We asked the KXSF DJs to look back on 2022 in music and come up with some lists — top songs, top albums, top shows — whatever music they experienced from last year that is worthy of more attention. The results are wide-ranging, not just from a genre standpoint, but also in amount. Sometimes it's hard to pick just five or 10. (In one case a nice, round 100 was needed.) Some lists are ranked, and some are presented in no particular order. Enjoy!
It’s Your Mischief (ft. Sun Kin) by bromf, from Arousal, 769486 records DK
Top 13 Shows (and the one I regret missing)
Gleeker at Thrillhouse Records, 7/23 (and at the Knockout recently )
Camae Ayewa/Moor Mother; Tesidency at The Lab, 12/16-17, inc. performances with Irreversible Entanglements, 700 Bliss, Maia of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Black Quantum Futurism/Rasheedah Phillips
Soweto Kinch’s The Black Peril, at SF JAZZ/Miner, 5/19
Samora Pinderhughes’ The Healing Project opening at YBCA, 3/24
Myra Melford’s For the Love of Fire and Water Quintet (w/ Tomeka Reid, Mary Halvorson, Ingrid Laubrock, Susie Ibarra ) at SF JAZZ/Joe Henderson Lab, 10/6
Brooklyn Raga Massive / Alice Coltrane Tribute. (w/ Reggie Workman, Destiny Muhammad, Richard Howell, Kev Choice, David Ewell ) free at Yerba Buena Gardens, 6/11
Arooj Aftab at Gray Area (NoisePop Fest.), 2/22
Sons of Kemet ( last tour …w/ Melanie Charles opening!), at the Independent, 4/12
Makaya McCraven (w/ Theon Cross opening! KXSF co-presents!), at the Independent, 10/23
Nicole Mitchell & Black Earth Sway (w/ Brandee Younger opening!) at SF JAZZ/Miner, 6/13
Muzi at Crybaby, 6/2
Jerry Harrison/Adrian Belew (perform Remain in Light) at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, 10/1
Charming Hostess (Fierce As Death | Queer As The Song of Songs, Jewlia Eisenberg memorial performance), at Contemporary Jewish Museum, 10/2
+ the one I missed: Emma-Jean Thackray at DuNord, 8/3 (reliable sources say it was slamming)