The physical album as a vehicle for new music is becoming rare, with downloads and online collections taking over, and jazz is often out of the spotlight these days. But there are plenty of dedicated artists out there playing one of the true American art forms, and we always like to salute the ones that have found their way to our stereo the most this year.

We still get a lot of physical jazz CDs, which is a much appreciated treat. Many of these jazz labels are small independent companies, and they probably don’t turn huge profits, but somehow that just makes their efforts all the more precious. Here are our favorite jazz albums from the past year, in no particular order.

BEYOND CATEGORY: “CALM WATERS, ROLLING SWELLS, AND ROILING SEAS” A WHALING CITY SAMPLER (WHALING CITY SOUND) Don’t laugh, this compilation of some of the best from New Bedford’s (actually located in North Dartmouth, Ma.) young upstart of a jazz label is a terrific introduction to some of the jazz world’s sharpest young talent..not to mention nonagenarian Terry Gibbs, the vibes playing dad of drummer Gerry Gibbs. Reggie Young, Jason Miles, Greg Abate, and Dave Liebman are among the many stars represented here, and kudos to the people who sequenced and chose these cuts, because it all flows along smoothly and has its own thematic sense. Mainly music from 2015-the present, this CD is an impressive history of the superb sounds the little New England label has presented, yet it works as a singular album on its own.

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Note from Monika: 2018 - the year of SHEROES 

Thank you for the help in making it such a successful album - #31 on the year-end radio charts and so much more! I could have never dreamed about the amount of attention and support this album got over the year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MenmxMsgCxw
We'll keep promoting it in preparation for gathering support for the next one - SHEROES will also embark on a tour to Europe and Egypt in April! The two largest jazz conferences are usually held in January and we'll have materials at both. Musician//promoter Ken Avis will be at the Jazz Congress at Jazz at Lincoln Center Jan 7/8 with a table and has volunteered to promote SHEROES with fellow radio and concert promoters.
I will be at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Reno, Jan 9-12, where SHEROES will actually perform on Saturday and screen the new documentary on the group and contemporary women in jazz by Kay D. Ray on Friday.
Feel free to post and share the Peaceful Piece video, which is a track from the WCS Whole World in Her Hands album.
1.12 6p Reno, NV  JEN Conference SHEROES will be back together at the Jazz Education Network Conference featuring Roxy Coss, Jamie Baum, Leni Stern, Monika Herzig, Natalie Boeyink, and Karina Colis - who will be there? And Kay D. Ray's new documentary "In Her Hands: Key Changes in Jazz" has a screening at the JEN conference on Friday, 11a - here is the trailer.
1.26 9a-noon, Bloomington Winter Market, Monika Herzig, piano
2.7 5.30-8p, Bear's Place, Bloomington, IN, Janiece Jaffe & Friends Valentine's Day Concert
2.24 noon-6, Monroe County Public Library, IN, Jazz Girls Day Bloomington
3.3 2.30-5, Bokeh Lounge, Evansville, Destiny Muhuammad, Monika Herzig, and Friends
3.5 noon, Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis, Destiny Muhammad and Monika Herzig, 3-7p, Noblesville High School, Jazz Girls Day
3.7 5.30-8p, Bear's Place Bloomington, Destiny Muhuammad, Monika Herzig, and Friends
3.8 8 & 10p, Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, Destiny Muhuammad, Monika Herzig, and Friends
3.10 2p, Artsgarden, Indianapolis, Destiny Muhuammad, Monika Herzig, and Friends
3.16 9-noon, Bloomington Winter Market, Monika Herzig, piano
4.5 noon, Eskenazy Hospital, Indianapolis, Monika Herzig, piano
4.6 Jazz Girls Day Seattle Clinician
4.9-28 SHEROES Egypt and Europe Tour
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