Page 16 – Best of Jazz

Orchestre National De Jazz, Olivier Benoit – Europa

Europa is an amazing big-band jazz project led by Olivier Benoit during his years conducting the Orchestre National de Jazz. It resulted in four must-have albums that we will explore in this article: Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Oslo.

The Orchestre National De Jazz (or ONJ) [Discogs] is a French jazz orchestra created in 1986 via the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, with the intention to bring to life and renew the repertoire of great jazz orchestras. The orchestra is directed by an appointed conductor and is renewed every 2-5 years. This is a state-subsidized formation and has the means to produce, distribute, and present its creations worldwide.

Keith Jarrett – Piano Solos (1972-1997)

This list provides an overview of all Keith Jarrett’s solo piano recordings, as well as all his solo piano concerts, and how much material ECM is still sitting on and will hopefully release someday.

Alexander Hawkins Mirror Canon – Break a Vase

Break a Vase is an album by Alexander Hawkins‘ new sextet Mirror Canon (with Richard Olátúndé Baker, Neil Charles, Stephen Davis, Otto Fischer, and Shabaka Hutchings). It was recorded by Will Biggs on July 27 and 28, 2021, at Challow Park Studios, in Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom, and it was released on January 21, 2021, on Intakt Records.

Mathis Picard – Live at the Museum

Live at the Museum is New York City-based French and Malagasy pianist Mathis Picard’s first solo release. It was recorded live at the National Jazz Museum of Harlem in New York City, in January 2019, and it will be released on January 28, 2022, on Outside in Music.

Jazz January 2022

What should you expect in Jazz this month? This is our January 2022 Selection of albums that have already been released or have yet to be released this month (What to Wait For?). These albums got our full attention and should be worth your time.

The albums are ordered by the release date.

Discover the list of the selected albums [here], and of the entire list of releases for 2022 [here].

Bruno Tocanne, Didier Freboeuf - Ça n'empêche pas le vacarme

Bruno Tocanne, Didier Fréboeuf – Ça n’empêche pas le vacarme

Ça n’empêche pas le vacarme is a duet album by drummer Bruno Tocanne and pianist Didier Fréboeuf. The album was recorded at Studio Juillaguet in Boisné-la-Tude, France, in May 2021, and it was released on December 10, 2021, on Instant Music Records.

MC4 – Music In Unusual Spaces

Music In Unusual Spaces is an album by guitarist Matt Clark and his new quartet with Charlotte Keeffe on trumpet, Ozzy Moysey on double bass, and James Edmunds on drums. Music In Unusual Spaces was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Nick Endacott-Gibb on location and at Wizard Audio, Hove, United Kingdom, and was released on December 10, 2021

Cassius Lambert – Vendi

Vendi is Cassius Lambert‘s third full-length release after Quote (2015) and Symetry (2018). Vendi is a solo album, where everything is composed and performed with an electric bass, without any additional loops or overdubs. The album was recorded in 2020 and was released on December 3, 2021.

Jazz December 2021

What should you expect in Jazz this month? This is our December 2021 Selection of albums that have already been released or have yet to be released this month (What to Wait For?). These albums got our full attention and should be worth your time.

The albums are ordered by the release date.

A playlist with one track per selected album is available at the end of the post.

Sara Schoenbeck – Self-Titled

Sara Schoenbeck’s self-titled album has nine different partners for nine different duets. The album was recorded and mixed between May 2019-April 2021 in seven places across North America, including but not limited to Studio G in Brooklyn, NY, Afterlife Studio in Vancouver, BC, and London Bridge Studio in Seattle, WA.