Chaotic Good Jazz: 24 of 2024
Part 3 of 3: Modern Spiritual Jazz
Hey Chaotic Good Jazz readers,
This week I’ve got the third and final part of my 24 of 2024 series highlighting the albums I’ve had on heavy rotation all throughout the year. These eight albums lean towards the spiritual end of the jazz spectrum and are each phenomenal in there own way.
Included are debut albums from The Cosmic Tones Research Trio and Angelo Outlaw as well as albums from the always fantastic Amanda Whiting, Work Money Death, Alina Bzhezhinska and Tony Kofi.
Next week I’ve got 8 albums you may have missed, which is kind of like part four to this three part series and it features some really incredible independent artists and under the radar albums. I’m really excited to share it next week, so if you’re not already a subscriber, be sure to get on the list so you you never miss a post or a playlist.
Albums
The Liminality of Her
Amanda Whiting | First Word Records | March 22, 2024
This entire album has a mediative groove, but this track in particular has me entranced every time I hear it. The combo of Amanda Whiting's harp mixed with the masterful bass playing of Aiden Thorne is just crazy good. Check out Christmas Cwtch’s “We Three Kings” for some strong Mingus vibes from Thorne.
Amanda describes the theme of this project as "liminality... that place in between, the transition from one place to another. No longer what it was, yet not what it's going to be.
The harp always presents itself at these moments. It's a sound that causes an emotion. My instrument chose me. It's been with me through every chapter of life. It's how I speak, especially when there are no words.- excerpt from The Liminality of Her album description on Bandcamp
Featured Track: “Facing the Sun“
People of the Fast Flowing River
Work, Money, Death | ATA Records | November 22, 2024
This album is legitimately terrific, which is nice because it goes well with the rest of the Work Money Death (and ATA Records) discography. Everything coming out of Leeds these days is absolutely phenomenal and it's hard to believe so much talent is concentrated in one singular place.
I feel like my jaw hits the floor every time I hear Tony Burkill's soul-melting saxophone. Check out 2022’s Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction, 2021’s The Space in Which the Uncontrollable Unknown Resides, Can be the Place from Which Creation Arises and 2017’s Work Money Death.
Featured Track: “Headwaters of the Soul“
Rising
Jasmine Myra | Gondwana Records | May 3, 2024
Jasmine Myra attended Leeds Conservatorie, and like I said everything coming out of Leeds these days is phenomenal, and this album in no exception. Myra coaxes such a beautiful tone from the saxophone it's unreal, Rising is absolute gold.
"Much like my first album, Rising is a reflection of a period of my life. It is a continuation from Horizons, which was all about my experience during lockdown, and entailed overcoming my struggles with mental health. Following on from that experience, I set out to continue building my self-confidence".
Featured Track: “Still Waters“
All is Sound
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio | Mississippi Records | November 1, 2024
This entire album exudes positive vibes and gratitude, and I for one am thankful to have Roman Norfleet, Harlan Silverman and Kennedy Verrett making such incredible music and representing my hometown of Portland Oregon on the world jazz stage.
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio focuses on healing music. In All is Sound, delicate, profound melodies create peaceful, immersive soundscapes, which the group develops through their combined background in acoustic ecology, sound meditation, mindfulness, and active community involvement.
Featured Track: “The Offering“
Axis Of Time
Angelo Outlaw | Eraserhood Sound | March 15, 2024
Philadelphia poet and mallet percussionist Angelo Outlaw's debut album is one you'll have on heavy rotation once you've heard it. The earworm factor was off the charts for me, just try getting "Free My Mind" or "Cosmic Storm" out of your head...it can't be done.
According to Outlaw, the album is meant to transport the listener to a dream-like state, where space and time slowly fade away and reality is merely a distant memory. Each song sets a unique scene, as the pace of the music swells and sways…from the euphoric highs of lead single “Free My Mind”and uninhibited groove of “Speed of Light” to the trance-like meditation of “Dreams” and mournful melodies of “Invisible Clock,” Angelo and the Eraserhood Sound house band truly go to the cosmos and back
Featured Track: “Cosmic Storm“
Sidenote: I have a screenplay idea for a time-traveling meteorologist who's day job is "America's Most Accurate TV Weatherman", but at night he manipulates time to pull-off elaborate art heists. "Cosmic Storm" would be the theme song, if anybody from Netflix or HBO is reading this...let's talk.
The Infinity of Nothingness
JJ Whitefield & Forced Meditation | Jazzman | June 21, 2024
The German guitarist is embracing the idea that Mediation jazz is the future and has produced a spiritually charged album with the help of backing band, Forced Meditations. The album art, which first drew me in, was done by JJ Whitefield aka Karl Hector's daughter:
I love little facts and tidbits like that about albums.
More recently, Whitefield has begun to venture into the astral planes of what’s now commonly referred to as ‘spiritual jazz’, and this is very much where we find him manifesting on ‘The Infinity Of Nothingness’. A set of mature, delicate and meditative orchestrations, like much of Whitefield’s best work the album is studiously true to its key influences - and in this instance the twin figureheads of Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders are particularly preeminent - but also completely avoids falling into a trap of mere tribute or facsimile. With subtle yet diverse accents of Hip Hop, Library and the Avant Garde appearing wholly unobtrusively, the album is unified by a marked trance-like feel, beginning with the sparse, processional opener ‘Nothingness’ through to the 3 part ‘Infinity Suite’ of ‘Time’, ‘Space’ and ‘Energy’.
- excerpt from The Infinity of Nothingness album description on Bandcamp
Featured Track: “Spectral Realms“
Altera Vita
Alina Bzhezhinska, Tony Kofi | BBE Music | April 5, 2024
The Ukrainian Harpist and UK Saxophonist Duo started work on this album as a dedication to the legendary Pharaoh Sanders after his passing in 2022. Wow, what a great tribute it is, I've had this album on heavy rotation since it's release back in early April and I don't see it falling off anytime soon.
'Altera Vita', the album, is a spontaneous response to a world in dire need for a reset. In a reality where billions find themselves hostage to the ‘doom-scroll’, where topics are disproportionately centred on the darker shades of our existence, and where our attempts to foster connection have only yielded deeper factionalism, 'Altera Vita' surfaces as an aural oasis. An audioscape that personifies tranquility, spirituality and peace — abstract concepts essential to the restructuring of our collective consciousness. 'Altera Vita' was designed by Tony & Alina to provide the listener with an opportunity to sit still and be aware.
Featured Track: “Audite Me - Hear Me“
Note on Bzhezhinska's HipHarpCollective:
Since the beginning of the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine (24 Feb 2022) HipHarpCollective has managed to raise over £40,000 in donations and has performed in over 70 concerts and fundraisers for UKRAINE! Our concerts have also been broadcasted on RadioJazzFM and live streamed worldwide via our YouTube channel.
iLadi
Linda Sikhakhane | Blue Note/Universal Music Africa | July 12, 2024
I am so grateful to have found Linda’s music and this album this year. iLadi gives off strong Coltrane vibes and I am all for it. This one is going to get your toe tapping and head bobbing right along instantaneously.
“Iladi is a multipurpose ritual ceremony that is underpinned by various African cultural pearls of wisdom, cited from Zulu traditions and my upbringing,” says Sikhakhane. “This offering is a sonic transposition of this ritual, an expression of gratitude that seeks to acknowledge all gifts and guidance on my journey.”
Featured Track: “Ukukhushulwa“
In case you missed it: