For my 26th newsletter it only made sense (to me) that this should be an A-Z post.
Below you’ll find a mixture of new-ish releases, some albums I had on heavy rotation throughout the pandemic, plus a few new finds — looking at you Q.
Experimental spiritual jazz, jazz blues and even some Greek indie folk/free jazz this week, plus new releases added to the Fresh 150 and some of my favorite tracks from this issue added to the This is Chaotic Good Jazz playlist.
A
All Shapes Derive from the Square | The Akasha Ensemble | Tenzhug Records | January 10, 2025 (released) / 1974 (recorded)
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Track: “The Average Fine and Invisible Harp“
The backstory on this album is really wild, the reel-to-reel tape was discovered in the collection of a retired sound engineer in the summer of 2024. The only markings on the tape were the handwritten words “Akasha Ensemble, 1974”. Jazz historians now believe the group was founded by a former associate of Alice Coltrane known only as Nadira. You can read more on the album’s Bandcamp listing.
B
Big Majestic | Ellen Reid | New Amsterdam Records | August 30, 2024
Electronic Jazz
Favorite Track: “Spiritual Sun” featuring Shabaka.
Reid collaborates with Shabaka, Kronos Quartet and more on this album to create a soundscape ranging from psychedelic to solemn.
C
Carnian Pluvial Episode | L.A.B.R. | L.A.B.R. | April 30, 2025
Neo-classical
Favorite Track: “Jurassic Parka“
When I first learned L.A.B.R. stood for Large Ancient Bumpy Reptile, I expected the music to be much more aggressive. This album just released so check it out if your into prehistoric-themed neo-classical piano.
D
Doppler Effect | Vestbo Trio, Uffe Stein Trio | Dog Hound Records | March 23, 2018
Jazz Blues
Favorite Track: “Time Machine“
A double dose of trio’s make for an incredible album, equally as bluesy as it it jazzy.
E
Every Day | The Cinematic Orchestra | Ninja Tune | May 13, 2002
Contemporary Jazz
Favorite Track: “Evolution“ featuring Fontella Bass
I first heard this album as it was celebrated it’s 20th anniversary a few year ago. Be prepared for “Evolution” to be stuck in your head the rest of the day though, it’s a real earworm.
F
Fuubutsushi | Fuubutsushi | Cached.Media | September 29, 2020
Ambient Jazz
Favorite Track: “Bolted Orange“
Also check out the album Greyhound Days by Fuubutsushi member Patrick Shiroshi if you're really digging this.
G
Gris Gris | Shake Stew | Traumton Records | November 1, 2019
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Track: “Grilling Crickets in a Straw Hut, Pt. I“
I’ve recommended albums by Shake Stew before, but I really think “Grilling Crickets…” might be my favorite track of theirs.
H
Heard by Others | Lenny Pickett, John Hadfield | Orenda Records | October 23, 2020
Experimental Jazz
Favorite Track: “Alto Clar”
This album was a new discovery for this list and I’m so glad I found it. If this is you’re jam, make sure to mark you calendars for Heard by Others II releasing on June 6th, 2025 via Adhyâropa Records.
I
Instead | Collocutor | On The Corner | October 14, 2014
Modal Jazz
Favorite Track: “Agama (Al Dobson Jr Indica Remix)“
The debut LP from Tamar Osborn’s Collocutor has been a huge influence on my jazz listening. If you’re unfamiliar, I always suggest checking out her discography on Spotify.
J
Journey to the Mountain of Forever | Binker and Moses | Gearbox Records | June 2, 2017
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Track: “The Departure“
"Is Binker Golding the new Sonny Rollins? The new Coltrane? Or both? Like those R&B-rooted sax colossi, Golding and powerhouse drummer Moses Boyd shake ass first, stroke beards second"
K
Kingdom of Rain | Patrick McCulley | Patrick McCulley | July 20, 2023
Experimental Jazz
Favorite Track: “Poised in the Loam“
“The compositions in the album Kingdom of Rain seek to transform the saxophone from a purely melodic instrument into an undefinable and unstoppable force of nature…
…All music performed and written by Patrick McCulley, on alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones, without the aid of electronic looping or special effects.”
L
Last Kind Words | Roots Magic | Clean Feed Records | July 7, 2017
Jazz Blues
Favorite Track: “Down the Dirt Road Blues“
Italian improvisors combining the deep blues and creative jazz.
M
Mosaic | Nicole McCabe | Ghost Note Records | March 8, 2024
Jazz Fusion
Favorite Track: “Tight Grip“ featuring Jeff Parker
Guitarist Jeff Parker produced this record and is featured on the track “Tight Grip”.
N
Nightports w/ Tom Herbert | Nightports, Tom Herbert | The Leaf Label | May 13, 2022
Ambient Jazz
Favorite Track: “October“
“Nightports is based on a simple but unbreakable rule of restriction: only sounds produced by the featured musician can be used. Nothing else. These sounds can be transformed, distorted, translated, processed and reprocessed, stretched, cut, ordered and reordered without limitation.”
O
Out Of The Blue | Antony Reynaert | Antony Reynaert | December 1, 2023
Ambient Jazz
Favorite Track: “Into the Rabbit Hole“
Antony writes about his creative process, spirituality and music here on Substack, check out
P
Paroxysm | Scrimshire | Albert’s Favourites Ltd. | May 26, 2023
Nu Jazz
Favorite Track: “Your Invasion Is A Lie“ featuring Idris Rahman
This was another album I originally discovered on Tamar Osborn’s discography and also features Nat Birchall and Ill Considered’s Idris Rahman.
Q
Qantar: New York Paradox | Omer Avital | Jazz & People | March 27, 2020
Live Jazz
Favorite Track: “Shabazi“
A live Omer Avital album never disappoints.
R
Reflections of Purple Sun | EABS | Astigmatic Records | May 10, 2024
Jazz Fusion
Favorite Track: “Flute’s Ballad“
“Flute’s Ballad” is the chill outlier on this album, the rest of the tracks are a hard driving funky fusion.
S
Shaman! | Idris Ackamoor, The Pyramids | Strut Records | August 7, 2020
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Track: “Shaman!“
This album is tremendous, the track “Dogon Mysteries” sounds like something off a fictional Khruangbin x Pharaoh Sanders collaboration.
T
Tactics EP | Soccer96, Alabaster DePlume | Mochi Mochi Records | June 26, 2020
Electronic
Favorite Track: “I Was Gonna Fight Fascism“
Sadly, I’m not sure there is a song more relevant in 2025.
U
Ulaan | Enji | Squama | July 28, 2023
Vocal Jazz
Favorite Track: “Taivshral“
Enji just released a new album few day ago, check out Sonor.
V
Visions | Matthew Tavares, Leland Whitty | Mr. Bongo | March 20, 2020
Jazz Fusion
Favorite Track: “Through the Looking Glass“
This was my first time hearing this album and what can I tell you… It was love at first listen.
W
Work Money Death | Tony Burkill | ATA Records | November 17, 2017
Spiritual Jazz
Favorite Track: “Third of All Numbers“
Before Work Money Death’s People of the Fast Flowing River (2024) and Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction (2022) there was saxophonist Tony Burkill’s 2017 album Work Money Death.
I really love this album and it was one of the first ones I slotted in when making this list.
X
I had to cheat a little bit on this one, I couldn’t find an album that started with “X”, but I present to you the Greek indie folk/free jazz duo of Griorgis Xylouris and Jim White, a.k.a. Xylouris White.
The Forest In Me | Xylouris White | Drag City Inc. | April 14, 2023
Indie Folk/Free Jazz
Favorite Track: “Red Wine“
If you’ve got a album rec that starts with an X, I’d love to hear it.
Y
You Already Know | Ted Poor, Andrew D’Angelo | Impulse Records | February 28, 2020
Modern Jazz
Favorite Track: “Emilia“
The duo of Ted Poor on drums and Andrew D’Angelo on sax combine for a hauntingly beautiful album.
Z
Z | Cummi Flu | Albumlabel | January 30, 2015
Experimental
Favorite Track: “J.“
Lowercase j jazz. Electronic, experimental and weird in all the right ways.
The Playlists
⬆️The Fresh 150
Tracks added this week:
“The Admiral’s Misadventure” |
“Eejiinhee Hairaar” | Enji
“It’s Your World - Extended Version” | Brian Jackson
“Jurassic Parka” | L.A.B.R.
“Dance Music for 4 Saxophones #8” | Lenny Pickett, John Hadfield
⬇️ This is Chaotic Good Jazz
Tracks added this week:
“The Average Fine and Invisible Harp” | The Akasha Ensemble
“Spiritual Sun” | Ellen Reid, Shabaka
“Time Machine” | Uffe Steen Trio, Vestbo Trio
“Evolution” | The Cinematic Orchestra, Fontella Bass
“Crickets Grilling in a Straw Hut, Pt. I” | Shake Stew
“Alto Clar” | Lenny Pickett, John Hadfield
“The Departure” | Binker and Moses
“Poised in the Loam” | Patrick McCulley
“Down the Dirt Road Blues” | Roots Magic, Luca Ventucci
“October” | Nightports, Tom Herbert
“Your Invasion Is A Lie” | Scrimshire, Idris Rahman
“Shabazi” | Omer Avital
“Flute’s Ballad” | EABS
“Shaman!” | Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids
“I Was Gonna Fight Facism” | Soccer96, Alabaster DePlume
“Third of All Numbers” | Tony Burkill
“Emilia” | Ted Poor, Andrew D’Angelo
I had a lot of fun curating this list and making this post, there were a few letters that evaded me on first pass and sent me on a scavenger hunt of sorts through some albums I hadn't listened to in a while.
I hope you find something you enjoy out of this selection and be sure to reach out and let me know if you’re really digging any of my recommendations, it always puts a smile on my face.