Best of Tzadik Records 2021


Tzadik Records is a very special thing to me. John Zorn’s label showcases his own compositions, ranging mostly from jazz to classical, as well as other groups and albums who are spearheading their respective genres. It’s often pretty difficult to listen to these albums, since they are usually not streaming online, so I’ve gathered them all here and got the five best Tzadik releases of 2021. This way, you’ll know where to start looking to dive into the surreal world of Zorn.


Number Five: John Zorn – Heaven and Earth Magick


Heaven and Earth Magick is one of the truer … Read more

Best of Progressive Rock 2021


Progressive rock is one of my great loves, from Yes (the old Yes) to Spock’s Beard to… today’s contenders, I listen to a lot of prog. And, if you’re here, you’re probably like me!


Number Five: The Ranch – Together to Get Here to Get Here Together


That album is good, and I mean, so good! First off, it’s not every day you get to talk about a band from Malta, that little island in the Mediterranean, and I guess it’s even rarer to talk about such an incredible one! With a perfect blend of prog rock and jazz fusion, … Read more

Best of Nu Jazz 2021


Nu jazz is a fuzzy category. It’s based on jazz, loosely or strongly, and usually features electronic music influence, and can also have hints of R&B, hip-hop, and other genres. I think it’s a fantastic genre, and here are my favourite albums of 2021!


Number Five: Portico Quartet – Monument


Art in the Age of Automation was one of my favourite albums from 2017, and Portico are back with yet another really strong album in Monument. This electro-jazz album is full of highlights and filled with delights, and if you missed it (what are you doing?), now’s the time … Read more

Best of Jazzcore 2021


Jazzcore is one of these things that’s really, really good, but that doesn’t get a ton of attention, and doesn’t get a ton of releases either! It nonetheless covers a wide range of sounds, from the improvised to the purely written, from prog-adjacent to jazz-adjacent to… a lot of other things! It’s a great genre, and here’s my best picks for 2021.


Number Five: Skeletonized Quartet – Future Shock


Skeletonized has been around for some time, and they’ve been quite consistent with releases! Putting out a few releases every year at least! With Future Shock, you can hear their … Read more

Best of Jazz Fusion 2021


Fusion, in this case, is when multiple genres blend together to form something new. Jazz fusion, then, is traditionally jazz mixed with rock, but I’m more generous than that, and I’m including any sort of genre-crossing in this list!


Number Five: Cory Wong & Dirty Loops – Turbo


This might be more cheesy than a Swiss raclette, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t have a ton of fun listening to this collaboration! As always with Dirty Loops, you can expect to throw your instrument in the trash and consider finding yourself a new hobby, but in the end it’s … Read more