JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of Autumn 2023
Our jazz columnist chooses the best new jazz albums of Autumn 2023 while reflecting on a new documentary, Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity.
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The 17 Best Jazz Albums of 2023
Some of it is conventionally beautiful and some thrills by rubbing against the edges of tonality. But all of the best jazz of 2023 serves a vision.
Immanuel Wilkins’ Second Blue Note Release Is the Real “Spiritual Jazz”
Rising star alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins pushes into revelation with his quartet and guests, making modern jazz at a peak of drama on The 7th Hand.
Jlin and Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix Steve Lehman and Henry Threadgill in New Series
Pi Recordings celebrate 20 years in the music business with a series of ambitious remix projects. The first two feature Jlin and Georgia Anne Muldrow.
Liberty Ellman’s ‘Last Desert’ Is Unafraid to Charm You and Challenge You
Guitarist Liberty Ellman's compositions for this brilliant sextet on Last Desert demand that you pay careful attention, but not that you tolerate harsh tonalities.
Steve Lehman Trio + Craig Taborn: The People I Love
Saxophonist and composer Steve Lehman merges jazz tradition with New Jazz exploration in a format that enjoys a connection to the past even as it pushes forward.
The Best Jazz of 2019
Our jazz critics create four quartets of great creative music, demonstrating four trends that keep "jazz" relevant in a new century.
Vijay Iyer Sextet: Far From Over
The everywhere-at-once pianist has recorded with his sextet, using a bank of horns for the first time and touching several different modes. An album of surprise, tradition, and exploration. But it grooves too.
Liberty Ellman: Radiate
Liberty Ellman's first album in nine years makes the case that he should be composing and recording more often.