Not a big fan of rankings, nor of presuming that I know which recordings were the year's best. So here are my ten favorite recordings released between Dec. 1, 2021 and Dec. 1, 2022, arranged in alpha order by title.

Similar lists appear at PostGenre and will post soon at Tom Hull's mammoth yearend concatenation. I'll probably have more to say about these recordings--and probably a few late additions--at my own site, let's call this, depending on my ambition.

Amyrillis and Belladonna, Mary Halvorson (Nonesuch)

For The Love Of Fire And Water, Myra Melford's Fire And Water Quintet (RogueArt)

Ghost Song, Cécile McLorin Salvant (Nonesuch)

Good Time Music: Community Music, Vol. 2, Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra with Catherine Russell (Royal Potato Family)

New Gospel Revisited , Marquis Hill (Edition Records, Ltd.)

New Standards Vol. 1, Terri Lyne Carrington (Candid)

Other Zones, Michael Formanek Quartet (Circular File Records)

Séances, Trevor Dunn’s Trio-Convulsant avec Folie à Quatre (Pyroclastic Records)

Seismic Shift, John Escreet (Whirlwind Records)

The Bottom, Luke Stewart's Silt Trio (Cuneiform)

Reissues or Historical albums

Albert Ayler, Revelations (Elemental Music)
Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live At The Penthouse 1963-1964 (Jazz Detective Records)
Cecil Taylor, The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert (Oblivion Records)

Lagniappe

• 589 recordings qualified for consideration (509 qualified last year; I get a lot of music).
• Of these, 24 made the not-so-shortlist for this page
• Here are the other 14 as they stand today (in alpha order by artist):

JD Allen, Americana, Vol. 2

David Binney, Tomorrow’s Journey

Amanda Ekery, Some (more) Short Songs

Bill Frisell, Four

Art Hirahara, Verdant Valley

Miles Okazaki, Thisness

Aaron Parks, Volume 1

Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade, LongGone

Matthew Shipp Trio, World Construct

Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Mesmerism

Tyshawn Sorey Trio +1, The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism

Thumbscrew, Multicolored Midnight

Dan Weiss, Dedication

various artists, John Zorn's Bagatelles

Here are my ten favorite new albums of 2022. A full write-up on each of these, as well as my selections for numbers 11 through 25 can be found at PostGenre.

1. The Philadelphia Experiment (Christian McBride, Questlove, Uri Caine, DJ Logic), Live at Newport Jazz 2017 (Newport Jazz)

2. Columbia Icefield, Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes (Pyroclastic)

3. Jamaaladeen Tacuma & Mary Halvorson, Strings & Things (self-release)

4. Sélébéyone, Xaybu: The Unseen (Pi)

5. Mary Halvorson, Amaryllis and Belladonna (Nonesuch)

6. Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Leo Genovese, esperanza spalding, Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival (Candid)

7. Steven Bernstein, Manifestos of Henryisms (Community Music, Vol. 3) (Royal Potato Family)

8. Wolfert Brederode, Matangi Quartet, & Joost Lijbaart, Ruins and Remains (ECM)

9. Ulf Ivarsson & Bill Laswell, Nammu (Ropeadope)

10. Sam Gendel, Cicada Lite (Live in Texas) (Beyond Language)

I provided a list of top 20-25 jazz recordings during my last five years at WORT89.9-FM, Madison, WI and played those on the air. Now that I am no longer on the air, I proudly display this list on JJA's site along with my first list on my new website which will soon announce my new podcast, "Strictly Jazz Sounds." 

It was my delight to meet a number of these artists and interview a few. I am particularly honored to have spent time with Brian Blade during my final days in Madison, WI during the Madison Jazz Festival. Thanks to Brian Blade for his tremendous contribution in 2022 as, during my last count, he can be found on at least eight releases. Not all of them were under his name. This demonstrates his broad appeal. 

• 1.     Terri Lyne Carrington: New Standards Vol. 1 (Candid Records)
• 2.     Tyshawn Sorey: The Off-Off Guide to Synergism (Contemporary Jazz)
• 3.     Jon Irabagon: Rising Sun (Irrabagast Records)
• 4.     Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Brian Blade: LongGone (Nonesuch)
• 5.     John Patitucci Trio: Live in Italy (Three Faces Music)
• 6.     Marquis Hill: New Gospel Revisited (Contemporary Jazz)
• 7.     Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band: Liver From the Archives (Stoner Hill)
• 8.     Nduduzo Makhathini: In the Spirit of Ntu ( Blue Note)
• 9.     Avram Fefer Quartet: Juba Lee (Clean Feed Records)
• 10.  Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars (Blue Note)
• 11.  Immanuel Wilkins: The 7^th Hand (Blue Note)
• 12.  Roxy Coss: Disparate Parts (Outside In Music)
• 13.  Samara Joy: Linger Awhile (Verve)
• 14.  Joel Ross: The Parable of the Poet (Blue Note)
• 15.  Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes (In & Out Records)
• 16.  Geof Bradfield, Scott Burns, John Wojciechowski (AFAR)
• 17.  Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis (Nonesuch)
• 18.  The Jon Cowherd Trio & Jon Cowherd: Pride & Joy (Le Coq Records)
• 19.  Johannes Wallmann: Precarious Towers (Shifting Paradigm Records)
• 20.  Caleb Wheeler Curtis: Heatmap (Imani Records)
• 21.  Timo Vollbrecht: Givers & Takers (BERTHOLD Records)
• 22.  Somi: Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba (Salon Africana)
• 23.  Alexander Claffy: Good Spirts (Contemporary Jazz)
• 24.  Dennis Mitcheltree: Golden Rule (Dengor)   
• 25.  Michael Dease: Best Next Thing (Posi-Tone)

Legacy/Historical:

Charles Mingus: The Lost Album from Ronnie Scotts (Resonance)

Ornette Coleman: Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary Albums (2-LP Box Set) (Craft Recordings)

Keith Jarrett: Budapest Concert (ECM)

Oscar Peterson: On a Clear Day (Mack Ave)

Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1963-64 (Live) (Jazz Detective)

Best Beyond Jazz:

Tedeschi-Trucks Band: I Am the Moon-A Four Album Set (Fantasy)

NEW RELEASES

1. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, For the Love of Fire and Water (RogueArt)
2. Tony Malaby's Sabino, The Cave of Winds (Pyroclastic)
3. Charles Lloyd, Trios: Sacred Thread (Blue Note)
4. Immanuel Wilkins, The 7th Hand (Blue Note)
5. Al Foster, Reflections (Smoke Sessions)
6. Terri Lyne Carrington, New Standards Vol. 1 (Candid)
7. John Scofield, John Scofield (ECM)
8. Franco Ambrosetti, Nora (Enja)
9. Free Form Funky Freqs, Hymn of the 3rd Galaxy (Ropeadope)
10. SWR Big Band-Magnus Lindgren-John Beasley, Bird Lives (ACT '21)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Los Angeles Forum April 26, 1969 (Legacy/Experience Hendrix)
2. Cecil Taylor, The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert: The Town Hall, NYC November 4, 1973 (Oblivion)
3. Frank Kimbrough, 2003-2006: Lullabluebye/Play (Palmetto)

1. Franco Ambrosetti, Nora (Enja)

2. Julian Lage, View with a Room (Blue Note)

3. Charles Lloyd Trios, Chapel (Blue Note)

4. John Scofield, John Scofield (ECM) 

5. Pasquale Grasso, Be-Bop! (Sony Masterworks)

6. Bill Frisell, Four (Blue Note)

7. Marta Sanchez, SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum) (Whirlwind Reordings)

8. Dave Stryker, As We Are (Strike Zone) 

9. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Mesmerism (Yeros7 Music)

10. Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra, Popular Culture (Community Music, Vol. 4) (Royal Potato Family)

Honorable Mention:

Seamus Blake, New York Factor, Vol. 1 (self-release); Tyshawn Sorey Trio + 1, The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism (Pi); Javon Jackson, The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni (Solid Jackson); Immanuel Wilkins, The 7th Hand (Blue Note); Mary Halvorson, Amaryllis (Nonesuch); The Jon Cowerd Trio, Pride And Joy (Le Cog Records); Enrico Rava/Fred Hersch, The Song Is You (ECM); Terri Lyne Carrington, New Standards Vol. 1 (Candid); Gaia Wilmer Large Ensemble, Folia: The Music of Egbert Gismonti (Sunnyside); Fareed Haque, Return to the Joyous Lake (Wahdude Music); Marc Copland Quartet,  Someday (InnerVoice Jazz); Conrad Herwig, The Latin Side of Mingus (Savant);  Melissa Aldana, 12 Stars (Nonesuch). 

Redman/Mehldau/McBride/Blade, LongGone (Nonesuch); JD Allen, Americana Vol. 2 (Savant); Samara Joy, Linger Awhile (Verve);  Burton/McPherson Trio featuring Dezron Douglas,The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village (Giant Step Arts); Miguel Zenón, Mùsica De Las Américas (Miel Music); Peter Erskine, Live in Italy (Fuzzy Music); Dave Liebman, Truth and Honesty (Newvelle Records); Erik Friedlander, A Queen's Firefly (Skiptone Records); Bobby Watson, Back Home in Kansas City (Smoke Sessions); Will Vinson, Tripwire (Whirlwind Recordings);  Harish Raghavan, In Tense (Whirlwind Recordings).

 Jakob Bro/Joe Lovano, Once Around The Room: A Tribute to Paul Motian (ECM); Samo Salamon, Dolphyology: Complete Eric Dolphy for Solo Guitar (Samo Records); Alternative Guitar Summit, Honoring Pat Martino, Vol. 1 (HighNote); Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead, Poetic (self release); Julieta Eugenio, Jump (Greenleaf Music); Steve Cardenas/Ben Allison/Ted Nash, Healing Power (Sunnyside); Jon Irabagon, Rising Sun (Irabbagast); Kris Allen, June (Truth Revolution Recording); Gary Smulyan, Tadd’s All, Folks (SteepleChase); Michael Blake, Combobulate (Newvelle Records); Wadada Leo Smith, The Emerald Duets (TUM); James Singleton,  Malabar (Sinking City Records); Kate Baker & Vic Juris, Return to Shore (StrikeZone).

Poll 2022

MUSICIANS OF THE YEAR

  Lifetime achievement: Amina Claudine Myers

Violin: Gwen Laster

Viola: Melanie Dyer

Cello: Lester St. Louis

Harp: Zeena Parkins

Flute: Nicole Mitchell

Clarinet: Ned Rothenberg

Bassoon: Claire de Brunner

Trumpet: Mac Gollehon

French Horn: Vincent Chancey

Trombone: Steve Swell

Tuba: Joe Daley

Soprano saxophone: Sam Newsome

Alto saxophone: Darius Jones

Tenor saxophone: James Brandon Lewis

Baritone saxophone: Claire Daly

Electric guitar: Chris Cochrane

Acoustic guitar: Marco Capelli

Various fretted instrument: Cynthia Sayer (plectrum banjo)

Upright bass: Ken Filiano

Electric bass: Jamaaladeen Tacuma

Piano: Mara Rosenbloom

Drumset: Michael Wimberly

Percussion: Warren Smith

Vibraphone: Patricia Brennan

Multi-instrumentalist: Scott Robinson

Vocals: Fay Victor

Spoken Word: Tracie Morris

DUO: Elliott Sharp and Tracie Morris

SMALL GROUP: Ceramic Dog

LARGE ENSEMBLE: Ed Palermo Big Band

 

New Releases

1)    Sun Ra Arkestra, Living Sky (Omni Sound)

2)    Ches Smith, Interpret It Well (Pyroclastic)

3)    Elliott Sharp and Eric Mingus, Songs From the Rogue State (Zoar)

4)    We Free Strings, Love in the Form of Sacred Outrage (ESP-Disk)

5)    Bi Ba Doom, Graceful Collision (Astral Spirits)

6)    Mac Gollehon, The End is the Beginning (Nefarious Industries)

7)    Heroes Are Gangleaders, LeAutoRoiOgraphy (577)

8)    Gene Pritsker’s Sound Liberation, Let’s Save the World Suite (Composers Concordance)

9)    John Zorn, Meditations on the Tarot (Tzadik)

10)Cint Bahr, Puzzle Box (MoonJune)

Historical albums/Unearthed Gems

1)    No Safety, Spill (Cuneiform)

2)    Cecil Taylor, The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert (Oblivion)

3)    Nikki Giovanni, The Way I Feel (Modern Harmonic)
 

Vocal album: Elliott Sharp and Eric Mingus, Songs from the Rogue State (Zoar)

 

Debut album: Bi Ba Doom, Graceful Collision (Astral Spirits)

Live album: No Safety, Live at the Knitting Factory (Cuneiform)

Solo album: Ava Mendoza, New Spells (Relative Pitch)

Large ensemble album: Sun Ra Arkestra, Living Sky (Omni Sound)

Record labels of the year:Cuneiform, 577, Modern Harmonic

Venues of the year: Café Bohemia (Manhattan), 411 Kent (Brooklyn)

The music has experienced an expanse over recent years, particularly with spoken word coming into a newly rediscovered place up front. I feel this advancement, only in part an homage to the Beat Generation, compiles the best of free jazz, post-mod composition and a bold, Left outspokenness. 

Here are my 25 favorite jazz tracks to be featured on the year-end-best episode of my radio program The Motif, KBOO-FM in Portland, Oregon. The top ten albums correspond to my poll ballot, though not in this order. 

"On the Way to Be Free," Chicago Soul Jazz Collective (On the Way to Be Free, Chicago Soul Jazz Collective Meets Dee Alexander, jMarq) 

"Respected Destroyer," Terri Lyne Carrington (The New Standard Vol. 1, Candid) 

"Navegando (Las Estrellas Nos Guian)," Miguel Zenon (Musica de las Americas, Miel Music) 

"Blood Count," Charles Lloyd Trios (Chapel, Blue Note) 

"Newport Aperitif/Diminuendo & Crescendo in Blue," Steven Bernstein and the Hot 8 (A Manifesto of Henryisms, Community Music Vol. 3, Royal Potato Family) 

"Finger Buster," Emmet Cohen (Uptown in Orbit, Mack Avenue)

"Monroe," Bill Frisell (Four, Blue Note) 

"Autumn Leaves," Tyshawn Sorey Trio (Mesmerism, Yeros 7 Music) 

"Moon Song," Cecile McLoren Salvant (Ghost Song, Nonesuch) 

"Marshall's Groove," Sun Ra Arkestra (Living Sky, Omni Sound)

"Invitation," Ahmad Jamal (Emerald City Nights Live at the Penthouse 1965-1966, Jazz Detective) 

"Pent-up House," Al Foster (Reflections, Smoke Sessions)

"Sittin' at the Bar," Eugenie Jones (Players, Open Mic Records) 

"Wade in the Water," Javon Jackson (The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, Solid Jackson Records) 

"In These Times," Makaya McCraven (In These Times, International Anthem Recording)

"Prayer," Joel Ross (The Parable of the Poet, Blue Note) 

 "Witness," Immanuel Wilkins (The 7th Hand, Blue Note) 

"David's Tumbao," Duran/Virelles (Front Street Duets, Alma)

"Cairo Street Ride," Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra (In the Valley, Stricker Street)

"Homesick," Doug Wamble (Blues In the Present Tense, Halcyonic) 

"Unonkanyamba," Ndudozo Makhathini (In the Spirit of Ntu, Blue Note) 

"You've Got It Bad Girl," Donald Byrd (Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux, Blue Note) 

"Tributary," Julian Lage (View with a Room, Blue Note)

"Sweet Pumpkin," Samara Joy (Linger Awhile, Verve) 

"This World Is a Mean World," JD Allen (Americana Vol. 2, Savant) 

Favorite Non-Jazz Album

I Am the Moon, Tedeschi Trucks Band (Fantasy, Four Discs, available separately or in a boxed set) 

1  Jim McNeeley/Frankfurt Radio BigBand/Chris Potter  Ritual   Double Moon

2  David Virelles      Nuna     Pi

3  Mary Halvorson      Belladonna     Nonesuch

4  Charles Lloyd     Sacred Thread     Blue Note

5  Matt Shipp  World Construct   ESP

7  Sun Ra     Living Sky  Omni

8  Billy Drummond & Freedom of Ideas.  Valse Sinistre  Cellar Music Group

9  Marta Sanchez   SAAM    Whirlwind

10   Steve Cardenas / Ben Allison /Ted Nash  Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley    Sunnyside

10 Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra   Clean Feed

 

Historical:

Lennie Tristano     Personal Recordings     Mosaic

Sun Ra    Universe in Blue     Cosmic Myth

Max Roach   We Insist    Candid

 

Vocal:

Peter Stampfel     20^th Century in 100 Songs   Louisiana Red Hot

 Latin:

Dafnis Prieto    Cantar   Dafnison Music

 

BEST NEW RELEASES OF 2022 :  

Geoff Keezer And Friends : "Playdate"

Tyshawn Sorey Trio +1 Greg Osby : "The Off-Off-Broadway Guide to Synergism"

Dave Stryker: "As We Are" 

Peter Erskine Trio "Live in Italy"

Mary Halvorsen: "Amaryliss"

Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio D'Ete: "Turning Point"

Grant Geisman:"Blooz"

Boris Kozlov: "First Things First"

Jeff Coffin: "Between Dreaming and Joy"

Dave Liebman: "Trust and Honesty"

Steve Feifke & Bijon Watson: Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra

Reverso: "Harmonic Alchemy"

Pete Malinverni: "On the Town"

Oz Noy, Ugoma Okegow, Ray Marchica: "Riverside"

Yellowjackets: "Parallel Motion"

Martin Wind and the NY Bass Quartet: "Air"

Michael Blake: "Combobulate"

Steve Cardenas, Ben  Allison & Ted Nash: "Healing Power-The Music of Carla Bley"

Pasquale Grasso: "BeBop!"

JD Allen: "Americana Vol2"

Kevin Eubanks & Orrin Evans: "EEE"

Michael Dease: "Best Next Thing"

Jon Cowherd Trio: "Pride & Joy"

Michael Wollny Trio: "Ghosts"

Marshall Gilkes: "Cyclic Journey"

Best Vocal Albums:

Claudia Acuna: "Duo"

Giacomo Gates: "You"

Flora Purim: "If You Will"

Cecile McLorin Savant: "Ghost Song"

Sarah Gazarek: "Vanity"

Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Aymee Nuviola: "Live at Marciac"

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM:

Miguel Zenon: "Musica de Las Americas"

BEST HISTORICAL RECORDINGS

Bill Evans: Morning Glory/ Inner Spirit (2 albums)

Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights: (2 albums)

Mingus the lost tapes at Ronnie Scott's : 

2022 List 

Home.S. Esbjørn Svensson Solo, ACT 

I AM Beyond by Isaiah Collier & Michael Shekwoaga Ode, HHV Records

Ghost Song by Cecile McLorin Salvant, Nonesuch

Jazz is Expensive/Live in Saalfelden by Kühn Fu, Berthold Records

Elastic Wave by Gard Nilssen Acustic Unity, ECM

Louise by Emile Parisien, ACT

Wind Rose by Majamisty TriO, Mistyland

Melange by Schime & Muzikon, Sequoia Music

Catching the Wind by Vladimir Samardžić, SKC NS

Fruška Džungla (Jungle) by Dragon's Fuel, HORZ

Bonus

3 Generations by Nils Landgren, ACT