Subscriber Fridays

Jazz Juno Award nomination snubs: 2022

5 great jazz albums that didn't get nominated

Will Chernoff

12 May 2022 — 3 min read

From the cover art of Fragrance by Emad Armoush's Rayhan

5 great jazz albums not nominated

The release date eligibility window for the 2022 Junos is September 1, 2020 to November 5, 2021. That goes back to the very beginning of my journey reviewing music on Rhythm Changes, which began in September 2020.

Looking through the jazz albums covered on this site turned up many deserving projects, but none of them got nominated this year. Here are five albums that are just as enjoyable as the slate of 2022 jazz Juno nominees.

1.

Which category: Jazz Album of the Year: Group, as it's the Al Muirhead Quintet
Notes: It's a special, soulful, lively project that would stand out this year. Chronograph Records also made Arancina by David Restivo, which did get nominated in the category.
Review by me

2.

Which category: Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Notes: Maybe it's too stripped-down of a session to even get nominated, but man, I'll root like hell for these two when they get a nomination that they ultimately will deserve. It's also the excellence of David Sikula's approach.
Review by Chris Fraser

3.

Which category: Jazz Album of the Year: Solo
Notes: A cross-cultural magnum opus that's also a story of perseverence through the past two years, well-worth the attention it's had and more.
Review by me

4.

Which category: Jazz Album of the Year: Group
Notes: Tim Reinert has said that this band is one of his favourite Vancouver jazz groups, and I get it.
Review by Chris Fraser