{"id":5393,"date":"2022-12-21T15:17:35","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/?p=5393"},"modified":"2023-01-06T12:44:13","modified_gmt":"2023-01-06T18:44:13","slug":"rob-shepherd-favorite-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/rob-shepherd-favorite-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Rob Shepherd\u2019s Favorite Albums of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My annual list is the only time each year I try to get more personal with my writing, speaking in the first person and laying out my thoughts on the year passed. While at the outset of 2022, I decided to feature more interviews on the site, I never intended to focus so overwhelmingly on them. By my estimation, I wrote only one review during the year – of a concert by Pat Metheny\u2019s Side-Eye Trio<\/a> at a now-shuttered venue. writers – particularly John Chacona and Brian Kiwanuka – contributed album reviews. While I was given the honor of presenting a Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Heroes award<\/a> to a central figure in the Austin music scene, it seems the rest of my efforts went into interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I certainly talked to some incredible artists, from the longtime signmaker for the Newport Jazz Festival<\/a> to three NEA Jazz Masters- Ron Carter<\/a>, Big Chief Donald Harrison<\/a>, and Kenny Barron<\/a>. No, wait; make that four. Yeah, I still can\u2019t believe I talked to Sonny Rollins<\/a> for nearly an hour either. I spoke to two people at the cutting-edge of music presentation during a given era: an MTV co-founder<\/a> and the foremost expert in using Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for music<\/a>. One of the most sampled musicians of all time<\/a> and a Pulitzer prize-winning opera composer<\/a>. Legends of creative improvised music – Marshall Allen (with Tyler Mitchell)<\/a>, Bill Laswell (with Ulf Ivarsson)<\/a>, Oliver Lake<\/a>, William Parker<\/a> – and those who reflect its bright future – Mary Halvorson<\/a>, Steve Lehman<\/a>, Nate Wooley<\/a>, Ches Smith<\/a>, Angelica Sanchez<\/a>, Benoit Delbecq<\/a>, and Trevor Dunn<\/a>. Defiers of the conventions of large ensembles – Michael Leonhart<\/a> and Stuart Bogie<\/a> – and a pair of top-notch producers<\/a>. Percussionists who explore music from different cultures – Bill Summers<\/a>, Adam Rudolph<\/a>, and Alexander Flood<\/a> – and emerging voices – Anna Butterss<\/a>, Sasha Berliner<\/a>, and Julius Rodriguez<\/a>. An organ great returning to recording<\/a>, a saxophonist equally at ease in jazz and jam bands<\/a>, and one of today\u2019s top bassists. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But my favorite musical moment of 2022 was not a singular recorded work, a specific performance, an artist interview, or even a specific point in time. This past summer, my wife and I welcomed our first child. Sharing a name with one of the great composers, he loves music. While he cannot yet speak in a language we can understand, his reaction to music when he\u2019s fussy or bored makes his interest clear. While my focus is largely on newer music, pretty much all music is new to him. He gives me the gift of re-experiencing music I have long ago discovered, and that may have since become so commonplace that they lost some luster. While he cannot explain in technical terms why he likes a certain song, he does affirm the ineffable greatness of the works he hears. Yes, Charlie Parker\u2019s solos are as bewildering as we remember. Mahalia Jackson\u2019s vocals are as majestic and glorious as we make them out to be. It is impossible not to groove to James Brown. We have also listened together to most, if not all, of the albums listed below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Sam Gendel, Cicada Lite (Live in Texas) <\/em>(Unseen Worlds)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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