THE BEST 30 JAZZ ALBUMS OF 2023
A SELECTION BY FILIPE FREITAS
steve lehman
ex machina
Pi Recordings
"… Lehman, here in a fruitful collaboration with Maurin and his futuristic large ensemble, continues to push post-modern jazz forward in an entirely original way."
michael formanek elusion quartet
as things do
Intakt Records
“Formanek’s recordings have been consistently successful, but this one is special."
brian blade fellowship
kings highway
Stoner Hill Records
"Revealing more of Blade as a musician, it’s a gem that no one should be indifferent to."
ingrid laubrock
the last quiet place
Pyroclastic Records
"Laubrock makes a huge impact with this disc, showing not just her personal connection to the material but also with the excellent group she leads."
sylvie courvoisier / cory smythe
the rite of spring
Pyroclastic Records
"This is a deeply musical experience and a must-have album for both avant-garde and contemporary classical devotees."
darius jones
fluxkit vancouver
WE Jazz / Northern Spy Records
"… Jones, capable of fleeting articulated flurries as well as even-tempered sequences, confirms he’s one of the most interesting saxophonists of our times."
walter smith iii
return to casual
Blue Note Records
"This album ranks as Smith’s finest efforts, channeling his compositional virtuosity and a mastery of the saxophone that transcends technique."
dan rosenboom
polarity
Orenda Records
"… a jewel of intensely played music and interactive creativity performed with openness and edginess in the company of a top-notch quintet."
gard nilssen’s supersonic orchestra
family
We Jazz Records
"With rapid-fire interlocked passages and deliciously unhinged improvisations, Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra keeps generating vanguard sounds that travel through the air with aerodynamic agility."
chris potter
got the keys to the kingdom
Edition Records
"Every new work from Potter is an event, and here, his colleagues respond instinctively and expertly to his vibrancy. The results are stellar."
aruán ortiz trio
serranias
Intakt Records
"With plenty of individual expression, Serranías holds together as a complete work unto itself. Ortiz’s unique voice is present."
joe farnsworth
in what direction are you headed?
Smoke Sessions Records
"According to what we hear, Farnsworth’s new direction is taking him to exciting places."
guillermo klein quinteto
telmo’s tune
Sunnyside Records
"This is another vibrant and disarming recording from a first-class composer whose oeuvre deserves all our esteem."
mendoza hoff revels
echolocation
AUM Fidelity
"The group crosses frontiers with amplified saturation while guitar interjections work as an energetic foil for volcanic saxophone eruptions."
ambrose akinmusire
owl song
Nonesuch Records
"… an enjoyable, refreshingly accessible, and fundamentally peaceful work from a trailblazing trumpeter in excellent form."
john scofield
uncle john’s band
ECM Records
"Placing a high premium on sound clarity and fresh musical ideas, this album is an absolute must-listen for Scofield enthusiasts, offering a delightful collection of eclectic tunes infused with his signature electric vibe."
tim berne/hank roberts/aurora nealand
oceans and
Intakt Recordings
"This trio of like-minded artists offers strangely magnetic music with enough coils and refinements to keep you engaged."
matana roberts
coin coin chapter five: in the garden
Constellation Records
“Them invocations can be mystic, experimental, modern free jazz blasts, or simple structures with cyclic synth sequences, but they always seek truth and justice.”
myra melford’s fire and water quintet
hear the light singing
RogueArt
"These five new ‘insertions’, written to highlight the musicians’ qualities, subvert expectations as the group members stretch their instruments from familiar environments without feeling too experimental."
ceramic dog
connection
Knockwurst Music
"Hallucinated yet illuminated, there’s guts and progressive activism in a revolutionary new recording that’s definitely worth digging into."
johnathan blake
passage
Blue Note Records
"Drummer Johnathan Blake demonstrates virtuosity in his compositional itineraries and pragmatism in his band leading."
peter brotzmann/majid bekkas/hamid drake
chasing ghosts
ACT
"These musicians take chances, each serving the material with musical passion and care. This is a wonderful goodbye from Brotzmann, a force of nature who will be deeply missed by all free jazzers."
kate gentile
find letter x
Pi Recordings
"The epic Find Letter X stands as one of the most high-energy opuses of the year."
billy mohler
ultraviolet
Contagious Music
"It’s all here, in a fusion of creativity, well-crafted grooves, masterful solos, and lively polyphonic interplay."
russ johnson quartet
reveal
Calligram Records
"Not as prolific as we would like him to be, Johnson at least makes quality his absolute priority, turning every record into something we are eager to revisit."
henry threadgill
the other one
Pi Recordings
"Threadgill is found in whip-cracking form as a composer. This is an imaginative musical achievement executed by talented musicians who don’t vacillate when in command of their instruments."
linda may han oh
the glass hours
Biophilia Records
"Impeccably layered with boundless energy, The Glass Hours is a mature work that positions Oh in the vanguard of progressive musical creativity."
artemis
in real time
Blue Note Records
"Working in harmony, the group advocates the true spirit of democracy where each musician leaves their own imprint. Here, they sound better than ever. "
darcy james argue
dynamic maximum tension
Nonesuch Records
"This album is a celebration of big band magnificence, characterized by sterling layering taste, solid movements, and expertly seamless passages."