Steve’s Don’t Miss 2023 List (projects you want to know about)

“Best” is a pretty audacious term – as if one has heard everything and can discern the superlative entry. I prefer to spotlight projects that are simply “must hear.” These are records that, first and foremost, entertain. Pound for pound, track for track, they bring life, energy, and vigor to the listener. Some offer innovation. Some offer new takes on standards. They are all fresh to the ear. Most of these projects (plus a few honorable mentions) are in the KUVO library, and a few even we missed. Don’t you go missing these great records, whether on vinyl, CD, or stream.

Adam Bodine – Offscreen Pursuits
It’s been a few years since Adam Bodine’s multi-keyboard playfulness grabbed my attention.  His 2023 release “Offscreen Pursuits” fulfills the promise I have seen him, that of a master musical storyteller. Tracks on this CD are full of twists and turns, intrigue, pathos, and cliffhangers. Will some filmmaker somewhere please put Bodine to work on a film?! Casual listeners will find themselves leaning into the drama. (https://adambodinemusic.com/audio/)

Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter * Superblue – Iridescent Spree
Funky and free, Elling, Hunter, DJ Harrison, and especially drummer Corey Fonville deliver a solid follow up to last year’s breakout. Tracks like “Naughty Number Nine” have a bluesy stank that you don’t often find on Sesame Street number songs. Danceable, but not necessarily, with space for Elling’s philosophical ponderings. It’s good when classic jazz standard-bearers like Elling and Hunter break out of the mold and find a new thing. Superblue is a new thing. (https://kurtelling.bandcamp.com/album/superblue-the-iridescent-spree)

Cory Henry – Live at the Piano
Straight. Up. Church. Cory Henry is young and cosmopolitan, but he taps into something old and deep, even rural, on his second live release (his 14^th overall). Known for his breakthrough dynamics on the Hammond B-3, “Live at the Piano” allows us to hear Henry at the 88s, singing (like John Legend without the polish) and composing at an elemental level, plus his charm in a live setting, plus ferocious virtuosity. All praises to the Most High for this artist and his Grammy-nominated record. (https://coryhenry.com/music)

Santi Dibriano & Arkestra Bembe – Ashanti
“Bembé” is a Yoruban celebration with food, drink, music and dance. That’s in full effect with Panamanian-born bassist Dibriano’s eighth release, featuring a stellar nonet with a couple of names you might know from the New York scene: Andrea Brachfeld (flute), TK Blue (alto sax), Robby Ameen (drums), plus lights out work from guitarist Adrian Alvarádo. With a great version of Bobby Hutcherson’s “Till Then,” this work is Afro-Caribbean and modern – a jazz bembé for the ears. (https://www.jojorecords.com/ashanti)

Brad Goode – The Unknown
You might call this a “supergroup” – four of the region’s finest, most inventive, prolific musicians under the direction of a pretty bad trumpet dude. Goode’s assemblage of bassist Seth Lewis and keyboard wizard Jeff Jenkins is propelled by Ghanaian drummer Paa Know – a flammable recipe for modern fusionness. Their surprising covers of Michel LeGrand’s “The Windmills of Your Mind,” “Jóia” by Caetano Veloso, and Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” are delightful. This one’s easy to put on “repeat.” (https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82865)

Dan Trudell – Fishin’ Again – A Tribute to Clyde Stubblefield & Dr. Lonnie Smith
THIS. Some folks can’t get enough of organ grooves, snapping snares and hi-hats, syncopation, up-for-the-down-stroke, make-yo-face-go-funny flow. Organist Trudell played a gig with the immortal JB drummer and once studied under Dr. Smith (“The Turbanator”). Give drummer Dana Hall some – he locked in on what was happening. Guitarist Mike Standal gets respect and he wails. A three-man horn section rounds out this free funk jam record. (https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22209)

Elio Villafranca – Standing By The Crossroads
Latin Jazz is WAY too limiting for this project and this artist. In mood, in direction, in breadth of direction, in orchestration, in collaboration, the Cuban-born, NY-based multi-hyphenate indulges the listener with 100 minutes of music that reflects the intersection of religions and influences in his native land – thus “crossroads.” A brilliant musical triptik where all directions satisfy.(https://www.artistshare.com/Projects/Experience/353/526/1/Elio-Villafranca-Standing-by-the-Crossroads)

Nicholas Payton – Drip
Nicholas Payton made his bones as a New Orleans trumpeter, but his expansion onto the keyboards leapt past the trad sound. He’s always been a modernist, at the vanguard of what he calls #BAM – Black American Music. This 2023 project has all the soul and groove you could want, anchored by Atlanta players and some welcome guests: Robert Glasper, Christie Dasheill, Patrice Rushen and Michael Franks. (https://nicholaspayton.com/product/drip/)

ARTEMIS – In Real Time
Whether hard-driving or sentimentally delicate, this is seriously excellent music. Tight, interactive, and masters of the spaces, these six women are at the top of their game. To be redundant, that’s why Rosnes, Miller, Jensen, Ueda, Grover and Tarantino are a legit supergroup in the modern jazz vein. (https://store.bluenote.com/products/artemis-in-real-time)

Lonnie Liston Smith – JAZZ IS DEAD 17
This fusion master’s first release in A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. This new music is as good as what he left us with in the 1990s. Maybe better. Thanks to the Jazz is Dead crew in LA for pulling Smith (and other legends) out of “retirement.” The irony of the label’s name gets me every time I hear it. Lonnie Liston Smith! OMG. (https://www.jazzisdead.com/lonnielistonsmith)

Nina Simone – You’ve Got to Learn – Live at Newport Jazz Festival 1966
Not that we need another reason to fall in love with Nina Simone. Her classically trained virtuosity is heard throughout, her soul is fully exposed before a rapt audience (wish I was there). Just over a half-hour, the mix on the album reflects an imperfect, live setting. Perfect for the truth that Simone’s performance embodies. (https://shop.ninasimone.com/products/youve-got-to-learn-lp)

Carlos Henriquez – A Nuyorican Tale
For those who missed the outpouring of music from the South Bronx in the 60s, the longtime Jazz at Lincoln Center bassist has you covered. Ebullient vocals, make-you-move rhythms, drums, and percussion high in the mix, tight horns, and go-get-it-Eddie solos – this record has it all, from a Latin-Jazz perspective. (https://www.carloshenriquezmusic.com/)

Chembo Corniel Quintet – Artistas, Musicos Y Poetas
The Puerto Rican experience is a unique mistura, Taino, Spanish, African. The versatile and respected percussionist’s sixth album has empowered him to tell that interwoven story, including some spoken word. The poetry stands up, and the rhythms lay you out. Since the playwright Lin Manuel Miranda went big-time, Boriquen pride is up front. This record lets us all join the party. (https://www.chembocorniel.com/)

Kendrick Scott – Corridors
Blue Note Records gets accused of a lot of things in this new century, but they should be justly proud of this 100 percent legit JAZZ record. Even the carefully curated cover tracks are freshly improvised, and the originals pull you in. Modern and meditative, for cool background atmosphere or hotly intense listening, this is a real deal drums-bass-sax trio that answers the question “what is jazz.” (https://store.bluenote.com/products/kendrick-scott-corridors)

Aguankó – Unidad (Unity)
Imagine walking into a club in suburban Detroit and hearing the hottest Latin Jazz this side of Calle Ocho. The surprise of this Ann Arbor group led by percussionist composer Alberto Nacif makes the music even more enjoyable. This septet cooks with gas through 11 tracks that don’t let up. Described as Cuban-inspired Latin Jazz seasoned with “funk and sabor,” it’s time to taste Aguankó for yourself. (https://www.aguanko.com/music/)

Anthony Hervey – Words From My Horn
I want to get on this young man’s bandwagon early. Based on this debut album, Anthony Hervey is going places. This project touches on straight-ahead, cool, noir, even a little traditional jazz (rag) territory, and his players are entirely up to the task of covering this wide swath of “jazz.” He composed all but two tracks, and watch out, he’s got vocal chops, too. I’m looking forward to what’s next. (https://www.outsideinmusic.com/artistsandreleases/anthony-hervey-words-from-my-horn-album)

Bill Kopper – Ancient Rhythms
Boulder-based guitarist Bill Kopper was aiming for a certain chill vibe, a mood that eases the stress around you. It’s the magic of his adopted genre – Brazilian, conveyed through ten original tracks that have the power to take you there. Co-producer/pianist Erik Deutsch, drummer Paa Kow, reedmen Greg LaLiberte and John Gunter, and others make this project for maximum relaxin’. (https://www.psaudio.com/products/ancient-rhythms)

Brandon Sanders – Compton’s Finest
Fifty-two-year-old social worker and drummer Brandon Sanders comes straight outa Compton with a winning debut collection of covers. His snappy rhythms throughout keep the mainstream groove on full, with highlights from vibraphonist Warren Wolf and a couple of sweet tracks with vocalist Jazzmeia Horn. His Kansas City roots shine through these covers nicely in 2023. (https://brandonsandersmusic.com/music)

Shuteen Erdenebaatar Quartet – Rising Sun
It’s always fun discovering new talent, and at age 25, Mongolian-born, Munich-based Shuteen Erdenebaatar qualifies. Awards, she’s got them. Record deal with Motéma Music, check. But her flourishes soar, and her compositions and arrangements break through mere musicality to emotion. If “Rising Sun” is a glimpse, there’s a vista on the horizon.(https://shuteenerdenebaatar.bandcamp.com/album/rising-sun)

HONORABLE MENTION:
Two projects released in 2023 salute the enduring legacy of Mary Lou Williams. Four-mallet master Cecilia Smith released The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Volume 1: Small Ensemble Repertoire. In November, we received a redux of Williams’ landmark Zodiac Suite from pianist Aaron Diehl & The Knights. Both are worthy of a deeper dive.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I will change my mind tomorrow. But this list is good for today.

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