What should you expect from jazz this month?

Welcome to our July 2022 selection of albums that have already been released or will soon be released this month (“What to Wait For”). These albums got our full attention and are worth your time. They are listed in order of release date.

July 2022 Selection

This is their first release with Jon Scott as the new drummer, replacing Rob Turner. It definitely sounds like a GoGo Penguin album, yet slightly different in a natural and enjoyable way.

Chris Illingworth: piano; Nick Blacka: bass; Jon Scott: drums
Release date July 1, 2022

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“I’m concerned with making beautiful music. Even when the music is free and avant-garde, I want it to reach into people’s hearts. I like to play fast and loud and high, but beauty is always first, though not in a precious way. It can be in a rough way, too.”
–Kirk Knuffke

This is all that you are about to find in this beautiful double-CD album by cornetist Kirk Knuffke, who was part of last year’s James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet Jesup Wagon. This time, Knuffke is in a trio with the two legends, Michael Bisio and Matthew Shipp.

Kirk Knuffke: cornet, compositions; Michael Bisio: bass; Matthew Shipp: piano
Release date July 1, 2022

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“This album is a celebration of the music, joy, and spirit that the great master-teacher Pharoah Sanders brings to the world through his lifelong creative journey. We gathered at Los Angeles’ Blue Whale jazz club to perform some of our favorite Pharoah compositions from a place of love, respect, and gratitude for all the inspiration he’s brought to each of us. No one can play this music how Pharoah plays it – his expression is unique and imprinted on every one of his compositions in the deepest of ways. We can’t possibly improve on his mastery and share this music simply as a heartfelt thank you to Pharoah – we celebrate you, and are so grateful for all the timeless – and timely – music you have gifted to the world”
–Mark de Clive-Lowe

Mark de Clive-Lowe: piano, rhodes, keyboards, live effects; Dwight Trible: vocals; Teodross Avery: saxophone; Corbin Jones: bass, souzaphone; Tommaso Cappellato: drums; Carlos Nino: percussion.
Release date July 1, 2022

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“Group Theory: Black Music is a stunning new statement from South African drummer and composer Tumi Mogorosi. Standing in the lineage of South African greats such as Louis Moholo-Moholo, Makaya Ntshoko and Ayanda Sikade, Mogorosi is one of the foremost drummers working anywhere in the world, with a flexible, powerful style that brings a distinctive South African inflection to the polyrhythmic tradition of Elvin Jones, Max Roach and Art Blakey.”
–Mushroom Hour Half Hour

Tumi Mogorosi: drums; Andile Yenana: piano; Dalisu Ndlazi: upright bass; Mthunzi Mvubu: alto saxophone; Reza Khota: electric guitar; Tumi Pheko: trumpet; Siya Mthembu: vocals (5); Gabi Motuba: vocals (10); Lesego Rampolokeng: vocals (11) | Brenda Thulo, Cecilia Phetoe, Charles Shikwambana, Fortunate Jwara, Noluthando Biyana, Sibongile Mollo, Steve Mthombeni, Tebogo Magwe, Themba Maseko: voices; Thulisile Ntetha: conductor
Release date July 8, 2022

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This live recording at Cafe Oto with Pat Thomas on the piano is certainly an experience. With Sture Ericson on saxophone and Raymond Strid on drums, ‘Bagman’ brings all that you expect from an experimental free-jazz session by such musicians, exploring an impressive spectrum of sounds and melodies.

Sture Ericson: Tenor and soprano saxophones; Pat Thomas: Piano, electronics; Raymond Strid: Drums
Release date July 22, 2022

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Onyx is the second release by vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, after her debut album Azalea (2019). It has a very surprising mix of classic jazz and drum and bass rhythms that is very satisfying. It offers an unusual space for the vibraphone, and it works so very well.

Sasha Berliner: vibraphones; Marcus Gilmore: drums; Burniss Travis II: bass; James Francies: piano, Fender Rhodes | Special guests: Jaleel Shaw: alto saxophone; Julius Rodriguez: analog synths; Thana Alexa: vocals
Release date July 22, 2022

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Helen Anahita Wilson: piano, drones; Shahbaz Hussain: tabla, voice
Release date July 22, 2022

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In the liner notes for Nearness, it says, “A number of the pieces emerged organically just from the act of sitting down, playing, and letting the music come together on its own while honoring melody and a sense of time, even while playing free.”

Throughout Nearness, the melodies are just so evident, thanks to the perfectly connected duet. It seems that naturally, they defined their style as a dynamic, robust sweetness, which is so good and so pleasant.

Allison Miller: drums, percussion; Carmen Staaf: piano
Release date July 29, 2022

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Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes is a rather unique album. Let yourself be immersed in the captivating, experimental sensory and textural experience offered, with enough of the usual effervescence to draw you in again and again.

Nate Wooley: trumpet, amplifier, compositions; Mary Halvorson: guitar; Susan Alcorn: pedal steel guitar; Ryan Sawyer: drums; Mat Maneri: viola (2); Trevor Dunn: electric bass (4)
Release date July 29

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“This work is a braiding together of over 32 years of classical and jazz study on the cello with more than 20 years performing in Washington D.C. It is a distinct place to learn and try new things. I’ve worked with some of these musicians for well over a decade and I think it shows in the music.”
–Janel Leppin

Janel Leppin: cello, keyboards; Luke Stewart: bass; Kim Sator: harp; Anthony Pirog: guitar; Larry Ferguson: drums; Sarah Hughes: alto saxophone; Brian Settles: tenor saxophone
Release date July 29, 2022

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Jazz July 2022 – New Records Selection

• GoGo Penguin – Between Two Waves (XXIM Records)
• Kirk Knuffke Trio – Gravity Without Airs (TAO Forms)
• Mark de Clive-Lowe – Freedom – Celebrating the Music of Pharoah Sanders (Soul Bank Music)
• Tumi Mogorosi – Group Theory: Black Music (Mushroom Hour Half Hour)
• Sture Ericson, Pat Thomas, Raymond Strid – Bagman Live at Cafe Oto (577 Records)
• Sasha Berliner – Onyx (JMI Recordings)
• Shahbaz Hussain and Helen Anahita Wilson – Silsila (New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings)
• Allison Miller & Carmen Staaf – Nearness (Sunnyside Records)
• Nate Wooley – Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes (Pyroclastic Records)
• Janel Leppin – Ensemble Volcanic Ash (Cuneiform Records)

Next, discover the selection of our Best Jazz Albums 2022 (so far).

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Playlist

Listen to these tracks on our Spotify playlist, “Best Jazz 2022”.

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