Favorite Jazz Albums of 2023

I was doing a lot of work around the house, like painting, back in October and I was growing tired of my usual playlists. So I was happy when I stumbled on some 2023 jazz releases I hadn't heard. That set me off on a jazz binge over the last three months of the year which was so fun because I discovered all sorts of new stuff, enough that I could make a year-end list and mix.

I hope to continue diving into new jazz artists and recordings next year. While I love all my old jazz albums from Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, etc., it was exciting to seek out new stuff the same way I am constantly on the lookout for new music in the ambient sphere or in the indie rock scene. I see so many people get hung up on the latest reissues of a classic jazz recordings that I wonder if they ever take the time to appreciate any of the excellent new music being released.

Full list of my favorite Jazz Albums of 2023 in alphabetical order:

Ancient Infinity Orchestra - River of Light

Anja Lauvdal - Farewell to Faraway Friends (wurlitzer improvisations 2021-23)

Arooj Aftab, Vijay lyer, Shahzad Ismaily - Love in Exile

Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal & Emile Parisien & Vincent Peirani - Les Egares

Dave Easley - Ballads

Daniel Villarreal - Lados B

Dhafer Youssef - Street of Minarets

EABS & Jaubiln - Search of a Better Tomorrow

Eli Keszler - LIVE

Fire! Orchestra - Echoes

Girls in Airports - How It is Now

Kamaal Williams - Stings

Mette Henriette - Drifting

Pat Metheny - Dream Box

Peace Flag Ensemble - Astral Plains

Peter Somuah - Letter to the Universe

Phi-Psonics - Octava

Scree - Jasmine On A Night In July

Scrimshire - Paroxysm

Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade - Dance of the Elders

Yoni Mayraz - Dybbuk Tse!

Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music

LINKS TO EACH ALBUM:

Ancient Infinity Orchestra - River of Light:

https://ancientinfinityorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/river-of-light

Anja Lauvdal - Farewell to Faraway Friends (wurlitzer improvisations 2021-23):

https://anjalauvdal.bandcamp.com/album/farewell-to-faraway-friends-vol-1-2

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily - Love in Exile:

https://shop.loveinexile.net/

Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal & Emile Parisien & Vincent Peirani - Les Egares:

https://sissokosegalparisienpeirani.bandcamp.com/album/les-gar-s-3

Dave Easley - Ballads:

https://daveeasley.bandcamp.com/album/ballads

Daniel Villarreal - Lados B:

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/lados-b

Dhafer Youssef - Street of Minarets:

https://www.amazon.com/Street-Minarets-Dhafer-Youssef/dp/B0BLFKCLQ4

EABS & Jaubiln - Search of a Better Tomorrow:

https://eabs.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of-a-better-tomorrow

Eli Keszler - LIVE:

https://elikeszler.bandcamp.com/album/live

Fire! Orchestra - Echoes:

https://fireorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/echoes

Girls in Airports - How It is Now:

https://girlsinairports.bandcamp.com/album/how-it-is-now

Kamaal Williams - Stings:

https://kamaalwilliams.bandcamp.com/album/stings-2

Mette Henriette - Drifting:

https://ecmrecords.com/product/drifting-mette-henriette/

Pat Metheny - Dream Box:

https://stores.portmerch.com/patmetheny/

Peace Flag Ensemble - Astral Plains:

https://peaceflagensemble.bandcamp.com/album/astral-plains

Peter Somuah - Letter to the Universe:

https://actrecords.bandcamp.com/album/letter-to-the-universe-2

Phi-Psonics - Octava:

https://phi-psonics.bandcamp.com/album/octava

Scree - Jasmine On A Night In July:

https://screeband.bandcamp.com/album/jasmine-on-a-night-in-july

Scrimshire - Paroxysm:

https://scrimshire.bandcamp.com/album/paroxysm

Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade - Dance of the Elders:

https://ecmrecords.com/product/dance-of-the-elders-wolfgang-muthspiel-scott-colley-brian-blade/

Yoni Mayraz - Dybbuk Tse!:

https://yonimayraz.bandcamp.com/album/dybbuk-tse

Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music:

https://yussefdayes.bandcamp.com/album/black-classical-m