The Free Jazz Blog’s Top 10 for 2022, a long time tradition at the site.
Below is my intro, followed by my excerpted list. For the full list of top albums and lists from the other writers, visit the blog here: https://www.freejazzblog.org/2022/12/free-jazz-blogs-top-10s-of-2022.html
By Paul Acquaro
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.
… and cut to my list …
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)
