann/playlist/0waP3jF2zC0SdGp7MCvc1c?si=YdM48zLpSFO-CKTAlegeZA

Jazz : UK Renaissance (shortlist)
https://open.spotify.com/user/onetwann/playlist/3ganZ45BwsMgZqm9yehZhX?si=uWHGp_txTz6YRGY4xga0qw

With Evan Parker, Ches Smith and Craig Taborn.

Sounds awesome.

Awesome record... it’s definitely in my rotation.

toppled Kamasi Washington's Heaven and Earth of its top berth, for mine.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves!!!!

The Makaya is dope, but better than Kamasi?

That’s tough!!!!!!

But in reality there are a couple of records that I put ahead of those two for right now. Things could change by the end of the year with the Maisha release.

but this speaks far more to my sensibilities.

I get it... Makaya’s sound is a more raw than Kamasi. For me H & E flows better.

My tops so far that I prefer over those two are Earth (Emanative) and La Fenice (Keith Jarrett) with Kudu (Antelopes) not too far behind. I also like Origami Harvest (Ambrose Akinmusire) a ton as well.

It is still a couple of more sure fire releases left. Can’t wait to see everyone’s top pucks of the year. There have been a ton of great releases and reissues.

it's been overwhelming!

Origami Harvest is something special, for sure.

Listening to the Emanative album now. Definitely quality!

>it's been overwhelming!
>
>Origami Harvest is something special, for sure.
>
>Listening to the Emanative album now. Definitely quality!

Yes it’s too much music out!!! So many releases to take in.

That Anteloper is nice to... Jaimie Branch and Jason Nazary did a great job with the electronic fusion on this.

Still digesting it all but god Tomeka Reid sounds amazing on "Tall Tales". McCraven is really fucking good at chopping these performances up. Really great rhythms here. It's one of those albums that works great as background music AND for concentrated listening.

I had high expectations for this.

https://abstractorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/madvillain-vol-1

It’s really dope, they did the original beats justice. I’d love to hear them perform this live.

They should’ve done more songs. They put more into their Dilla project than this one.

https://mammalhands.bandcamp.com/

Christian McBride’s New Jawn
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mfknJKEesaVeg9YEA1jcYTT_ICbLwRoHw

More quality from Brownswood, this is yet another jazz outfit out of London that is just killing it.

Already put the YouTube link for the album in #154.

It is a great record!!!!!!!

https://musicrongetzfoundation.bandcamp.com/album/alphabet-city-music-club

With the year closing there isn’t a new release left to wait on. Just about everything left that will be released are reissues.

What are your best or favorite albums of the year? There was a gang of good records that were released this year. Both new issues and reissues alike.

My initial jazz picks are:

'LOVEPLAYDANCE' by Toshio Matsuura Group
'Let Your Light Shine On' by Nicola Conte & Spiritual Galaxy
'Starting Today' by Joe Armon-Jones
'Palmeras Fantasy' by Sean Khan
'Life' by Vivian Sessoms

My Maisha CD hasn't arrived in the post yet and I imagine that will make the list.

Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings
Maisha -There Is A Place
1000 Kings - Raw Cause
Sons of Kemet - Your Queen Is A Reptile
Toshio Matsuura Group - LOVEPLAYDANCE
Moses Boyd - Displaced Diaspora
Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
Szun Waves - New Hymn To Freedom
Emma-Jean Thackray - Ley Lines
Kamaal Williams - The Return
Mansur Brown - Shiroi
Ambrose Akinmusire - Origami Harvest
Emanative - Earth
Sam Wilkes - Wilkes
Jessica Lauren - Almeria
Joe Armon-Jones - Starting Today
GoGo Penguin - A Humdrum Star
Mabuta - Welcome To This World
Various Artists - We Out Here

order/list subject to change by the end of the year, of course. I'm also not counting stuff like the "new" Coltrane (reissues and newly unearthed old recordings).

Mary Halvorson - Code Girl
Binker & Moses - Alive In The East
Thumbscrew - Ours (their other record, Theirs, which is all covers, is also good but this one, which is all originals is much more creative and free)
Jonathan Finlayson - 3 Times Round
Cecile McLorin Salvant - The Window
Jason Palmer - At Wally's Vol. 2 (Vol. 1 is also basically just as good)
Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings
Noah Preminger - Genuinity
Anteloper -Kudu
Quin Kirchner -The Other Side of Time

Upper echelon...

Emanative - Earth
Ambrose Akinmusire - Origami Harvest
Anteloper - Kudu
Maisha - There Is a Place
Keith Jarrett - La Fenice
Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
William Parker - Flower in a Stained-Glass Window & The Blinking of the Ear
Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings
Binker & Moses - Alive in the East?
Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids - An Angel Fell

Honorable mention...

1000 Kings - Raw Cause
Moses Boyd - Displaced Diaspora
The Gondwana Orchestra ft. Dwight Trible - Colors EP
Sam Wilkes - Wilkes
Robohands - Green
Nicole Mitchell - Maroon Cloud
Szun Waves - New Hymn to Freedom
Kamaal Willians - The Return
Sons of Kemet - Your Queen Is A Reptile
William Parker - Lake of Light: Compositions for AquaSonics

I will wait another week before I say what the best reissues are.

Drumming and electronics, but very much sounds like jazz fusion to me.

https://shelterpress.bandcamp.com/album/stadium

This first release was back in May of this year. It is a very haunting avant-garde record. It is very creative and open, bringing all of the sounds together for beautiful melodies.

Lake of Light: Compositions for AquaSonics
https://gottaletitout.bandcamp.com/album/lake-of-light-compositions-for-aquasonics

The second release was on last Friday. It is a double album. The music, the poetry, and spiritual jazz elements are top notch. Definitely worth the almost two hour listen that you will put into it.

Flower in a Stained-Glass Window & The Blinking of the Ear
https://williamparker.bandcamp.com/album/flower-in-a-stained-glass-window-the-blinking-of-the-ear

Mende Lolo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vgaHVl5Fzs