In November we announced our Top 25 Recordings of the Year Finalists, which we hope reflected the outstanding diversity and quality of the jazz releases in 2022. Choosing 25 feels like an easy task compared to deciding on the top 5 records, but we feel all of the winners had that elusive something extra that has seen us returning to them throughout the year.

We were fortunate that last night one of the winners, Alina Bzhezhinska, was playing just 20 minutes down the road from Presto Music’s HQ at Warwick Arts Centre with her ensemble HipHarpCollective. After a magical performance, all profits of which were going towards Ukrainian relief charities, we were able to hand Alina her award in person.

Josh and I would like to thank all of our customers, who have all helped the jazz department go from strength to strength this year. It is gratifying to see the editorial content is being read and enjoyed by customers from around the globe, and we love hearing your feedback about what to cover next.

Kokoroko - Could We Be More

(Photo by Vicky Grout)

"...variety is Kokoroko’s bread and butter. Rooted equally in the sounds of improvised jazz and energetic Afrobeat, Kokoroko’s full-length studio debut proves that even a few years down the line they’re still ones to watch closely." 

Alina Bzhezhinska & HipHarpCollective - Reflections

(Photo by Eddie Otchere)

"The title track, another Bzhezhinska original, has all the makings of a great jazz standard with its rich melody, while she chooses to cap the album off with the comparatively more free-composed ‘Meditation’, a soft and jubilant farewell... Alina Bzhezhinska’s sophomore album pools not only her personal influences in trip-hop, spiritual jazz and more straight-ahead sounds, but also the many flavours of the London jazz scene and her collaborators." 

Immanuel Wilkins - The 7th Hand

"Wilkins describes this concept of ‘vesselhood’ as akin to a “being a conduit for the music as a higher power that actually influences what we’re playing”, and whether you’re a religious person or not, there’s no denying that Wilkins and co. certainly have something special going on here." 

Tord Gustavsen Trio - Opening

Jarle Vespestad, Tord Gustavsen & Steinar Raknes (Photo by Caterina Di Perri)

"Between careful chemistry, stirring melodies and novel use of texture, Opening is sure to be an essential listen for any discerning piano trio enthusiast." 

Julian Lage - View With a Room

Left to right: David King, Jorge Roeder, Julian Lage

"Julian Lage was on to something good when he recorded Love Hurts back in 2019; if you’ve enjoyed what his trio records have offered so far, View With a Room makes for a worthy addition to that lineage. While it very much sticks to the formula set down by the two records that came before it (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it), with its exciting new Lage originals, killer playing and Frisell’s contributions, View With a Room more than satisfies."