Something Else!

Mostly Other People Do the Killing - 'Disasters Vol. 1' (2022)

Mostly Other People Do the Killing – ‘Disasters Vol. 1’ (2022)

Even now, no one else in jazz compares to Moppa Elliot’s returning Mostly Other People Do the Killing. Audacity with the chops to make it work remains the basic recipe.

Evie Asio - 'Contending and Contention' (2022)

Evie Asio – ‘Contending and Contention’ (2022)

‘Contending and Contention’ is a harmonic, vocal and sonic journey, held together by its message – and Evie Asio’s distinct sound.

Dan Weiss Trio - 'Dedication' (2022)

Dan Weiss Trio – ‘Dedication’ (2022)

Dan Weiss’ innate understanding of tradition picked up from key influences made it possible to move forward in the salient, discriminating way that he did for ‘Dedication.’

David Paich, Monkey House, Ben Craven + Others: Preston Frazier's Best of 2022

David Paich, Monkey House, Ben Craven + Others: Preston Frazier’s Best of 2022

Preston Frazier’s Best of 2022 list includes studio projects from David Paich, Monkey House, Ben Craven, Adrian Quesada and others.

Jazz Funk Soul [Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp + Paul Jackson Jr.] - 'Forecast' (2022)

Jazz Funk Soul [Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp + Paul Jackson Jr.] – ‘Forecast’ (2022)

Some might quibble over whether this is contemporary, smooth or crossover jazz. It’s actually a hybrid from Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber and Paul Jackson Jr.

Skid Row – 'The Gang's All Here' (2022)

Skid Row – ‘The Gang’s All Here’ (2022)

It’s no match for ‘Slave to the Grind,’ of course, but ‘The Gang’s All Here’ certainly belongs in the conversation with Skid Row’s early albums.

Ivo Perelman + Joe Morris - 'Elliptic Time' (2022)

Ivo Perelman + Joe Morris – ‘Elliptic Time’ (2022)

Ivo Perelman and Joe Morris are hardly the first saxophone-guitar duo, but they take that combination to its highest possible level with ‘Elliptic Time.’

David Murray, Brad Jones + Hamid Drake - 'Seriana Promethea' (2022)

David Murray, Brad Jones + Hamid Drake – ‘Seriana Promethea’ (2022)

On ‘Seriana Promethea,’ David Murray, Brad Jones and Hamid Drake swagger their way through seven Murray originals and one really cool cover with relaxed confidence.

Lina Tullgren + Alec Toku Whiting - 'Unfamiliar Ceilings' (2022)

Lina Tullgren + Alec Toku Whiting – ‘Unfamiliar Ceilings’ (2022)

‘Unfamiliar Ceilings’ by violinist Lina Tullgren and koto player Alec Toku Whiting is an excursion into unfamiliar territory alright, but it’s territory where the ceilings look open like blue skies.

Beatles Gift Guide: Kit O'Toole's Top 2022 Albums, Books, Movies + More

Beatles Gift Guide: Kit O’Toole’s Top 2022 Albums, Books, Movies + More

A number of book, CD, DVD/Blu-ray, and vinyl releases kept Beatles fans busy this year. Kit O’Toole is here to help Santa sort them all out.