The Best Jazz Albums of 2025
Initial draft collected on July 8, 2025 (jazz but not non-jazz,
and only the A-list parts of the file;
the reason was to provide an aid for the mid-year poll).
The file will be updated
as additional worthy records are found (although updating may lag behind
the official
2025 list). Last year's
list was never frozen (perhaps around
Nov. 1, 2025).
Note: numbering of lists (aside from A/A-) is only temporary, to
make it easier for me to tally up stats. I've made no effort to order
(other than alphaetical by artist) anything in grades below A-.
Also, several A-list albums below were close enough to Non-Jazz that
I duplicated the entries in the Non-Jazz file (sometimes giving them
lower rankings there; the year file rank is more authoritative).
[*] indicates that I reviewed this on the basis of an advance, often
a CDR copy (a good thing, I might add, for vinyl-only releases). [**]
identifies a record that I've only heard via download or through a
streaming service like Napster.
For all lists, I've included a few 2023 (and possibly earlier)
records that I discovered after last year's freeze date, but I've
only included such records if they were released on or after Dec. 1,
2023, or were so little known that they received no mention in the
2023 metacritic file. These are marked, e.g., '23, after the label.
New Music
| 1. |
 |
Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony
Braxton (Pi)
While I've rated 69 Braxton albums -- looking at the
list
suggests I still have a lot of work to do -- I've never gotten
a good sense of him as a composer, while having no doubts as
to his chops, especially on his marvelous standards albums.
On the other hand, several of his students have made superb
albums from his compositions, and Lehman's own work, both as
alto saxophonist and composer, over the last 20+ years has
few peers. He wrote two pieces here, to go with five Braxtons
and one Monk, and added the tenor saxophonist to his trio
with Matt Brewer (bass) and Damon Reid (drums).
|
| 2. |
 |
Isaiah Collier/William Hooker/William Parker: The Ancients
(Eremite)
Up-and-coming tenor saxophonist -- first appeared in Ernest Dawkins
Young Masters Quartet (2016) -- along with relatively ancient wise men
on drums and bass. Effectively a blowing session, but a really
impressive one. This would have made my mid-year ballot as I gotten to
it in time. **
|
| 3. |
 |
Archer: Sudden Dusk (Aerophonic)
Another group led by Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis (soprano,
tenor, baritone), this one with Terrie Ex (guitar), Jon Rune
Strøm (bass), and Tollef Østvang (drums). Rempis has been
producing 3-5 outstanding albums every year, and this is
another, with the guitar especially energizing.
|
| 4. |
 |
Rodrigo Amado/Chris Corsano: The Healing: Live at ZDB
(2016, European Echoes)
Tenor sax and drums duo, the first of a promised series of archival
tapes fallen by the wayside, but barely falls within our 10-year New
Music window. Terrific straight out the gate. **
|
| 5. |
 |
Deepstaria Enigmatica: The Eternal Now Is the Heart of
a New Tomorrow (ESP-Disk)
Quintet from Memphis named for a rare deep-sea jellyfish, listing Chad
Fowler (sax), David Collins (guitar), Alex Greene (keyboards), Khari
Wynn (bass, credited as Misterioso Africano), and Jon Scott Harrison
(drums). I found another group that latched onto the same name, with
somewhat similar cosmic speculation (If Life on Earth Is to Abscise
Than I Have Forever Been Quantized), but this one adds a bit of
Memphis boogie to the free jazz fusion.
|
| 6. |
 |
Larry Ochs/Joe Morris/Charles Downs: Every Day → All the
Way (ESP-Disk)
Tenor/sopranino sax, bass, drums; the former best known for his work
in ROVA, but has a long history of bracing free sax work, to which
this is an excellent addition.
|
| 7. |
 |
James Brandon Lewis Trio: Apple Cores (Anti-)
Tenor saxophonist, two-time poll winner, backed by Josh Werner
(bass/guitar) and Chad Taylor (drums/mbira), on a rock label I
get no publicity from, both LP and CD already marked "Sold Out."
Terrific, as always. **
|
| 8. |
 |
Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band: What Is? (self-released)
Arranger and conductor, started playing bass in a Grateful Dead
tribute band, leads a scraggly commune of 11 musicians -- 3 reeds, 4
brass (including French horn), vibes/xylo/congas, guitar, bass, drums
-- through what will pass for hippie standards, including "Dixie
Chicken," "Free Man in Paris" (segueing into "Freedom Jazz Dance"),
"She Said She Said," "Saint Stephen" (paired with what I recognize as
the theme music to Treme), "Uncle John's Band" (which slides
into some James Bond movie music), "Into the Mystic," "Whipping Post,"
"What Is Hip?" This music is less recent than the Berlin, Porter, and
Arlen show tunes were in the 1950s when they became jazz staples, so
why not have fun with them now? Note guest spots for Stephen
Bernstein and Oz Noy.
|
| 9. |
 |
Cosmic Ear: Traces (We Jazz)
New free jazz group, mostly well known Scandinavians remembering and
revering Don Cherry: Christer Bothén (bass/contrabass clarinet, ngoni,
piano); Mats Gustafsson (tenor sax, flutes, clarinets, electronics,
organ, harmonica); Goran Kajfes (trumpets, electronics); Kansan
Zetterberg (bass, ngoni); Juan Romero (percussion, berimbau, congas);
with "special guest" Manane N Lemwo (kangnan). **
|
| 10. |
 |
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio: Dream a Dream (Libra)
Super-prolific Japanese pianist, this one a trio with bass (Takashi
Sugawa) and drums (Ittetsu Takemura), drags a bit in spots, but is
brilliant often enough.
|
| 11. |
 |
Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp String Trio: Armageddon
Flower (TAO Forms)
Avant-saxophonist from Brazil, based in New York, albums start around
1989, recording pace picked up considerably, probably 8-12 albums per
year over the last decade. The pianist is his most frequent
collaborator, stating with a duo in 1996, plus a trio that year adding
William Parker. The string section here consists of Parker and Mat
Maneri (viola), who also has duos and trios with Shipp and/or Parker
going back to the late 1990s.
|
| 12. |
 |
Motian & More: Gratitude (Phonogram Unit)
Portuguese quartet, bassist Hernâni Faustino seems to be the leader,
with José Lencastre (tenor sax), Pedro Branco (bass), and João Sousa
(drums), opens with "Misterioso" (Monk), followed by four Paul Motian
pieces, with "Mandeville" a very choice cut, and that's just a warm up
for the finale. **
|
| 13. |
 |
Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Bone Bells
(Pyroclastic)
Swiss pianist, albums since 1997, this a duo with the famous
guitarist. Engages slowly, but pays off in the end.
|
| 14. |
 |
Amalie Dahl: Breaking/Building Habits (SauaJazz)
Danish alto saxophonist, based in Oslo, has several albums with her
group Dafnie, this a quartet with guitar (Viktor Bomstad), vibes
(Viktoria Holde Søndergaard), and drums (Tore Ljøkelsøy). The
percussion is especially striking here. **
|
| 15. |
 |
Freedom Art Quartet: First Dance (self-released)
Group founded in 1991 by Lloyd Haber (drums) and Omar Kabir
(trumpet/flugelhorn/sea shells/didgeridoo), released an album in 2003
(with Abraham Burton and Jaribu Shahid), returns here with Alfredo
Colon (alto sax) and Adam Lane (bass), playing eight Haber
originals. Fast and furious freebop. **
|
| 16. |
 |
Anthony Joseph: Rowing Up River to Get Our Names Back
(Heavenly Sweetness)
British poet and novelist, originally from Trinidad, started recording
spoken word jazz albums with the Spasm Band in 2007. His 2021 album is
a favorite, not only for its title (The Rich Are Only Defeated When
Running for Their Lives). This was less immediately appealing,
but the bounty of words has few peers, and in the end that's also true
for the music. **
|
| 17. |
 |
Nels Cline: Consentrik Quartet (Blue Note)
Jazz guitarist, albums start around 1990, but has played in the rock
band Wilco since 2004, and this is his first jazz album since
2020. Quartet, with Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Chris Lightcap (bass), and
Tom Rainey (drums). Cline wrote all the pieces, his guitar laying down
a foundation for the sax, in particular, to build on. **
|
| 18. |
 |
Damon Locks: List of Demands (International Anthem)
Sound and visual artist, vocalist for post-hardcore Trenchmouth,
joined Exploding Star Orchestra and founded Black Monument Ensemble,
spoken word and electronics here on his fourth album (first as solo
leader). I can't say that I've followed the words close enough for
them to really speak to me, but I get the gist, and the music may
bring me back for more. **
|
| 19. |
 |
Frank Carlberg: Dream Machine (Red Piano)
Finnish pianist, has a couple dozen albums since 1992, was inspired by
a 1959 sci-fi gadget to compose four "Dream" suites (13 pieces in
all), with complementary keyboards from Leo Genovese (organ, farfisa,
synths), outstanding tenor sax from Hery Paz, backed with bass (John
Hébert) and drums (Dan Weiss).
|
| 20. |
 |
James Brandon Lewis Quartet: Abstraction Is Deliverance
(Intakt)
Poll-winning tenor saxophonist, well-established quartet with Aruán
Ortiz (piano), Brad Jones (bass), and Chad Taylor (drums) -- their
fifth album. This starts out sounding like a hitherto unknown Coltrane
masterpiece. It doesn't develop much beyond that level, but how much
can anyone ask for? **
|
| 21. |
 |
Mary Halvorson: About Ghosts (Nonesuch)
Guitarist, student of Anthony Braxton, started producing interesting
records around 2004, got her first A- in my book with Dragon's
Head in 2008, and has moved on to effective stardom in the
postmodern jazz world, with a major label contract, a MacArthur
"genius" grant, and a Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll win with
Amaryllis (2022). This reconvenes her stellar Amaryllis Sextet,
with Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Patricia
Brennan (vibes), Nick Dunston (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara (drums),
adding saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins (alto) and/or Brian Settles
(tenor) for four tracks each (three in tandem). This is dazzling as
long as you keep your attention focused to pick up the myriad
ever-shifting details. But it's not so compelling that I notice much
without thinking to focus. I'm not sure that's even a knock. It may
just be my own personal limitation. By the way, she's also having a
terrific yet in side-credits.
|
| 22. |
 |
Branford Marsalis Quartet: Belonging (Blue Note)
Saxophonist, mostly tenor, major figure since he (and his brother)
left Art Blakey in the early 1980s. Quartet with Joey Calderazzo
(piano), Eric Revis (bass), and Justin Faulkner (drums), together
since 2012 (when Faulkner joined, otherwise since 1998). Music is by
Keith Jarrett, all six tracks from his 1974 album -- possibly his best
ever (with Jan Garbarek, and sure, I've always been partial to
saxophone) -- expanding on their 2019 cover of "The Windup." As with
their previous cover of A Love Supreme, they add something of
their own without challenging the original. On the other hand, he
reaches further here, and comes up with more. If one took this at face
value, it would be one of his best. So why not just enjoy it as such?
**
|
| 23. |
 |
David Murray Quartet: Birdly Serenade (Impulse!)
Tenor sax great, pretty great on bass clarinet as well, fought his way
through the NYC lofts, and spent the 1980s and 1990s on small foreign
labels (mostly Black Saint in Italy and DIW in Japan), compiling the
most prodigious discography in modern jazz. After 2000, he slowed
down a bit, gated by small labels in Canada (Justin Time) and
Switzerland (Intakt). So this is supposedly a big deal: a major label
debut (Impulse! is one of many brands managed by Universal, which is
as major as they get), recorded at Van Gelder Studio. Same Quartet as
has appeared recently on Intakt: Marta Sanchez (piano), Luke Stewart
(bass), and Russell Carter (drums). This offers eight Murray
originals, with titles that fit well enough with "The Birdsong
Project" (a tie-in to a group that issued a 20-LP Grammy-winning box
celebrating the avian world, with little if any connection to Charlie
Parker). Two feature vocals by Ekep Nkwelle, a third with poetry by
Francesca Cinelli. They're ok, but I'd rather just listen to the sax
(and especially to the bass clarinet), and the rhythm section is
exceptionally fluid. I should point out though that despite how much
as I enjoy this, I wouldn't rank it in his top dozen albums (or
probably two dozen, or maybe even three). **
|
| 24. |
 |
Terry Waldo & the Gotham City Band: Treasury Volume 2
(Turtle Bay)
Ragtime pianist, learned from Eubie Blake, who said that Waldo reminds
him of Fats Waller. He first recorded in 1969 with his Gutbucket
Syncopators, and introduced his Gotham City Band in 1984. Unclear how
old these recordings are, or for that matter who's playing what, but
at 80 he appears to still be active. I like modern (and for that
matter postmodern) jazz just fine, but for me "real jazz" will always
be pre-bop, and this really hits that mark. **
|
| 25. |
 |
Loot: Loot (ICP)
Quartet led by Dutch pianist Oscar Jan Hoogland, who composed all the
pieces, with Ab Baars (tenor sax/clarinet), Uldis Vitols (bass), and
Onno Govaert (drums). The label reminds us of the lamentably passed
Mengelberg, and so does the opening piano, a playful trickiness that
lifts everyone's spirits. **
|
| 26. |
 |
Keiji Haino/Natsuki Tamura: What Happened There?
(Libra)
Guitar and trumpet duo, the former gets top billing, possibly for raw
vocal power, and possibly for pushing this over the edge, and scraping
it bloody in the process. Most often I shy away from records this
harsh, but here I'm convinced. Probably helped that it's just one
35:43 piece, so not only didn't wear out its welcome, but got a couple
extra plays.
|
| 27. |
 |
Jason Kao Hwang: Myths of Origin (True Sound)
Violinst, born in US but also has a solid grounding in Chinese
classical music, subtitle here is "for improvising String Orchestra
and Drum Set," I'm counting: 10 [more] violins, 5 violas, 4 cellos, 3
guitars, 1 bassist (Ken Filiano), and one drummer (Andrew Drury). Live
set from Vision Fest, every bit as glorious as you'd expect.
|
| 28. |
 |
Dee Dee Bridgewater + Bill Charlap: Elemental (Mack Avenue)
Née Denise Garrett, from Memphis, grew up in Flint, married trumpet
player Cecil Bridgewater, recorded some scarcely remembered disco
albums in the 1970s, remade herself as a jazz singer with 1989's
Live in Paris -- the first of a string of Grammy-nominated
albums (with wins for tributes to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie
Holiday). First album since 2017, just her and the pianist for eight
standards, kicking off with Ellington's "Beginning to See the Light,"
giving her a lot of opportunity to scat. The ballads don't, but she
nails them too. **
|
| 29. |
 |
Carlos "Zingaro"/Flo Stoffner/Fred Lonberg-Holm/João Madeira:
Na Parede (4DaRecord)
Violin, guitar, cello, bass, pretty much the same avant-chamber jazz
lineup as on bassist Madeira's other recent production
(Enleiro, listed under Bruno Parrinha, replaced here by the
guitarist; both records are, of course, joint improv). Although this
seems like a self-limiting concept, but details really replay close
listening.
|
| 30. |
 |
Marty Ehrlich: Trio Exaltation: This Time (Sunnyside)
Alto saxophonist (tenor one track), has an impressive discography
since the mid-1980s, tends to produce tricky postbop but returns to
basic here, in what is basically a blowing session, backed only by
bass (John Hébert) and drums (Nasheet Waits), not that anyone could
ask for more. Group name goes back to a 2018 album. Album cover can be
parsed multiple ways.
|
| 31. |
 |
Korham Futaci: Heavyweight Rehearsal Tapes (PUMA)
Turkish saxophonist, a founder of the avant group Konstrukt, leads his
own quartet here with Baris Ertürk (reeds), bass, and drums. The title
is both on point and a bit too modest, as these pieces are powerful,
with bits of rock and folk in the foundation, and the improv is
polished enough. **
|
| 32. |
 |
Nnenna Freelon: Beneath the Skin (Origin)
Jazz singer, started in church, got married, had kids, started singing
professionally in her late 30s, with 15+ albums since 1992. Has done
standards, including a Billie Holiday tribute, but wrote or added
claim to everything here (even "Oh! Susanna"). She never impressed me
much before, but she's on fire here, and the Alan Pasqua-led band
provides impeccable support.
|
| 33. |
 |
Adam O'Farrill: For These Streets (Out of Your Head)
Trumpet player, father and grandfather were famous Cuban musicians,
which he also knows a thing or two about, but he's more likely to hang
out with free jazz types, collecting here a pretty stellar octet: Mary
Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibes), David Leon (alto
sax/flute), Kevin Sun (tenor sax/clarinet), Kalun Laung
(trombone/euphonium), Tyrone Allen II (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara
(drums). I'm struggling, as my instinct says this is too fancy, but
the only thing that might keep this from becoming one of the year's
top-rated albums is that it's on a tiny label few have heard of. (Note
that Brennan and Halvorson have won two of the last three FDJC
Polls.)
|
| 34. |
 |
Antonio Borghini & Banquet of Consequences: Resta Chi
Va (We Insist!)
Italian bassist, debut album 2004, group name continues from his 2023
title. With Tobias Delius (tenor sax/clarinet), Pierre Borel (alto
sax), Rieko Okuda (piano), Anil Eraslan (cello), and Steve Heather
(drums). This is a good setting, especially for Delius. **
|
| 35. |
 |
Kaze & Koichi Makigami: Shishiodoshi (Circum/Libra)
One of Satoko Fujii's groups, with two trumpets (Natsuki Tamura and
Christian Pruvost) and drums (Peter Orins), joined here by the
Japanese vocalist, who also plays shakuhachi and more trumpet. This
can get seriously noisy, or fill in with scratchy minimalism and
cartoonish voice -- far from sure bets with me, but for once I find it
all delightful.
|
| 36. |
 |
Wheelhouse: House and Home (Aerophonic)
Trio of Dave Rempis (saxophones), Jason Adasiewicz (vibes), and Nate
McBride (bass). Sort of the avant-garde's version of a chamber jazz
group. The saxophonist remain supreme in any setting.
|
| 37. |
 |
Peter Brötzmann/Jason Adasiewicz/Steve Noble/John Edwards:
The Quartet: Cafe Oto, London, February, 10 & 11, 2023
(Otoroku)
German saxophonist, one of the founders of the European avant-garde,
recorded an enormous amount from 1967 up to his death, at 82, in June,
2023, a few months after this two-night, four set performance (140:28,
available on 2-CD, with a 4-LP box and a 2-LP edit in the works),
backed with vibes, drums, and bass. Hard to make fine distinctions
among his work, but this seems like the sort of monumental capstone
one can only imagine a career ending with. **
|
| 38. |
 |
Sumac and Moor Mother: The Film (Thrill Jockey)
Canadian-American metal band, five albums on their own since 2015,
also have three collaborations with Keiji Haino before this one
with jazz rapper Camae Ayewa. (This was preceded by a Moor Mother
remix of a Sumac track on a 2024 EP.) She adds weight a message
that they probably already considered, while they provide the
gravity. Just "don't look away." **
|
| 39. |
 |
Omer Avital: New York Now & Then (Zamzama)
Bassist, originally from Israel, long based in Brooklyn, recorded this
live with trumpet/flugelhorn, two saxes, trombone, piano, drums, and
justly excited crowd noise. "IDKN" seems to be his song, but sounds a
lot like Horace Silver to me. And there's much more like that. Also a
Lucy Wijnands vocal.
|
| 40. |
 |
Nils Agnas: Köper Sig Ur En Kris (Moserobie)
Swedish drummer, leads a quartet with Max Agnas (on two pianos) and
Mauritz Agnas (bass) -- relationship unspecified but likely [cousins;
they, but not Nils, are in a group called Agnas Bros.] -- and
saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar, in his usual very fine form, playing
four jazz tunes (Ornette Coleman, Joe Henderson, two from Carla Bley)
and "Over the Rainbow." Quaint line on the hype sheet: "The only
foreign musician he has performed so far with is the great Zoh Amba"
(who's all of 24 now).
|
| 41. |
 |
Samo Salamon & Ra Kalam Bob Moses Orchestra: Dream Suites
Vol. 1 (Samo)
Guitarist and percussionist wrote three long pieces (24:46, 13:38,
17:12) for large ensembles of 19, 16. and 18, total 27 musicians,
nearly all familiar names, which add marks of individuality to the
collective reverie.
|
| 42. |
 |
Sinsuke Fujieda Group: Fukushima (SoFa)
Japanese tenor/soprano saxophonist, first Group album, side-credits
back to 2003. Group includes piano, bass, drums, extra percussion,
and violin. Starts out shades of Coltrane, replete with "spiritual
jazz" hype, then gets even catchier. **
|
| 43. |
 |
Satoko Fujii This Is It!: Message (Libra)
Pianist-led trio with trumpet (Natsuki Tamura) and drums (Takashi
Itani), third group album, although the first two probably have close
to a hundred together, and this is their most basic grouping, and
exemplary as usual.
|
| 44. |
 |
David Grollman/Andy Haas/Sabrina
Salamone: SCRT (self-released)
Improv trio, drums, saxophone, violin, with some spoken word poetry
written by the drummer's late wife, Rita Stein-Grollman. Beyond its
own merits, the poetry provides some focus, which sharpens the
surrounding music.
|
| 45. |
 |
Joe Morris/Elliott Sharp: Realism (ESP-Disk)
Two guitarists, the former also credited with "effects," the latter
with "electronics," both have been on the fringe since it was called
"avant-garde" (hype sheet says since 1983 and 1979,
respectively). This sums their life's work up admirably.
|
| 46. |
 |
Joe Chambers/Kevin Diehl/Chad Taylor: Onilu (Eremite)
Percussion trio, each with a long list of credits,
although Diehl (leader of Sonic Liberation Front) specializes in
batá drums, and Chambers plays conga and idiophones and is well
established on marimba/vibraphone, which Taylor also plays, as
well as mbira and piano. Title is from Yoruba, which pins down
the center of their map, extending everywhere. **
|
| 47. |
 |
Chris Jonas: Backwardsupwardsky: Music From the Deserts
(Edgetone)
Saxophonist, plays soprano and tenor, based in Santa Fe, Discogs lists
a couple albums (first from 1999), but mostly group credits (back to
1991), including a saxophone quartet with Anthony Braxton and big
bands led by Cecil Taylor and William Parker. Three sessions here:
two trios with bass and drums, mixed in with a quartet recorded in
Bologna with Luca Serrapiglio (baritone sax/contra alto
clarinet). This latter session is exceptional, and mixed in as it is
elevates the trio work, interesting in its own right.
|
| 48. |
 |
Claire Ritter: Songs of Lumière (Zoning)
Pianist, from North Carolina, record label name from Mary Lou
Williams, has a dozen-plus albums since 1987, several collaborations
with Ran Blake, claims over 300 compositions. Solo, originals
sprinkled with a few distinctive standards. I'm not a big fan of the
format, usually responding only to a lot of flash and/or a "left hand
like God," neither of which apply here, but she keeps my interest
throughout.
|
| 49. |
 |
Anla Courtis Ja Lehtisalo: 1972 (2022-24 [2025],
Full Connect): Duo, two long-established experimental guitarists
(plus long list of other instruments), both born in 1972 ("an
era when sound was an experiment"), the former in Argentina,
the latter in Finland (first name Jussi; "ja" here seems to
be Finnish for "and"). Some remarkable rough-hewn ambient for
a world on edge. **
|
| 50. |
 |
Matthew Shipp: The Cosmic Piano (Cantaloupe Music)
One of the major pianists in jazz history, many albums since 1988,
I've written a whole Consumer Guide about his work, which was a
substantial task 20 years ago and would have to be more than doubled
today. Along the way, he's recorded well over a dozen solo albums,
with this the latest, and this is one more. I've never been a huge
solo piano fan, but this is clearly pretty remarkable, in ways that
make him instantly recognizable. **
|
| 51. |
 |
Eunhye Jeong/Michael Bisio Duo: Morning Bells Whistle
Bright (ESP-Disk)
Piano and bass duo, with one solo track each, but also joined for four
tracks (three in the middle, plus the closer) by Joe McPhee (tenor
sax) and Jay Rosen (drums). In some ways this seems slight, but every
detail signifies.
|
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2023
year-end file:
| 1. |
 |
Camila Nebbia/Dietrich Eichmann/John Hughes/Jeff Arnal:
Chrononaux (Generate '24)
Tenor saxophonist from Argentina, impressive last couple years, with
the German pianist (specifically credited with upright), bass, and
drums, for one long improv (25:37) and another longer one
(63:34). Both pieces are terrific. **
|
| 2. |
 |
K. Curtis Lyle/George Sams/Adi Du Dharma Joshua Weinstein/Damon
Smith/Ra Kalaam Bob Moses/Henry Claude: 29 Birds You Never Heard
(Balance Point Acoustics '24)
Spoken word by the poet, who has a previous album from 1971, two new
ones in 2024, a book from 1975, not much more I can find, but he's
been around, knows a lot, and has his way with words. Also with music
here, backed by trumpet (Sams), bass (Weinstein & Smith),
percussion (Moses & Claude). Reminds me of Conjure.
|
| 3. |
 |
Paul Dunmall Quartet: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
(RogueArt '24)
British avant-saxophonist (tenor/soprano), many albums, with Liam
Noble (piano), John Edwards (bass), and Mark Sanders (drums). Joint
improv, making it look easy as well as dazzling.
|
| 4. |
 |
Andreas Gerth & Carl Oesterheit: Music for Unknown
Rituals (Umor Rex '24)
German musicians, have fairly substantial credits since early 1990s,
but not much more than their two duo albums as leaders. One of the
best albums I've heard in the Hassell-Eno "4th world" domain. **
|
| 5. |
 |
Funkrust Brass Band: Make a Little Spark (self-released)
New York band, 20-piece group (at least at one point), "mixes post
punk, disco, EDM, metal, funk, Balkan brass and New Orleans second
line, with snazzy uniforms, choreography, megaphone vocals, and
all-original music." Two earlier (2017-19) albums fall short of
LP-length, and their collection of demos and remixes isn't much
longer, but this one counts, and I'm a sucker for a good tuba
section. **
|
| 6. |
 |
Uroboro: As in an Unpicking of Time's Garment (Discus
Music '24)
Group, one previous album, presumably English (but I'm finding too
little to be sure), principally Keith Jafrate, who plays sax, opens
with spoken word, and wrote all the pieces, while backed by keyboard
(Matthew Bourne), guitar (Anton Hunter), bass (John Pope), and drums
(Johnny Hunter), with a vocal from Sylvie Rose. **
|
Honorable Mention
Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024
year-end file:
Reissues/Historic Music
The standard for historic music is a record where everything was
recorded 10+ years ago, regardless of whether it's ever been in print
before. Some past lists may have treated previously unreleased music
as new (regardless of actual age), but I've never been able to manage
that distinction consistently. This category also includes compilations
of previously released music, including straight reissues, although my
selection is very erratic.
| 1. |
 |
James Moody: 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note March
26, 2005 (Origin)
Bebop saxophonist (1925-2010), mostly tenor, also played quite a bit
of flute, joined Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and was a regular in his
various bands, while he established his own career with "Moody's Mood
for Love" in 1952. He opens this 80th birthday bash singing "Benny's
From Heaven," badly at first but so infectiously he won me over. He
opened with a solid band -- David Hazeltine (piano), Todd Coolman
(bass), and Adam Nussbaum (drums) -- then brought out the stars for
the back stretch: Jon Faddis (trumpet), Paquito D'Rivera (alto
sax/clarinet), Slide Hampton (trombone), plus guest spots for Randy
Brecker (trumpet) and Cedar Walton (piano). He turns this into an
old-fashioned bebop revival, reprising his hits as well as "Cherokee,"
"Birk's Works," and "Bebop" itself.
|
| 2. |
 |
Jimmy Lyons: Live From Studio Rivbea: 1974 & 1976
(NoBusiness)
Alto saxophonist (1931-86), best known for his work with Cecil Taylor,
but his own albums are almost all worth checking out, and this one is
crackling: two improv sets (27:52 and 26:10), the first with Karen
Borca (bassoon), Hayes Burnett (bass), and Henry Letcher (drums), the
second with Syd Smart (drums) and Burnett again.
|
| 3. |
 |
Charles Mingus: Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires
Concerts (1977, Resonance, 2CD)
A tremendous bassist from the start, his genius period as a composer
ran from roughly 1956-64, although he got a second wind in the early
1970s with a new quartet that went independent under the joint
leadership of George Adams and Don Pullen. His health soon
deteriorated, and he died in 1979 (age 56), so anything from his last
few years doesn't come with great expectations. I found this one
unsettling at first, but flashes of brilliance kept surfacing, most
from compositions that undoubtedly have been done better elsewhere,
but he had an uncanny knack for breathing fresh life into everything
he touched. And for making small groups -- this one especially
notable for Jack Walrath (trumpet) and Ricky Ford (tenor sax). Also,
he closes both sets with his own solo piano. **
|
| 4. |
 |
Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra: Live at
Widney High December 26th, 1971 (The Village)
A phenomenal pianist from Los Angeles, also notable as a community
organizer, ran this not-quite-big band at least through 1979's Live
at I.U.C.C.. Starts strong with a 25:03 version of John Coltrane's
"Equinox," with Al Collins on tenor sax, two trumpets (Butch Morris
and Walter Graham), two trombones, two bassists, drums and congas. The
following pieces, with vocalist Linda Hill and "word musician" Kamau
Daáood are no less wonderful. **
|
| 5. |
 |
Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley: Flashing Spirits (1988,
Burning Ambulance)
"Pioneering avant-garde pianist" (1929-2018), holds the record for
most 4-star albums in Penguin Guide, partly because they're so
consistent they're hard to sort among, partly because at any given
moment the one you're listening to is likely to sound uniquely
brilliant. It's easy to pick 1988 as his peak, not least because he
recorded so much in Berlin that year. Duo with drums, one of many
that year but Oxley was the one he worked with most in later years,
and good reasons for that. **
|
| 6. |
 |
Irène Schweizer/Rüdiger Carl/Johnny Dyani/Han Bennink: Irène's
Hot Four (1981, Intakt)
Swiss pianist (1941-2024), an astonishing player, especially in her
duos with various free jazz drummers -- the ones with Bennink are
among the best, but not alone. She started in the 1970s with Carl
playing saxophones, clarinet, and accordion. **
|
| 7. |
 |
Joe Henderson: Multiple (1973, Craft)
Major tenor saxophonist (1937-2001), made his reputation in a
series of now-classic Blue Note albums 1963-66, moved on to an
extended run at Milestone 1968-77, had an unaccountably spotty
decade-plus after that -- a couple albums on European labels,
one more for Blue Note (The State of the Tenor, which
pretty much was) -- before Verve picked him up in 1991, giving
him the living legend treatment (but saddling him with concepts
that I found less satisfying: tributes to Strayhorn, Davis, and
Jobim; a big band; Porgy & Bess). I'm far less familiar
with the Milestones, although he easily aced his entry in 2006's
Milestone Profiles series, so I didn't even recognize this
title (a Penguin Guide ***). It may have been easy to dismiss due
to the then-fashionable electric keyboards/bass/guitar, congas,
bits of soprano sax, flute and vocals. But a rhythm section with
Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette shouldn't be dismissed -- they
also contributed one song each, to go with three by Henderson.
But now you can't help but focus on his tenor sax -- the Penguin
Guide line is that he always sounds like he's in the middle of a
great solo -- an this is certainly a good example. But I also
have to admit I'm also digging Larry Willis' funky electric piano. **
|
| 8. |
 |
Stanley Cowell/Billy Harper/Reggie Workman/Billy Hart: Such
Great Friends (1983, Strata-East)
Documenting a live tour in Japan, the pianist opens, with the
saxophonist holding back until the second tune, when he unleashes his
full power and glory. Second half evens out a bit as a group. **
|
| 9. |
 |
b>Kristen Noguès/John Surman: Diriaou (1998, Souffle Continu)
Celtic harp player (1952-2007), French but sings in Breton, released
an album in 1976, several more in the 1990s. This a duo with the
English saxophonist, mostly playing bass clarinet. This is really
lovely, a unique item. **
|
| 10. |
 |
Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers: African Party
[Deluxe Edition] (1967, Innovative Collective/BBE Music)
Percussionist from Nigeria (1916-75), moved to London after WWII,
played with jazz musicians like Ronnie Scott, recorded some singles
and this 1967 album (slightly expanded here). Intense drums, wailing
sax, chants, lives up to its title. **
|
| 11. |
 |
Ryan Truesdell: Shades of Sound: Gil Evans Project Live
at Jazz Standard Vol. 2 (2014, Outside In Music)
Composer, arranger, conductor, appeared in 2012 with Centennial:
Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans, and followed that up with an
excellent live "Gil Evans Project" album, Lines of Color
(2015). This Vol. 2 comes from the same stand, and reminds us
how impressive the interplay and the solos were.
|
| 12. |
 |
Ellery Eskelin: Trio New York About (or On) First Visit
(2011-13, Ezz-Thetics)
Remaster of Trio New York and Trio New York II,
previouly released on Prime Source -- hence the title fudging for what
is normally a series of previously unreleased tapes. Leader plays
tenor sax, with Gary Versace (organ) and Gerald Cleaver
(drums). **
|
| 13. |
 |
Dave Burrell/Sam Woodyard: The Lost Session: Paris 1979
(NoBusiness)
Avant pianist, known on occasion to look back with delight, at the
moment he was coming off an excellent Plays Ellington and Monk
and a Lush Life I haven't heard, and would later go on to
The Jelly Roll Joys. Here he's in a duo with Ellington's
longtime drummer, whose name rarely shows up in sluglines. Mostly
originals, some of which could be vintage rags, but they work in "Lush
Life," "Sentimental Lady," and "Embraceable You."
|
| 14. |
 |
Misha Mengelberg/Sabu Toyozumi: The Analects of Confucius
(2000, NoBusiness)
Piano and drums duo, recorded in Japan, on the latter's home
turf. Coming in my playlist right after dazzling piano from Cecil
Taylor and Irène Schweizer, this took a bit longer to sort out, but in
the end he won me over. I suppose it's a bit like comparing Monk and
Peterson (or maybe even Tatum), an analogy he would most likely find
flattering.
|
| 15. |
 |
François Tusques/Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra:
Vol. 4: Jo Maka (1977, Souffle Continu)
French pianist, b. 1938, many records up to 2015, formed this group in
1974, the albums sometimes under his name, sometimes the group's. Jo
Maka was a saxophonist from Guinea (1929-81), who plays alto and
soprano on this set, which was released shortly after he died. The
African flavor is a delight here. All compositions by Tusques except
for a long cover of "Fables of Faubus."
|
| 16. |
 |
Charles Tolliver With Gary Bartz/Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Joe
Chambers: Right Now . . . and Then (1968, Strata-East)
The trumpet player's first side credits came in 1965 with Jackie
McLean, followed by work with Booker Ervin, Horace Silver, and Max
Roach. This could have been his first album, although it looks like it
wasn't released until 1971, first as Charles Tolliver and His All
Stars, then on Arista/Freedom as Paper Man. A 2019 reissue
adopted this title/cover, and added a bonus track, which has now grown
to two. The "stars" were pretty young at the time -- Carter was 31,
Hancock and Bartz 28, Chambers and Tolliver 26 -- but well on their
way, with Tolliver writing all the songs (I would have guessed Horace
Silver). **
|
| 17. |
 |
Motoharu Yoshizawa/Kim Dae Hwan: Way of the Breeze
(1993, NoBusiness)
Japanese bassist (1931-98), credited here with "homemade electric
vertical 5-strings bass," duo with Korean free jazz percussionist
(1933-2003), who takes charge early with one of the most striking drum
solos I've heard lately. Gets more complicated further on.
|
| 18. |
 |
Charles Tolliver With Gary Bartz/Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Joe
Chambers: Right Now . . . and Then (1968, Strata-East):
Trumpet, quartet with guitar (Nathan Page), bass (Steve Novosel), and
drums (Alvin Queen), recorded in Paris, originally came out in 1980,
also released as New Tolliver (mostly in Japan). Four songs
(39:15), snappy up front, seductive when they take it easy, oustanding
trumpet both ways. **
|
| 19. |
 |
Mary Halvorson Quartet: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Volume
1 (2019, Tzadik)
Originally released as the first disc in Zorn's Bagatelles 4-CD
box set (2021) -- actually, the first of four 4-CD boxes, which still
didn't exhaust the 300 compositions Zorn wrote for the series -- now
broken out separately, and unlike most of the albums Tzadik releases
of Zorn's compositions, credited to the musician(s) -- perhaps some
recognition that the guitarist has arrived. Actually, she's joined
here by a second guitarist, Miles Okazaki, along with Drew Gress
(bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). Despite his massive cache of
compositions, I still have little sense of Zorn as a composer, but
anyone who doubts Halvorson's chops or arranging sense should shut
up. **
|
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2023
year-end file:
| 1. |
 |
Ray Russell Quartet: The Complete Spontaneous Event: Live
1967-1969 (Jazz in Britain)
British guitarist, b. 1947, so was pretty young when these six BBC
radio sessions were recorded: 6 tracks were released in 2000, expanded
here to 20 tracks, 133:33, the with Roy Fry (piano), Alan Rushton
(drums), and either Dave Holland or Ron Mathewson on bass. This is
closer to classic bebop guitar jazz than to the avant/fusion strains
developing around John McLaughlin, but is remarkably cogent and flat
out enjoyable. **
|
| 2. |
 |
Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Tony Orrell: That's My Life
(1989, 577 '23)
British saxophonist, plays soprano here, Discogs credits him with 201
albums since 1986 (325 credits), so this is a fairly early set, a live
tape from Albert Inn in Bristol, backed by bass and drums. I've only
sampled him lightly (18 albums, 4 A-), so don't have much sense of how
consistent he is, but this one sizzles all the way. **
|
Honorable Mention
Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024
year-end file:
Notes
Additional new jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed
alphabetically by artist).
Additional reissued/archival jazz records rated B+(**) or below
(listed alphabetically by artist).
Recommended but Unheard Jazz Records
New jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better)
chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them. Also unheard
records that got votes in Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, regardless
of their prospects.
Limited sampling grades may be noted for any record in this section.
Bracketed grades refer to older editions of reissues.
Additional unheard new jazz records that received votes in Francis Davis
Jazz Critics Poll (2% criteria not yet applied; bc indicates availability
on Bandcamp):
- Pheeroan akLaff/Scott Robinson/Julian Thayer: aRT (ScienSonic)
- Albita & Chucho Valdés: Masters of Our Roots (InnerCat Entertainment)
- Aleph Quintet: Hiwar (Igloo) - bc(*)
- Leon Anderson: Live at Snug Harbor (Outside In Music)
- Elia Aregger Trio: Live (Unit)
- Alex "Apolo" Ayala & the Bámbula Project: Afro Puerto Rican Jazz (PMC/Miel Music)
- Tarun Balani: ڪڏهن ملنداسين Kadahin Milandaasin (Berthold) - bc(*)
- Carlos Barretto: Solo: Lonely Dog (self-released '24)
- Leif Berger: Secret, Normalization (Klaeng)
- Emmanuel Bex: Eddy M'a Dit (PeeWee)
- Jasper Blom Quartet + Metropole Orkest: Metropolarity (Whirlwind) - bc(*)
- Anneleen Boehme: Eunoia (W.E.R.F.) - bc(*)
- Bobby Bradford/Frode Gjerstad/William Roper/Alex Cline: Frice (Fundacja Słuchaj '24)
- Adrien Brandeis: Resurgence (Montondea Productions)
- Anthony Braxton: Trillium X (PMP) - bc(0/8)
- Olie Brice: All It Was (West Hill) - bc(1/6)
- Jakob Bro Large Ensemble: New Morning (Loveland Music) - bc(*)
- Gary Brunton: Spacecraft (Juste Une Trace)
- Brighde Chaimbeul: Sunwise (Tak:til) - bc(*)
- Chicago Jazz Orchestra: More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (Chicago Jazz Orchestra)
- Marilyn Crispell & Harvey Sorgen: Forest (Fundacja Słuchaj -24) - bc(5/10)
- Sylvain Darrifourcq/Manuel Hermia/Valentin Ceccaldi: Unicorn and Flexibility (Hector) - bc(*)
- Michael Dease: City Life: Music of Greg Hill (Origin)
- Diva Jazz Orchestra: A Celebration of Maurice Hines: Tappin' Thru Life (self-released)
- Doreen's Jazz New Orleans: Vol. 33: Walkin' Through the Streets (self-released)
- David Dower Trio: Sonder (self-released)
- Marina Džukljev/Christian Weber/Michael Griener: Industrielsalon (Trouble in the East)
- Eclectic Maybe Band: Cosmic Light Clusters (Discus Music) - bc(6/10)
- Edition Redux [Ken Vandermark]: Broadcast Transformer (Audiographic) - bc(1/4)
- Ensemble Shippolly: Love Shippolly (Niteco Studio & Music Arts) - bc(4/9)
- Entre Amigos: Magpie: The Music of Joe Clark (Entre Amigos)
- Esthesis Quartet: Sound & Fury (Sunnyside) - bc(*)
- Jimmy Farace: Hours Fly, Flowers Die (Shifting Paradigm) - bc(*)
- Joe Farnsworth: The Big Room (Smoke Sessions) - bc(4/8)
- Joe Fonda: & Bass of Operation (Fundacja Słuchaj '24)
- Alexandre Frazão Quinteto: Quintesséncia (self-released '24)
- Ganavya: Nilam (Leiter)
- Jacob Garchik: Ye Olde 2: At the End of Time (Yestereve) [U]
- Violeta Garcia: IN/OUT (Bongo Joe) - bc(*)
- Bertrand Gauguet/Didier Lasserre: Mehr (Akousis/NUNC '24) - bc(1/4)
- Macha Gharibian: Phenomenal Women (Rue Bleu Meredith) - bc(*)
- Phillip Golub/Lesley Mok [Dream Brigade]: Dream Brigade (Infrequent Seams) - bc(*)
- Ayelet Rose Gottlieb & Dream Keepers: Dust (Corne de Brume) - bc(*)
- GPS: Directions + Destinations (577) - bc(11/14)
- Pasquale Grasso: Fervency (Masterworks)
- Ronny Graupe's Szelest: Newfoundland Tristesse (BMC)
- GTO Trio [Gadi Levahi/Tal Mashiach/Ofri Nehemya]: Within (Anzic) - bc(*)
- Joy Guidry: Five Prayers (Jaid)
- Sunna Gunnlaugs: Ástin, Bjartsýnin Og Andskotans Blaðrið Í Fólkinu (Sunny Sky '24)
- Colin Hancock's Jazz Hounds Featuring Catherine Russell: Cat & the Hounds (Turtle Bay)
- Simon Spang-Hanssen: Turtle Talk (Spangster)
- Happy Family: 4037 (Cuneiform, EP)
- John Hart: Love Is (SteepleChase '24)
- Felix Henkelhausen Quintet: The Excruciating Pain of Boredom (self-released) - bc(*)
- Makiko Hirabayashi Weavers: Gifts (Enja) - bc(*)
- Hamilton de Holanda Trio: Live in NYC (Sony)
- James Holden & Waclaw Zimpel: The Universe Will Take Care of You (Border Community) - bc(*)
- Julia Hülsmann Quartet: Under the Surface (ECM)
- Luis Ianes/Noël Akchoté: Seuil (self-released) - bc(*)
- Dieter Ilg Trio: Motherland (Jazzline)
- Kim Jung Jae: Shamanism (Relative Pitch) - bc(*)
- Naissam Jalal: Souffles (Les Couleurs Du Son) - bc(*)
- Kazzrie Jaxen & Don Messina: The Dance (New Artists)
- Juno 3 [Han-earl Park/Lara Jones/Pat Thomas]: Proxemics (Buster and Friends) - bc(7/12)
- Kristoff K.Roll: Les Ombres De La Nuit (Mazeto Square)
- Keelepeksjad: Kalev Tuli Koju (Ava Muusika)
- Mark Kirschenmann: Tonics: 7 Melodies for Trumpet With Bamboo Mouthpipe (Infrequent Seams) - bc(*)
- Guy Klucevsek/Volker Goetze: Little Big Top (Motéma '24) - bc(*)
- Charlie Kohlhase's Explorerer Club: A Second Life (Mandorla Music) - bc(*)
- Masayo Koketsu: Nyoinbo - Zenbu Nagareboshi no Sei (Somethin' Cool)
- Malakoff Kowalski: Songs With Words (Sony)
- Alexey Kruglov: Transfiguration 100 Duos (Solyd)
- Hélène Labarrière: Puzzle (Jazzdor) - bc(*)
- Mathias Landæus/Nina de Heney/Kresten Osgood: Dissolving Patterns (SFÄR) - bc(*)
- Steve Lands: Rearranging the Planets (self-released) - bc(*)
- Longnon Big Band: Istanbounce (Continuo Jazz)
- Brandon Lopez/DoYeon Kim: Syzygy Vol. 1 (577) - bc(3/5)
- Georgia Mancio/Alan Broadbent: A Story Left Untold (Roomspin)
- Gillian Margot/Geoffrey Keezer: Gillian Margot and Geoffrey Keezer (MarKeez)
- Marcin Masecki Trio: Monk (BMC)
- Janette Mason: ReWired (JMMusic)
- Alex McLaughlin: A Brand New State (self-released)
- Melodies: Melodies (Ammonite Musique)
- Nate Mercereau/Josh Johnson/Carlos Niño: Openness Trio (Blue Note)
- Camila Meza: Portal (GroundUP Music)
- Matt Mitchell: Sacrosancticity (Obliquity)
- Morley: Follow the Sound (self-released '24)
- Mu Quintet: Enos (Jazz Aggression) - bc(*)
- Muddy Gurdy: Seven (Buda Musique '24)
- Steve Nelson/Joris Teepe/Eric Ineke: A Common Language (Daybreak)
- Jef Neve & Teus Nobel: Esho Funi (Blue Keys Productions)
- New Origin: The Poet's Walk (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(3/6)
- The New York Second: Room for Other People (self-released '24)
- Maggie Nichols & Geoff Eales: Beautiful Love (33 Jazz)
- Angelika Niescier/Sakina Abdou/Bruno Angelini: Lotus Flowers (Abalone)
- Nordkraft Big Band/Remy Le Boeuf/Danielle Wertz: Silent Course (Gateway Music)
- Linda May Han Oh: Strange Heavens (Biophilia) - bc(1/12)
- Iúri Oliveira: Manifesto (Respirar De Ouvido) - bc(*)
- Ed Palermo Big Band: Prog vs Fusion: A War of the Agea (Sky Cat) - bc(*)
- Evan Parker/Jean-Marc Foussat: Insolence (Nashazphone)
- Alex Paxton: Delicious (New Amsterdam) - bc(*)
- Ivo Perelman/Tyshawn Sorey: Parallel Aesthetics (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(2/6)
- Sabeth Perez: Searching for Beauty (Rogue Tone)
- Phantom Honeymoon: Interstellar Underpass (MechaBenzaiten) - bc(*)
- Zoe Pia & Mats Gustafsson: Rite (Parco Della Musica)
- Memet Polat Quartet: Roots in Motion (Aftab) - bc(*)
- Ra Bishop [Avreeayl Ra & Jeb Bishop]: Of the Essence (Amalgam) - bc(1/3)
- Shez Raja: Spellbound (Raja)
- Guthrie Ramsey: Race Music 21: Etudes/Grooves/Interludes (Musiqology)
- Remedy [Thomas Heberer/Joe Fonda/Joe Hertenstein]: Hipp Hipp Hooray: Celebrating the Centennial of Jutta Hipp (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(4/9)
- Anaïs Reno: Lady of the Lavender Mist (Club44)
- Diego Rivera: West Circle (Posi-Tone) - bc(*)
- Joris Roelofs/Guus Janssen/Han Bennink: Rite of Spring (ICP) - bc(*)
- Kurt Rosenwinkel & Jean-Paul Brodbeck: The Brahms Project (Heartcore) - bc(*)
- Kyle Roussel: Church of New Orleans (self-released)
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Chris Potter/Eric Harland/Larry Grenadier: First Meeting: Live at Dizzy's Club (5Passion)
- Salin: Rammana (Salin)
- John Santos Sextet & Friends: Horizontes (Machete)
- Masahiko Satoh & Roger Turner: AOI (Chap Chap)
- Stefan Schultze/Peter Ehwald/Tom Rainey: Public Radio (Jazzwerkstatt) - bc(*)
- Jacques Schwarz-Bart/Gregory Privat: 22 (Buddham)
- Yukari Sekiya: Duets Till Now, From Here (Umishima)
- Altin Sencalar: Unleashed (Posi-Tone) - bc(*)
- Jaleel Shaw: Painter of the Invisible (Changu) - bc(2/11)
- Yotam Silberstein: Standards Vol. 2 (Jojo)
- Alex Sipiagin: Reverberations (Criss Cross Jazz)
- Harri Sjöström: SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(10/18)
- Skerik/Brian Haas/James Singleton/Simon Lott: Compersion Quartet (Royal Potato Family '24) - bc(3/12)
- Skullcap: Snakes of Albuquerque (Cuneiform)
- Snowpoet: Heartstrings (Edition) - bc(*)
- Claudia Solal & Benjamin Moussay: Punk Moon (Jazzdor) - bc(3/10)
- Kandace Springs: Lady in Satin (SRP)
- Eric St-Laurent: El Choclo (Kazenmuzik) - bc(*)
- Moe Staiano: Away Towards the Light (Edgetone '24)
- Stef.in: Icterus II (Barnyard)
- Sultan Stevenson: El Roi (Edition)
- Bill Stewart Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (Criss Cross Jazz)
- John Sturino: Blow Globe (Outside In Music)
- Claude Tchamitchian Quartet: Vortice (Emouvance)
- Stephan Thelen: Worlds in Collision (RareNoise)
- Three Layer Cake: Sounds the Color of Grounds (Otherly Love) - bc(2/9)
- Treverket: Et Bedre Sted (Eget Selskap)
- Kamasi Washington: Lazarus (Sony) - bc(*)
- Cassie Watson Francillon & Sasha Masakowski: Suite (self-released) - bc(*)
- Tom Weeks: Paranoid II (Wolfsblood) - bc(*)
- Matthew Welch/Dan Plonsey: Eudimorphodon (Kotekan)
- Kenny Wheeler Legacy: Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores (Greenleaf Music)
- Tobias Wiklund: Inner Flight Music (Stunt)
- Spike Wilner Trio Contrafactus: The Children & the Warlock (Cellar Music Group)
- Tal Yahalom: Mirror Image (Adhyâropa) - bc(*)
- Raed Yassin: Phantom Orchestra (Morphine) - bc(*)
- Otomo Yoshihide: Plays Christian Marclay (Little Stone) - bc(0)
- Denny Zeitlin: With a Song in My Heart (Sunnyside)
- Meryl Zimmerman: Easy to Love (self-released) - bc(*)
Reissued/historical jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or
better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them:
Reissued/historical jazz records that received votes in Francis Davis
Jazz Critics Poll, but still don't meet my 2% expectation:
- Tony Allen & La Bogotá Orquesta Afrobeat: La BOA Meets Tony Allen (2011, Comet) -- bc(*)
- Jean-Jacques Avenel/Daunik Lazro: Duo: Bibliothèque De Massy 13 Novembre 1980 (Fou '24)
- David Binney: Grains of Light (2009-13, Mythology)
- Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance) - bc(*) dl
- Kenny Burrell With Art Blakey: On View at the Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters (1959, Blue Note)
- Celia Cruz & Willie Colón: Celia Y Willie (1981, Craft)
- Manu Dibango: Dibango 82 (1982, We Want Sounds)
- Fred Frith/Shelley Burgon: The Life and Behavior (2002-05, Relative Pitch) - bc(*)
- Vince Guaraldi: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! (Lee Mendelson Film Productions)
- Roy Haynes: Hip Ensemble (1971, We Want Sounds)
- Noah Howard Group: Berlin Concert (1975, Cien Fuegos)
- Noah Howard Quartet: Schizophrenic Blues (1977, Cien Fuegos)
- Bobby Hutcherson: Classic Bobby Hutcherson Blue Note Sessions 1963-1970 (Mosaic '24)
- The Jazz Crusaders: Freedom Sound (1961, Blue Note)
- Clifford Jordan Big Band: Play What You Feel (1990, Mapleshade/P-Vine) **
- Daunik Lazro/Tristan Honsinger/Jean-Jacques Avenel: True & Whole Rhythms au Danois 9 Mai 1982 (Fou)
- Edison Machado: Edison Machado & Boa Nova (1978, Far Out)
- Marian McPartland: At the Peninsula Library 1972 (Liberation Hall)
- Charles Mingus: Mingus at Monterey (1964, Candid)
- Thelonious Monk: With Sonny Rollins 1953 to 1957 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)
- Red Norvo: World Broadcast Recordings (1944-45, Circle/Jazzology)
- Evan Parker: The Heraclitean Two-Step, Etc. (1994-2024, False Walls '24)
- Pharoah Sanders: The Complete Pharoah Sanders Theresa Recordings (1980-87, Mosaic)
- Manfred Schoof Ochestra: European Echoes (1969, FMP) - bc(1/3)
- Toshiyuki Sekine Trio: Strode Rode (1978, Craftman)
- Archie Shepp and the Full Moon Ensemble: The Complete Live at Antibes (1970, BYG/Actuel)
- Sloth Racket: Ten Years of Live Sloths (2015-24, Luminous Label)
- Snakeoil [Tim Berne]: Snakeoil OK (2013, Screwgun) - bc(1/6)
- Soft Machine: Floating World Live [Remastered] (1975, MoonJune)
- Soft Machine: Drop [Remastered] (1971, MoonJune)
- Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett/Louis Moholo-Moholo: Live in Foggia (1985, Ogun) - bc(0/2)
- Masayuki Takayanagi: Stardust (1979, Jinya Disc)
- Masayuki Takayanagi: Holy Holy (1985, Jinya Disc)
- Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia: Live at Leverkusen 1994 (Repertoire)
- To Live and Shave in L.A.: The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg (1995-2000, Palilia) - bc(*)
- Kenny Wheeler: The Kenny Wheeler Big Band & Friends, Vol. 2 (1973-74, British Progressive Jazz) - bc(*)
- Jack Wilkins: Opal (1983, CTI/King Japan)
- Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep (1974, Zappa/UMe)
- Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions (1943-49, Mosaic '24)
- Classic Vanguard Small Group Swing Sessions (1953-57, Mosaic '24)
- Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain: Esoteric, Modal, and Progressive Jazz From Central and Eastern Europe (1962-1988) (Jazzman)
|
