Bay Area artists released some terrific albums in 2023 — here are 10

In the performing arts, the rollercoaster ride that started with the dawn of the ‘20s took another series of stomach-flipping twists in 2023 as tentative optimism gradually gave way to guarded anxiety.

For musicians, the confluence of inflation-resistant gig fees and venues closing or cutting back on bookings has made getting by in the Bay Area even more challenging. And yet, musicians continue to invest in recording, making albums that have little chance of covering the expenses required to make, compose, record, mix and master the music, even if released only on line.

Speaking for music lovers everywhere who are grateful for the opportunity to hear new sounds, let me say, thank you! These are 10 albums by Bay Area artists I’m particularly grateful for this year, and 10 more I’ve come back to several times.

• Ambrose Akinmusire, “Owl Song” (Nonesuch): Berkeley trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire released two albums this year, a gorgeous solo session “Beauty Is Enough,” and this eponymous debut by his trio Owl Song with guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Herlin Riley. It’s quiet, thoughtful and spacious music that runs deep and draws you close.

• Mimi Fox Organ Trio, “One For Wes” (Origin): In an open-hearted centennial tribute to the late guitar legend Wes Montgomery, Vallejo-based guitarist and composer Mimi Fox leans into the classic organ trio format with San Jose organist Brian Ho and Oakland drummer Lorca Hart. Focusing on Fox’s well-crafted originals, the project captures the energy and excitement this combo generates in concert.

• The Jazz Mafia, “Un-Covered Vol. 5: Nigeria, Jamaica, & Beyond” (Jazz Mafia): It’s not easy choosing a favorite from the Jazz Mafia’s torrent of releases, but the collective’s 40th album is a blast of joyous brass, with reverent (mostly) instrumental covers of Fela and the Skatalites mixed in with originals and brief improvised passages.

• Terrace Martin and Calvin Keys, “The Near North Side” (Sounds of Crenshaw): Oakland guitar maestro Calvin Keys is a revered figure amongst his peers, and the prolific L.A. multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin, whose father grew up with Keys in Omaha, highlights his creative prowess on this engaging session of standards and blues.

• Myra Melford’s Fire & Water Quintet, “Hear the Light Singing” (Rogue Art Records): Berkeley pianist Myra Melford has often found inspiration in visual art, and her music for the Fire & Water Quintet reflects her fascination with the enigmatic drawings of Cy Twombly and the Mediterranean sun in which he worked. Featuring German saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, drummer Lesley Mok, cellist Tomeka Reid and guitarist Mary Halvorson, the group explores Melford’s lambent melodies, navigating the shifting perspectives without falling into set roles.

• Edward Simon, “Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women” (Simon Music Productions): Venezuelan-born, Emeryville-based pianist Edward Simon, the longest serving member of the SFJAZZ Collective, celebrates the expansive female contribution to the Latin American songbook with the help of Mexican jazz vocalist Magos Herrera, whose gorgeous contralto often brings Mercedes Sosa to mind.

• Gaea Schell, “In Your Own Sweet Way” (Saphu Records): San Francisco pianist and flutist Gaea Schell’s album alternates between straight-ahead standards and Latin jazz originals inspired by her immersion in Cuban music. She’s well-served by her top-shelf cast, which includes bassist John Wiitala, drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte, and guitarist Jordan Samuels.

• SLUGish Ensemble, “In Solitude” (Slow & Steady): Hunkered down during the first year of the pandemic, San Francisco multi-wind player Steven Lugerner composed a set of lapidary, cascading tunes. His low-end instrumental mastery (on bass clarinet, baritone sax, and alto flute) evokes subterranean emotions, which are expertly amplified by keyboardists Javier Santiago and Steve Blum, guitarist Justin Rock, bassist Giulio Xavier Cetto, and drummer Michael Mitchell.

• Claudia Villela, “Cartas ao Vento” (Taina Music): Listeners usually focus on the flexibility of Claudia Villela’s breathtaking voice, but she’s equally enthralling as a songwriter. Returning to Rio to record with a brilliant cast of Brazilian musicians, the Scotts Valley-based vocalist, pianist and percussionist documented a startlingly beautiful set of originals.

• Denny Zeitlin, “Crazy Rhythm: Exploring George Gershwin” (Sunnyside): Following up on previous thematic solo albums focusing on music by Wayne Shorter and associated with Miles Davis, North Bay piano great Denny Zeitlin returned to Oakland’s Piedmont Piano Company for a glorious romp through George Gershwin’s superlative songbook.

Honorable mentions

And here’s another 10 albums well worth checking out: Brian Andres Quartet, “Dos Gatos Negros”; Michael Echaniz, “Seven Shades of Violet”; Karl Evangelista’s Apura, “Ngayon”; Jason Keiser, “Shaw’s Groove”; Joshua Redman, “Where Are We”; Jill Rogers and Crying Time, “Many Worlds Theory”: Jeff Sanford’s Cartoon Jazz Orchestra, “Playland at the Beach”; John Santos Sextet & Friends, “Filosofía Caribeña Vol.3: A Puerto Rico Del Alma”; Suzanna Smith & Lee Bloom, “A New Day: The Peggy Lee Project”; Mads Tolling & John R. Burr, “Ramblin.’”

Contact Andrew Gilbert at jazzscribe@aol.com.