{"id":7321,"date":"2023-12-07T21:58:37","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T03:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/?p=7321"},"modified":"2024-01-26T10:59:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T16:59:14","slug":"https-postgenre-org-rob-shepherd-favorite-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/https-postgenre-org-rob-shepherd-favorite-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Albums of 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In terms of my music writing, 2023 started off frustratingly with a few interviews that fell through and one that took place but ultimately exploded in my face.<\/a>  However, the year ended very strongly. During 2023, I produced several album reviews and released thirty-two interviews, with many more done but yet to be released.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of my published interviews for 2023 were of artists on my favorite albums of the year, with links provided below where appropriate. Others include those with an artist composing pieces based on lace patterns<\/a>, a trumpeter at the forefront of electronic experimentation<\/a>, the most prominent proponent of prepared saxophone<\/a>, and two artists pushing the vibraphone<\/a> and cello <\/a>into new areas. I also spoke to several musical masters- Billy Harper<\/a>, Lonnie Liston Smith<\/a>, Zakir Hussain<\/a>, and two artists named George who couldn\u2019t be any more different in terms of musical aesthetic: George Benson<\/a> and George Lewis<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of gentlemen named George, there is one album missing from my list below that, under other circumstances, likely would have been included. George Burton\u2019s holiday-themed work, The Yule Log<\/em><\/a> <\/em>(self-release, 2023) is an excellent recording that tries to breathe new life into old tunes and musically restore some of the magic of the season. I had a blast writing the liner notes for the album (shameless plug: any musicians reading this, reach out about possibly writing notes for you!), however, it conflicted me from approaching the album with the rest of this list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another highlight of 2023 was returning to the Newport Jazz Festival. Leading up to the event, I started an ongoing series on historical albums from the event<\/a>. I also interviewed longtime festival photographer\/driver Jack Casey, artistic director Christian McBride<\/a>, and trumpeter Giveton Gelin<\/a> on the legacy of Louis Armstrong. At the festival – the first day of which is reviewed here<\/a>, with the other two days to come in the new year – I had the joy of watching my one-year-old dance to the irresistible funk of Scary Goldings.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m looking forward to what 2024 has to offer. Among other things, my most recent interview with Mary Halvorson<\/a> has been selected for inclusion in the Jazz Journalists Association\u2019s 20th Anniversary anthology. I\u2019m also in the beginning phases of creating a professional-level recording studio, with more to come. I also already have several interviews brewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But no one came here for my thoughts on next year. Below are thirty-five albums that I felt were the best of 2023. The first ten are listed in reverse numerical order, followed by the next 25 numerically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.  Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily – <\/strong>Love in Exile<\/em><\/strong> (Verve)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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