In the Zen

by Kerilie McDowall

As a jazz writer I have never made a habit of top 10 or “top-anything” lists. I also avoid regularly lamenting jazz artist deaths or celebrating birthdays, I think it can trigger some families, or those facing loss.

I tend to appreciate and celebrate music and musicians, period. I admire the diversity and subtle differences between artists and savour their unique artistry and interpretive approaches and compositional excellence.

2024 is a year for new starts for me and I thought I would try to kick a few old habits, so, yes, a little reluctantly, here is my first top 55 list. You will have to take note that not one artist really holds a #1 or even a #55 spot. These are all artists worth noting in no particular order, thus here they are on my list. Honestly I likely could have kept going to 100. There is that much here in Canada, but I wanted to focus on what stood out the most as I sifted through the 2023 releases this year. I also couldn’t resist popping in a fave 2022 release, and one of Diana Krall’s 2023 re-releases, so that is why it says “57.”

Is not ranking them a cop out? Definitely not.

Each artist and composer has character and traits truly worth savouring. Forgetting the ranking of artists, I am being rebellious here. The artists, they all have unique qualities to celebrate, and to you it may seem unfair to lob them all into one group with no particular order, but there you go. You will find every artist has a special quality worth noting.

There is almost always a standout track even with artists who are not on the list who were not my faves, or who I may have missed, so understand that almost every single artist has a song worth noting and appreciating.

Check out the links below and enjoy them. Do not forget to click “[Message clipped]  View entire message,” at the end of the page to see the full list.

It’s a lot of great music from gifted Canadian Jazz and Creative recording artists. Then keep reading onward for my Top 15 January Blah Remedy List and get some relief ideas from your post-holiday-consumerism blahs. (With a little comforting remedy relief as you shovel all that snow!)

*****This jazz list is not ranked.

1.) Francois Houle Genera Sextet – In Memoriam  
Clean Feed Records, 2023

Requiem for KP [Ken Pickering]

2.) 40 Years of Justin Time Records
Justin Time Records, 2023

3.) Guido Basso – One More for The Road
Cornerstone Records, 2023

4.) Mike Allen- To A Star
Cellar Live 2023

5.) Josh Zubot – Josh Zubot Strings
Drip Audio, 2023

6.) Dee Daniels & Denzal Sinclaire – Let It Shine
Cellar Live, 2023

7.) The Schwager/Oliver Quintet – Senza Resa,
Cellar Live, 2023

8.) Florian Hoefner Flying Pooka! – The Ecstasy of Becoming
Alma Records, 2023

9.) Rumba Calzada – Feel the Sun
Independent 2023

10.) Gentiane MG – Walls Made of Glass
TPR Records, (2022)

Walls of Glass was an album that squeaked by into 2023 as re-considered by myself, simply an exquisite release worth re-mentioning.

11.) Sick Boss – Businessless
Drip Audio, 2023

12.) Laila Biali – Your Requests
Act Music, 2023

13.) Christine Jensen – Day Moon
Justin Time Records, 2023

14.) Russ Macklem – The South Detroit Connection
TQM Recording Co., 2023

15.) Anthony Fung – FO(U)RTH
Independent, 2023

16.) Chuck Copenance – Oshki Manitou
Independent, 2023

17.) Don Thompson and Rob Piltch – Bells… Now and Then
Modica Music, 2023

18.) Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra – Open Spaces - Folk Songs Reimagined
La Reserve Records, 2023

19.) Rémi Cormier – Glimpse
Independent, 2023

20.) Sharon Minemoto – Dark Night, Bright Stars
Cellar Live, 2023

21.) Elizabeth Shepherd – Three Things
Independent, 2023

22.) Longhand – Longhand | Plays Long
Drip Audio, 2023

23.) Peggy Lee – A Giving Way
Songlines, 2023

24.) Emad Armoush’s Duos – Electritradition
Drip Audio, 2023

25.) Hilario Durán and his Latin Jazz Big Band – Cry Me a River

26.) Grdina | Maneri | Lillinger – Live at the Armoury
Clean Feed Records, 2023

27.) (Tommy Babin) Dart Band– ChatterBox
Independent, 2023

28.) Caity Gyorgy – You're Alike, You Two
La Reserve Records, 2023

29.) Lina Allemano Four – Pipe Dream
LUMO Records, 2023

30.) Michael Blake – Dance of the Mystic Bliss
P&M Records, 2023

31.) Kris Davis – Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard
Pyroclastic Records, 2023

32.) Emilie-Claire Barlow – Spark Bird
Empress Music Group, 2023

33.) Aline Homzy – Eclipse
Elastic Recordings, 2023

34.) Jane Bunnett and Maqueque – Playing With Fire
Linus Entertainment, 2023

35.) Brad Turner – The Magnificent
Cellar Live, 2023

36.) Andrew Rathbun – The Speed of Time
Steeplechase, 2023

37.) Pilc Moutin Hoenig – YOU Are The Song,
Justin Time Records

38.) Applied Science – Screen Door
Offseason Records, 2023

39.) Bill Clark Sextet – Out of Line
Independent, 2023

40.) Off World – 3
Constellation, 2023

41.) Markus Floats – Fourth Album
Constellation, 2023

42.) Matt Greenwood – Atlas
Matt Greenwood Music, 2023

43.) Curtis Nowosad – If I Had 
La Reserve Records, 2023

44.) Sienna Dahlen & Bill Coon – Balladextrous
Cellar Live, 2023

45.) Joel Haynes – The Return
Cellar Live, 2023

46.) Duncan Hopkins Who Are You? – The Music of Kenny Wheeler
Three Pines Records, 2023

47.) Peripheral Vision – We've Got Nothing
Canada Council, Digital Arts Program, 2023

48.) Marianne Trudel – Time Poem: La joie de l'éphémère
Independent, 2023

49.) Ingrid Jensen: Monash Sessions –Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance
Monash University, 2023

50.) Dave Young Quartet – June Night
Modica Music, 2023

51.) Sanah Kadoura – Duality
Independent, 2023

52.) Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble and Jodi Proznick Trio – Jasmine
Independent, 2023

54.) Rachel Therrian – Mi Hogar
Independent, 2023

55.) Doxas Brothers – Kindred
Justin Time Records, 2023

56.) Allison Au –Migrations
Canada Council, Ontario Council, Independent, 2023

57.) Diana Krall – The Girl in the Other Room (re-release) Vadat, 2023

January Blahs Remedy List

1.

As you plan for 2024, and get that vision board going all over again, I have only two mere request-suggestions, since your vision board is your creation. So what am I going to suggest to you as far as New Year manifesting goes?

Immunity.

Yes. That’s right, immunity. If you had a gander at my first blog post of the year, you will have noted that in 2020 I started placing the word “immune” and “immunity” on the health portion of my vision boards (according to Feng Shui), and I am telling you I had a blood test a few months back, and nope, I have never caught COVID-19, nor many flus or colds since.

I think you can get very specific about types of physical or emotional safeguarding, additionally, that you feel like implementing yourself.

Second request is the placing of on your board, “No War.”

I think it may be best to put, “no war,”on the finance part of the board, but I will leave that up to you.

Six 2024 Themed Vision Board Ideas:

Home

Environment/Nature

A particular project or goal

Prayer/Higher Self Board

Brainstorming ideas for the future & then organizing them

Planning a list of structured upcoming Tasks and Chores 

2.

Forest/garden bathing or water gazing. Get into the forest, the garden, or down to the water on a good day. Take in trying to stay present and focused on the moment while brushing all worries aside.

3.

Get creative and in-the-moment with your favourite creative work. Be that art, carving, singing music, a music instrument, gardening, cooking, crafts, trade-hobbies, dance, sewing or beading, writing, filming, podcasting, game-design, inventing, improvisation, computer programming, knitting, crochet, needlepoint, quilting, comedy, acting, and more.

4.

Get physical and experiment, enjoy chair exercising, walking, swimming, racket sports, hockey, baseball, soccer, football, golf, skiing, aerobics, dancing, jogging, yoga, stretching, physiotherapy, hiking, climbing, running, water sports and recreation, and track and field.

5.

Listen to music. Investigate genres: classical, jazz, reggae, calypso, soul, R&B, world, Indigenous, pop, blues, country, Celtic, rock, metal, folk, ska, funk, Indian, Lebanese, punk, avant-garde, New Music, traditional, smooth jazz, electronic, indie, hip hop, instrumental, Christian, opera, and much more.

6.

Meditate.

7.

Meet or phone a friend, take on a social or a group event.

8.

Volunteer.

9.

Enjoy entertainment. From Radio, TV, podcasts, video play centres, Netflix, a movie, concert, theatre, boating, whale/bird/ bear watching, nature watching, circus, fairground, playground, board and card games, crosswords, puzzles, surfing YouTube, read a book, listen to music.

10.

Rest.

11.

Essential oils, calming fragrances. Candle or fireplace gazing with a fave cuppa.

12.

Paint, draw, decorate, play with crafts.

13.

Your favourite hobbies. From model airplanes to modelling or being a movie extra. The sky is the limit.

14.

Enjoy being with and caring for your pets, ride a horse, walk dogs and cuddle cats at the SPCA, or adopt a pet. Tune into the aquarium or the nature videos on YouTube on your wide screen TV. Or buy and care for fish and an aquarium

15.

Rest in a bath, enjoy a footbath, take in some accupuncture, a pedicure, manicure, a spa treatment, relaxing Reiki, and a luxurious massage.

Canadian Online Guitar Lessons & Services wishes you a Happy New Year 2024!

Guitar & Film Studio/Registration & Office: 1-(250) 668-3589

Book your appointment: HERE

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Images of Kerilie McDowall by Dirk Heydemann of HA Photography. 

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