I wanted to share some of my favorite music I purchased in 2022. I buy most of my music on Bandcamp and try to only purchase on Bandcamp Fridays. Bandcamp Fridays are the first Friday of each month and Bandcamp does not charge Artists their usual fee. All of these albums are of unpopular music, i.e. jazz. I listen mostly while I'm working so it is almost all instrumental. I find vocals distracting unless they are in a language I don't speak.

The music I have enjoyed the most this year is

• Chris Dingman - Journeys Vol. 1

I'm not sure how I heard about Chris Dingman. It was probably in the book Masters of the Vibes. I bought one of his albums last year and really enjoyed it. This album is a solo Vibraphone album. Chris is an excellent player, but not super technical like Joe Locke. Textures seem to be a big part of his music instead of showing off his chops.

Great track: Hope-Rebirth

• Spindle Ensemble - Inkling

This album mixes classical sounding music with improvisation. Spindle Ensemble is a core quartet of piano, vibraphone/marimba, violin and cello. The quartet is augmented with additional musicians on 3 of the tracks. The unique combination of instruments takes my ears on unexpected journeys which I like.

Great track: Chase

• Jenny Scheinman & Allison Miller's Parlour Game - Parlour Game

Jenny Scheinman plays violin. I've always enjoyed violin playing jazz. Allison Miller plays drums. I was lucky enough to see her play with Artemis earlier this year. She is a great player. The music of Parlour Game is rhythmically interesting.

Great track: Miss Battle's Cannonball

• Grace Fox Big Band - NEXTLEVEL: Eleven O' Seven

Grace Fox was inspired by the all woman big bands of the 40s and decided to create her own. The group really swings on the selected track which is a vocal. Women are a very underrepresented group in jazz. One of the best ways to encourage Artists is with your money. Plus they sound great.

Great track: I Just Found Out About Love

• Alan Hall - Heroes, Saints and Clowns

I recently bought a set of custom Blue Haus vibraphone mallets (love them). I was looking into the music of the musicians that have Artist series mallets on Blue Haus' website since I had never heard of most of them. Dillon Vado was one of the Artists and he plays on this album. It is rhythmically interesting, sometimes has that classical music mix with jazz sound and reminds me of Frank Zappa's Jazz From Hell at times.

Great track: Demographic Shift