Our Favorite Albums of 2022 (So far!)
Our Favorite Albums of 2022 (So far!)
Now that we are halfway through 2022, we decided it was time to take stock of our favorite new albums. We listen to new music every week, and below are our top picks from the year thus far.
First, here are two playlists we created containing a single song from each of the 40 albums we chose (20 songs per playlist). Dream Behind the Dune has a relaxing, meditative, chill-out vibe with lots of piano and strings. Dancing Under the Moon is an upbeat, uptempo mix with more percussion, bass and guitar.
Or you can listen to the individual albums in their entirety by clicking the Spotify links below. Enjoy!
Our Favorite Albums of 2022 (So Far)
Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge: Jazz is Dead 011
The dynamic “Jazz is Dead” project hits its eleventh (!) release and shows no signs of slowing down. Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) and self-taught composer, arranger, sound engineer and music producer Adrian Younge continue to explore their undying love for classic jazz, classic soul and classic funk through a hip hop lens. Jazz is Dead 011 includes contributions from jazz legends Lonnie Liston Smith, Henry Franklin and the late Tony Allen, plus the five-octave-range of Jean Carn.
Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf: Queen of Sheba
Living icon and multilingual vocalist Angélique Kidjo (who speaks at least ten languages) is a truly international artist, perhaps the exemplar of “Global Music” in its peak form. And Queen of Sheba, which pairs Kidjo with French-Lebanese jazz trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, is yet another rhythm-driven, soulful masterpiece. All hail the Queen!
Catalyst Quartet & Michelle Cann: Uncovered, Vol. 2: Florence B. Price
The phenomenal compositions of Florence Price (aka the first African-American woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra) should be more widely known. Recent years have finally given us a number of albums dedicated to the works of Price, and this recording is yet another excellent example of the many treasures produced by this prolific composer (including two string quartets and two piano quintets that surely deserve a place in the classical repertoire).
Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita: Echo
Music for relaxation and inspiration. A soothing and uplifting fusion of strings from Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora virtuoso Seckou Keita. A perfect conclusion to a trilogy of perfect albums. This also just might be my [Ryan Elston] favorite album of the whole year.
Cécile McLorin Salvant: Ghost Song
In a striking departure from her previous work, the acclaimed jazz vocalist tackles songs related to ghosts and the supernatural, including an utterly haunting rendition of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.” She recently declared, “I’m embracing my weirdness!” And we’re loving it.
Charlie Gabriel & Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 89
I [Ryan Wildstar] bought my LP of Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band back in the early 90s and it’s been one of the treasures of my record collection ever since. A New Orleans institution, The Preservation Jazz Hall Band has been swinging for the last 80 years (even Harry Connick Jr. was a member at one point) and their latest release from the band’s oldest living member, Charlie Gabriel (89 and still going strong), brings joy to my heart and a little water to my eye.
Combo Chimbita: IRE
Describing their music as “Tropical Futurism” and “Cumbia-not-cumbia,” the four members of this New York-based Colombian quartet combat “systemic racism, capitalist decadence, totalitarian governments and the attempted erasure of queer and trans people” via psychedelic rock tinged with Afro-Caribbean spirituality. Carolina Oliveros (voice, guacharaca), Niño Lento es Fuego (guitar), Prince of Queens (bass, synth) and Dilemastronauta (drums) are a musical force for resistance.
Constantinople, Ghalia Benali & Kiya Tabassian: In the Footsteps of Rumi
Enchantment. Wisdom. Beauty. The Montreal-based international ensemble unites with Tunisian singer/graphic artist Ghalia Benali to breathe new life into the words of the beloved 13th-century Sufi poet.
Daniel Barenboim: Encores
The legendary conductor returns to his roots as a piano prodigy/virtuoso in this deeply personal and introspective solo album recorded last November on his 80th birthday. Born in Argentina and raised in Israel, with multiple passports (he’s the first person to hold Palestinian and Israeli citizenship simultaneously), Barenboim is a true citizen of the world. His remarkable career should need no introduction to any lover of classical music. And Encores is yet another stunning achievement.
Dawda Jobarteh & Admeta String Quartet: Soaring Wild Lands (The Instrumentals)
String fusion at its best. Gambian griot Dawda Jobarteh’s fourth album expertly combines the exquisite sound of his beautiful kora with the lush violins, viola and cello of Denmark’s Admeta String Quartet.
Ella Fitzgerald: Ella At The Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook (Live)
This is quintessential Ella. She’s at her height here, swinging through the Irving Berlin songbook as only Ella can do. Press play and it’s suddenly 1958 and you’re at the Hollywood Bowl on a warm summer night in Los Angeles with one of the greatest singers ever recorded.
Fantastic Negrito: White Jesus Black Problems
Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, otherwise known as Fantastic Negrito, was discovered by the former manager of one of his inspirations, Prince. And if there is a better successor to the Purple Paisley God, we’re not sure who it is.
Fatoumata Diawara: Maliba
We remember when we first saw Fatoumata Diawara, performing live on Later… with Jools Holland. We were blown away by her stage presence, her vocal prowess, and her amazing sound. We were fans from that moment on. Her newest album is inspired by the ancient Timbuktu manuscripts that were just barely saved from destruction at the hands of fundamentalists (for the incredible true story, check out The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer).
Florence + The Machine: Dance Fever
The world’s brash and brazen Celtic crooner, the flowing and fiery Florence Welch is back. The new album harkens back to her first release, Lungs, but with a maturity and introspection that sets it apart. She, and her lungs, and her machine, do not disappoint.
Gilberto Gil: Em Casa Com os Gil
He famously said, “When I was only two or two and a half, I told my mother I was going to become a musician or president of my country.” He’s 80 now and although he was Brazil’s Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008, We’re very thankful he’s still laying down some samba like only Gilberto Gil can do.
Heart of the Dragon Ensemble: The Art of the Chinese Xiao & Hulusi
Music for daydreaming, journal-writing or reading poetry. The Heart of the Dragon Ensemble combines traditional Chinese music with indigenous Asian folk music and the Western tradition, giving us an album focused on the unique sounds of the xiao [bamboo flute] and hulusi [gourd flute] alongside the Chinese guzheng, pipa, and erhu, as well as Western bass, guitar, drums, piano and strings.
Ibeyi: Spell 31
Born in Cuba and raised in France, twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz (Ìbejì means “twins” in Yoruba) are the daughters of acclaimed Cuban percussionist Miguel “Angá” Díaz (Afro-Cuban All Stars, Buena Vista Social Club). This majestic third album, Spell 31, takes its title from a chapter in The Egyptian Book of the Dead, and it’s truly a transformative experience. From the poignant intimacy of “Sister 2 Sister” to the rousing anthem “Rise Above” (a totally reimagined cover of a Black Flag song), this album is a soulful, emotional rollercoaster through the Duat. How will your heart weigh on the scales?
Jasdeep Singh Degun: Anomaly
Steeped in a dazzling array of Indian classical music traditions (Hindustani and Carnatic are just the tip of his musical iceberg), sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun (alongside his many collaborators) creates a completely new orchestral sound that is both entirely singular and universally appealing.
Kodo: Kizashi & Kodo: Tsuzumi
I [Ryan Wildstar] was introduced to Kodo in the early 1990s at a performance of theirs in Los Angeles and I thought my heart might pop out of my chest. Their latest releases, Kizashi and Tsuzumi, prove that after 40 years, this troupe of taiko drummers from Sado Island, Japan (their revolving members have performed almost 4,000 times since 1981) are every bit as resonant as they were when they first started.
Lara Downes: Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered
Groundbreaking pianist, curator/archivist, activist and cultural visionary Lara Downes (Performance Today’s Classical Woman of the Year 2022) returns the brilliant works of ragtime composer Scott Joplin back into the classical repertoire (where they were originally intended and where they certainly belong).
The Legendary Pink Dots: The Museum of Human Happiness
Edward Ka-Spel is clearly a musical mystic guru, a cryptic weaver of hypnotic hallucinogenic harmonies who has traversed multiple diverse dimensions to disseminate his mesmerizing melodies to the planet Earth. We are thankful for his visitation.
The Linda Lindas: Growing Up
Ok, this Los Angeles-based, all-girl group of teenagers may not be grown up yet (no, seriously, their ages are 11-17), but we’re not sure if we ever want them to. This is raw, pure, old-school garage-band punk and it gives us all the feels. Did L7 and The Slits open a music academy for girls we didn’t hear about?
The Master Musicians Of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar: Dancing Under the Moon
In 1992, The Master Musicians of Jajouka (a name most likely coined by Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs, who first wrote about them in the 1950s), split into two factions. This collective is led by Bachir Attar, whose father led the group in the 1960s, and also features many of the sons of the fathers who played with the group on the original 1969 recording made by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. Their latest release is every bit as spellbinding as any of the recordings made by the musicians of Jajouka, and the title track, Dancing Under the Moon, teleports you to the hills of Morocco, sitting cross-legged while this centuries-old Sufi tradition slowly puts you into a trance.
Nailah Hunter: Forest Dwelling (EP)
Would you enjoy 33 minutes of pure tranquility in these hectic times? Then put on multi-talented harpist Nailah Hunter’s new EP, close your eyes, and escape into her sonic landscape of harp, synth, and rejuvenating sounds from the natural world. Bliss.
Nduduzo Makhathini: In The Spirit Of Ntu
South African jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini honors his influences (John Coltrane, Bheki Mseleku, McCoy Tyner and Abdullah Ibrahim) while delving into the African philosophy of Ubuntu on this fantastic new album from Blue Note.
Noori & his Dorpa Band: Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan's Red Sea Coast
We love musical fusion. And Noori is the embodiment of fusion, considering he actually invented his own instrument by combining an electric guitar with a tambour/lyre (check out the album cover to see what it looks like). Hailing from the Beja community of eastern Sudan (an oppressed minority group who can trace their ancestry back several millennia), Noori and his Dorpa Band are “the first ever international release of the Beja sound,” combining an eclectic blend of desert blues, electric soul, Ethiopian jazz-funk and even surf rock with ancient Beja rhythms that may date back to the Kingdom of Kush.
Oumou Sangaré: Timbuktu
United Nations goodwill ambassador and Malian superstar Oumou Sangaré (aka “The Songbird of Wassoulou”) shines brightly on this powerful and empowering new album dedicated to the city of Timbuktu. Sangaré’s soaring vocals never fail to disappoint, whether alone or accompanied by a chorus of female singers.
Rebecca Omordia: African Pianism
In her first solo album, Nigerian-Romanian pianist Rebecca Omordia showcases elegant and innovative music by seven African classical composers (from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Morocco). We listen to a lot of classical music, and we cannot wait to hear more from Omordia and more from these fine composers!
Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee: BAMANAN
One of the stars of the all-female West African music collective Les Amazones d'Afrique, Malian singer Rokia Koné (aka “The Rose of Bamako”) teams up with Irish music producer Jacknife Lee in this bluesy yet insistently upbeat and danceable new album.
Rufus Wainwright: Rufus Does Judy At Capitol Studios
Not many singers can do justice to Judy. Rufus not only has the pipes, the sultry attitude, and a studied knowledge of her intricate vocal stylings, but also clearly has a deep love and reverence for our gay godmother.
Samuel Mariño: Sopranista
Venezuelan opera singer (and natural male soprano) Samuel Mariño has released a breathtaking new album showcasing his stunning voice. His glorious arias as the shepherd Aminta in Mozart’s Il re pastore (The Shepherd King) are the first time a male soprano has ever been recorded performing the role! The disc also contains the world premiere recording of L'Amant anonyme (The Anonymous Lover) by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, aka “The Black Mozart.” Highly recommended!
Shabaka: Afrikan Culture
Jazz ingénue Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, Shabaka and the Ancestors) explores new rhythms, new sounds and new instrumentation in this deeply meditative album reminiscent of Alice Coltrane at her Afrofuturist best.
Somi: Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba
From the liner notes of her album: “This album is my attempt to honor the unapologetic voice of an African woman who inevitably made room for my own journey and countless other African artists. In short, I owe her. We all do.” And honor her she does. Her sensual, lush vocals and beautifully arranged renditions of songs made famous by Miriam Makeba also feature appearances from some renowned guests – Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Seun Kuti (Fela Kuti’s youngest son) and Thandiswa Mazwai.
Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Various Artists
This is EVERYTHING!!! Bravo Questlove for sharing these iconic performances with the world. We pray we'll get to see more of the entire concert footage down the road, but we cannot recommend both the soundtrack and the documentary highly enough. Let the sunshine in!
Sun's Signature: Sun's Signature (EP)
The divine chanteuse Elizabeth Fraser once again graces humankind with her celestial quaver after an absence of nearly 15 years. Working with her partner Damon Reece, the duo have managed to create the kind of ethereal auditory ecstasy that the world didn’t know it was missing . . . a goddess cooing in your ear.
Tanya Tagaq: Tongues
So. Fucking. Fierce. We’re talking Diamanda Galas meets Fever Ray meets Nina Hagen meets 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance fierce. Inuk throat singer Tanya Taqag’s new album is a lyrically scathing condemnation of the injustices First Nations people have continually faced over the centuries: “You colonizer / You colonizer / You colonizer / Oh, you're guilty” (“Colonizer.”) “I don't want your god / Put him down” (“Tongues”). “Touch my children / And my teeth welcome your windpipe” (“Teeth Agape”).
Tino Contreras: Teatro de la Ciudad (Live)
The words “icon” and “legend” are thrown around far too often for our liking. However, when it comes to Tino Contreras, with a career spanning eight decades (he died last year at the age of 97 just before the release of his last studio album, La Noche de Los Dioses), these words aren’t hyperbole - they’re definitive. Treasure this last live performance of a legend . . . Iconic.
Yilian Cañizares: Resilience (EP)
A delicious blend of jazz improvisation, classical harmonies, and Afro-Cuban beats. Cuban-Swiss jazz violinist/vocalist/composer Yilian Cañizares (who sings in Spanish, Yoruba and French) has created a timely EP about willpower and survival during difficult times.
Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos & Emanuel Ax: Beethoven for Three: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5
Now this is a classical supergroup! Armed only with a cello, a violin and a piano (plus some extraordinary arrangements), these three master musicians transform two of Beethoven’s grand symphonies into captivating, intimate chamber music.
Yungchen Lhamo: Awakening
Music for healing. Music to cultivate peace, harmony and loving kindness. Tibetan soprano Yungchen Lhamo’s mission (which includes the One Drop of Kindness Foundation, “dedicated to improving the welfare of human beings in need, regardless of borders, through direct action”) and her gorgeous music are both commendable and inspiring.
So those are the new albums we’ve been loving this year. What did we miss? What new music are you enjoying? We love new music recommendations and want to hear yours! Tell us your picks in the comments!