Favorite Albums for 2025
Not even the advanced physics of the Grand Unified Theory can completely unpack the organic mess that makes up our universe. Forces converge in ways that the principles of supersymmetry has yet to fully explain. A similar fate awaits any curator or critic attempting to summarize the vast annual offering of music into the various capricious lists showcasing the best work in Jazz.
And yet these lists prevail, reflecting their diverse range of personal biases, cultural expectations, political objectives and musical tastes that can range from celebrating the tedium of conventional accomplishments to the boisterous promotion of unusual music that very few might ever notice or actually experience. All of which applies to my own annual synopses and somehow that’s not stopping me from doing them anyway.
Central to what guides my list of favorites is the evolving philosophy of the term “Jazz.” My programming routinely includes a steady diet of music influenced by ambient, country, classical, rock, pop, chamber music and fusion, to Caribbean, Latin, Indigenous, African, Asian and European folk music.
“Jazz” somehow connects them all with it’s insatiable appetite for invention, powered by the galvanic alchemy of African Diasporic musical traditions that elevates everything it interacts with. The vivaciousness of the nature of this continual evolution, and its habitual drive to fuse improvisation within such a broad range of musical experimentation, speaks to the essence of how I interpret Jazz and the essence of what continues to inspire my programming.
Again this year I gravitated towards artists pushing a variety of envelopes. Amending rules without recklessly abandoning traditions, pursuing musical narratives that harnessed elite orchestration, composing and arranging skills, these musical changlings dazzled with an assortment of genuine and wildly authentic creative visions. Moving beyond conventional expectations, many of these projects also featured captivating musical story-telling that spoke
to the structural complexities of our times.
Frequently this level of ambition leans into artistic paradigms that showcase entirely new ways of interpreting and understanding this music. All of these albums invited audiences to listen carefully and constructively while embracing a thrilling compendium of bold musical directives that waltzed with familiar traditions while continuing to chart a new course for Jazz.
MVP’s don’t exist in Jazz. While applying celebratory hierarchies might help our industry promote records, magazines and engagement strategies, I’ve rarely heard musicians describe any of these rankings as true barometers of talent or excellence - especially given the wide radius of variables currently defining this especially enigmatic musical idiom.
And so beyond all the tallies, favorites and best of lists, remains the enduring, prodigious consistency of an art form invigorated by inspirational musicians who tirelessly produce wave after wave of stunning musical achievements that I’m honored to share with you soon.
Petit, Bernado & Mienniel
Brunö Lapin
Revisiting popular music from decades past has become a thing again. But making it modern with the perfect chemistry of sparse instrumentation and a delightfully haunting temperament is Andrew Bird’s unique gift. Somber, funny, inquisitive, kind and clear, Bird takes us through gorgeously constructed covers of classics like I Didn’t Know What Time It Was and You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To, honoring their weight with ingenious, almost avant-garde like treatments. Silhouetted against the monochromatic nature of Bird’s masterful arranging, Sunday Morning Put On begs you to re-explore the rich lyricism and immortality of these magnificent, timeless songs.
Carrington & Dashiell
We Insist
Meditative and often ambient by design, Pakistani-American vocalist Arooj Aftab continues to enchant with Night Reign. Like Lizz Wright and Lalah Hathaway, the quiet power and grace of Aftab’s vocal gifts are more than enough to win you over. Few can carry tunes with such luxurious emotional precision, and so Jazz standards like Autumn Leaves soar via the lilt of Aftab’s arranging and instrumentation. Meanwhile the quiet storm of Aey Nehin or gentle pulse of Raat Ki Rani create seance like spaces to admire the lush audacity of this artist and the brilliant manner with which she’s managing her art and burgeoning career.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Dawn
Not all albums need to bowl you over. Some creep up slowly, demanding repeat spins as they quietly showcase stellar compositional attitudes and masterful displays of musicianship. On Volume 2 - Purple / Black, guitarist David Preston does all of the above while discreetly reinventing what a guitar-centric album can sound like. Melodically Preston makes room for any number of curious explorations, none overstated, glib or in anyway cliche. As the electric guitar albums with complicated expectations, Preston does extremely well to explore all his options, making room for a wide variety of sonic indulgences on this remarkably complete album.
Claire Cope
Every Journey
For decades pianist Edward Simon has mined every once of gold from a variety of trio settings. Weaving Latin themes throughout the various albums he’s recorded, Simon has always had a knack for exposing the full range of what three talented musicians can create. Unabashedly intimate, Three Visitors finds bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade in full form, occasionally aided by a string quartet and various guest artists. Whether branching out on The Thicket, or reeling it in on the delicate Nostalgia, Simon continues to find unique ways to tell elegant stories polished by his exceptional musicianship and creative genius.
Noah Garabedian
Quartets and Solos
Mostly known for his solo work, Norwegian pianist adds to his growing acclaim with the stunning symphonic work The Space Between Two Notes. Utilizing the Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Miho Hazama, Dale brilliantly ensures that classical music and Jazz not only cooperate but fully celebrate the glorious manner in which they compliment each other. Deep hues, wind strewn harmonies and acrobatic big band mechanics mark an album that checks all the boxes for this multifaceted young artist. Songs like Hvileskjær brilliantly showcase the elegant ways Dale manages time, space and the power of the orchestration at his command.
Danny Grissett
Traveloque
Fun, furious, rich with layers of immaculate big band arranging, Relentless was easily one of the most intriguing large ensemble recordings of 2024. Bassist Fernando Huergo deftly wields his band through a series of compositions that speak to legendary figures in Jazz (Ornette), societal issues (La Vida Sigue) or just Huergo’s insatiable curiosity to explore the sophistication of dance music on tunes like Groove Odds. Nothing falters here as Huergo unflinchingly directs his band to not just hit their high notes, but manufacture an entirely new attitude for what large ensemble work can sound like.
Erik Jekabson
Breakthrough
Rarely do debut albums announce the sign of genius in the making. Tackling the challenging exercise of exploring hard bop as heard through the lens of contemporary progressive Jazz, drummer Ivanna Cuesta masterfully plays through a series of provocative compositions on A Letter to the Earth. With her spectacular skill set, Cuesta plays with the maturity, depth, inquisitiveness and wisdom that many take entire careers to develop. Ranging from pensive and quiet, to boisterous, mercurial and even argumentative, compositions take the form of sonic reflections, a musical journalist’s emotional account on our unfolding climate crisis.
Morales & Hersch
Between Dreams and Twilight
Great large Jazz ensembles routinely provoke curious reactions. How can music be so ebullient? How do you embed the nature of wonder and intrigue within the core mechanics of elite orchestration? Familiar but delightfully unpredictable, Infinite Connections flows with a chameleon-like brand of excellence Lee is already well known for. Precise but fluid, Lee’s compositional style is in lock step with the picturesque landscapes her ensemble brings to life. Horn forward, rhythmically dense, replete with a seemingly perfect balance of space, contour and instrumental virtuosity, Lee’s compositions will transport you to places most traditional big bands don’t dare travel to.
John Sturino
Blow Globe
Partying aside, trumpeter Jonathan Powell has created a memorable album dedicated to honoring the rich traditions and bright future of salsa and Latin Jazz. Brimming with some of the best veteran Latin Jazz musicians from New York City, Mambo Jazz Party is as much a vivacious dance album as an serious expedition into music Powell completely adores. From the fiery Juancito to the brilliant reinvention of Herbie Hancock’s Butterfly, Powell’s compositional prowess, arranging chops and technical gifts make for energetic musicality that adds to the growing scholarship of work documenting the prolific influence of Latin artistry on Jazz.
Brandee Younger
Godabout Season
Creating compelling ambient music that speaks to the majestic tone of the bassoon and social justice issues? Who does that?! Joy Guidry does. And she carries this off using the colorful pallet of an artist who clearly gets how film, poetry and the Black church inform her muse. Segmented into curious vignettes, many might chide Guidry for not following a predictable format and yet Amen succeeds because it exists within neurodivergent spaces where creativity often thrives. Often sounding like the soundtrack to her lived experience, Guidry stitches together compositions that speak to the brilliant expectations she has for herself and her music.