Chaotic Good Jazz #22
5 Albums I Missed + 5 More You Can't Miss
Hey there and welcome to another week of Chaotic Good Jazz, thanks for reading!
I saw a quote earlier this week from
of comparing new releases and Pokémon…
…you can’t catch ‘em all! That post inspired this post a little bit.
My last newsletter of 2024 was called 8 Albums You May Have Missed and it was a really fun list to make. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to do it again, I’ve picked out 5 albums released in early 2025 that have been under my radar, until now.
Don’t make the same mistake I did and deny your ears the chaotically good jazz below.
Albums I Missed
First up, the archival release of Peter Gordon & The Love of Life Orchestra’s energy-packed performances in early 1980’s New York City. Then, Xhosa Cole’s live Thelonious Monk tribute, On A Modern Genius (Vol. 1). Both of which I probably would have featured in my 20 Live Albums post from 2 weeks ago had I heard them before now.
Then the Teo Olter Quintet’s The Heart and especially the track “It’s just nice to be here, so let me do my thing“ need to be added to your listening queue sooner rather than later. Followed by the intense Paranoid II from alto saxophonist Tom Weeks, with
James Paul Nadien on drums and Shogo Yamagishi on bass.
Natureza by the São Paulo-based jazz-funk collective Bufo Borealis has that late 70’s experimental-rock-cosmic-psychedelic-jazz-funk vibe. So yeah, of course I’m into to it.
LOLO80 | Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra | Adjacent Records | January 3, 2025
Experimental Jazz, Nu Disco
Favorite Tracks: “Macho Music Danceteria“, “Casino Danceteria“
On A Modern Genius, Vol. 1 | Xhosa Cole | Stoney Lane Records |January 10, 2025
Contemporary Jazz
Favorite Tracks: “Trinkle, Tinkle”, “Misterioso/Straight, No Chaser”
The Heart | Teo Olter Quintet | Teo Olter Quintet | February 14, 2025
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Tracks: “It’s nice to be here, so let me do my thing”, “Running”
Paranoid II | Tom Weeks | Wolfsblood | February 14, 2025
Avant-Garde, Experimental Jazz
Favorite Tracks: “I Hate You With a Passion (For Andre Nickatina)”, “Gaye Sex”
Natureza | Bufo Borealis | ZENYATTA RECORDS | March 6, 2025
Experimental Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Favorite Tracks: “Dobok”, “Esquina”
Upcoming Releases
I’m really excited about the new Web Web album, I loved the WEB MAX albums featuring Max Herre and I’m really excited to hear more of Web Web and J.J. Whitefield (is it just me or was JEB JEB a missed opportunity here?).
SDBan, Gondwana and ATA all consistently put out great music and I can’t wait for the new Azmari, Phi-Psonics and The Flying Hats albums.
I’m also looking forward to Dualism from Bologna’s Nādt Orchestra. They describe their debut album as “a hypnotic musical journey that explores duality in all its forms, blending light and darkness, energy and melancholy, tradition and innovation. Inspired by the diverse backgrounds of the band members, it aims to break genre boundaries and create a dynamic and distinctive soundscape.” From what I’ve heard so far from the tracks, “Koko” and “Elephant”, I’m excited for more.
Plexus Plexus | Web Web, J.J. Whitefield | Compost Records | April 25, 2025
Jazz Fusion, Psychedelic Jazz
You might also like: Web Web, Max Herre | WEB MAX (2021), WEB MAX II (2023)
In Oculis | Azmari | SDBan Records | May 9, 2025
Belgian Jazz, Jazz-Funk
You might also like: Azmari | Samā'ī (2021)
Dualism | Nādt Orchestra | Locomotiv Records | May 9, 2025
Afro-Jazz, Ethio-Jazz
You might also like: Shake Stew | Lila (2023)
The Return of | The Flying Hats | ATA Records | May 16, 2023
Reggae, Funk
You might also like: The Frightnrs | Nothing More to Say (2016)
Expanding to One | Phi-Psonics | Gondwana Records | May 23, 2025
Contemporary Jazz, Spiritual Jazz
You might also like: Phi-Psonics | The Cradle (2022)
⬆️Fresh 1501. Featuring new music from Lophae, Ches Smith, Ledley, New Fossils, and Sam Gendel + Nate Mercereau
⬇️ This is Chaotic Good Jazz. I’ve revamped (and alphabetized) this playlist to include some of my absolute favorites (new and old). Consider this the Chaotic Good Jazz Hall of Fame playlist.
Sometimes my favorite albums are the most elusive ones, so if you’ve been grooving to some under-the-radar spiritual spoken-word jazz-funk, be sure to share in the comment section below.
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading and I hope your ear drums enjoyed themselves.
Can’t get enough Jazz? Come follow along on Instagram or Bluesky where I share my favorite tunes, sneak peeks into the CGJ newsletter, PNW adventures, and the occasional cat photo.
The playlist formerly known as “New Releases 2025”
Not exactly under-the-radar but one album I've been enjoying a lot lately is Ambrose Akimusire's honey from a winter stone, particularly the first track, muffled screams.
oh no.... a whole genre I'm not super familiar with to add to my listening every month. course you!/thank you!