TEN FAVORITE NEW JAZZ ALBUMS OF 2025
Chris Cheek, Keepers of the Eastern Door (Analog Tone Factory)
Chick Corea - Christian McBride - Brian Blade, Trilogy 3 (Candid)
Randal Despommier, South (Sunnyside)
Joe Farnsworth, The Big Room (Smoke Sessions)
Charles Lloyd, Figure in Blue (Blue Note)
Brad Mehldau, Ride Into the Sun (Nonesuch)
Nordkraft Big Band - Remy Le Boeuf - Danielle Wertz, Silent Course (Gateway)
Linda May Han Oh, Strange Heavens (Biophilia)
John Patitucci, Spirit Fall (Edition)
John Scofield & Dave Holland, Memories of Home (ECM) 

THIRTEEN OTHER NOTABLE JAZZ RELEASES
Etienne Charles, Gullah Roots (Culture Shock)
Cyrus Chestnut, Rhythm, Melody and Harmony (Impulse!)
Gerald Clayton, Ones & Twos (Blue Note)
Duduka Da Fonseca Trio, Rio Fantasia (Sunnyside)
Luigi Grasso & NDR Bigband, La Dimora dell’Altrove (LP345)
Billy Hart Quartet, Just (ECM)
Branford Marsalis Quartet, Belonging (Blue Note) 
David Murray Quartet, Birdly Serenade (Impulse!)
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Mundoagua – Celebrating Carla Bley (Zoho)|
Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest, Somni (GroundUP)
James Suggs, For All We Know (Arbors)
Craig Taborn, Nels Cline, Marcus Gilmore, Trio of Bloom (Pyroclastic)
WDR Big Band featuring Darol Anger and Mike Marshall, Bluegrass (MCG Jazz)

REISSUES/ARCHIVAL
Bill Evans, Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 (Elemental)
Charles Mingus, Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts (Resonance)
Charles Mingus, Mingus at Monterey (Candid Records)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse (Resonance)
The Charlie Rouse Band, Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition (Resonance)

VOCAL
Kurt Elling & Christian Sands, Wildflowers Vol. 3 (Big Shoulders)
Allan Harris, The Poetry of Jazz (Love Productions)
Cecile McLorin Salvant, Oh Snap (Nonesuch) 

TEN NON-JAZZ FAVORITES
Annie & the Caldwells, Can’t Lose My (Soul) (Luaka Bop)
Tyler Childers, Snipe Hunter (Hickman Holler)
Galactic and Irma Thomas, Audience With the Queen (Tchoup-Zilla)Jason Isbell, Foxes in the Snow (Southeastern Records)
Lettuce, Cook (Lettuce)
Robert Plant with Suzi Dian, Saving Grace (Nonesuch)
Quetzal and David Hidalgo, Memory and Return (A Tlacuilo Joint!)
Mavis Staples, Sad and Beautiful World (Anti-)
Jeff Tweedy, Twilight Override (dBpm)
Various Artists, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Leon Russell Present: Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (Live at LOCKN’) (Fantasy)

John Chacona
Cleveland, Ohio, USA, All About Jazz, PostGenre Media and blogger at let's call this

I'm not a big fan of polls, but one of journalism's functions is to clock a certain consensus about what's happening, and polls are one way to do that. Herewith: my favorite recordings of the year, alpha by artist.

New releases

Ambrose Akinmusire, Honey From A Winter Stone, (Nonesuch)

Nels Cline, Consentrik Quartet (Blue Note)

Nicole Glover, Memories, Dreams, Refoections (Savant)

Colin Hancock’s Jazz Hounds featuring Catherine Russell, Cat & The Hounds 

Mary Halvorson, About Ghosts (Nonesuch)

Billy Hart, Multidirectional  (Smoke Sessions)

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith, Defiant Life (ECM) 4. 

Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner, The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi)

Eric McPherson, Double Bass Quartet, (Giant Step Arts)

Amina Claudine Myers, Solace of the Mind (Red Hook)


Reissues, historical &c.

Masabumi Kikuchi, Hanamichi: The Final Studio Recording Vol. II (2013, Red Hook)

Anthony Braxton, Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance)

Stanley Cowell, Musa: Ancestral Streams (1974, Strata-East/Mack Avenue)


Vocal albums

Theo Bleckmann, Love and Anger (Sunnyside Records)

Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Dawn (Stretch Music/Ropeadope)

Cécile McLorin Salvant, Oh Snap! (Nonesuch)

Debut album
 
Caelan Cardello, Chapter One (Jazz Bird Records)

Paul Cornish, You’re Exaggerating! (Blue Note Records)

Jeff Walton, Pack Animals (self released)

Latin jazz album

Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Mundoagua - Celebrating Carla Bley (Zoho)

Juan Pastor's Chinchano, Memorias (Calligram Records)

Miguel Zenón, Vanguardia Subterranea (Miel Music)

New Releases:

Patricia Brennan "Of the Near and Far" (Pyroclastic)

George Coleman "George Coleman with Strings" (HighNote)

Joe Farnsworth "The Big Room" (Smoke Session)

Ruben Reinaldo "Fusion Olivica" (Free Code Jazz)

John Santos Sextet & Friends "Horizontes" (Machete Records)

Deborah Silver & The Count Basie Orchestra "Basie Rocks" (Green Hill Music)

Various "Salsa de la Bahia v. 3 : Renegade Queens" (Patois) (2 CDs)

Ines Velasco "A Flash of Cobalt Blue" (Bespoke Jazz)

Brandee Younger "Gadabout Season" (Impulse)

Reissues:

Freddie Hubbard "On Fire : Live from the Blue Morocco" (Resonance) (2 CDs)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk "Vibrations in the Village : Live at the Village Gate" (Resonance)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk "Seek and Listen : Live at the Penthouse" (Resonance) (2 CDs)

Charles Mingus "Mingus in Argentina : the Buenos Aires Concert" (Resonance) (2 CDs)

Here are my ten favorite new albums of 2025. A full write-up on each of these, as well as my selections for numbers 11 through 35  can be found at PostGenre. Also on that site, you can find interviews from the past year with several of the artists on my list. 

NEW JAZZ ALBUMS

1. Patricia Brennan, Of the Near and Far (Pyroclastic) 
2. Ambrose Akinmusire, Honey From a Winter Stone (Nonesuch)
3. Charles Lloyd, Figure in Blue (Blue Note)
4. Amina Claudine Myers, Solace of the Mind (Red Hook) 
5. Theon Cross, Affirmations: Live at the Blue Note New York (New Soil) 
6. James Brandon Lewis Trio, Apple Cores (Anti-) 
7. For Living Lovers, Natural Name (Sunnyside) 
8. Amir ElSaffar & Lorenzo Bianchi Hoesch, Inner Spaces (Ornithology/Maqām) 
9. Mary Halvorson, About Ghosts (Nonesuch) 
10. Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp String Trio, Armageddon Flower (TAO Forms) 

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

1. Pharoah Sanders, Love Is Here: The Complete Paris 1975 ORTF Recordings (Transcendence Sounds) 
2. Sun Ra, Uncharted Passages: New York Piano Soliloquies 1977-79 (Modern Marmonic) 
3. Carlos Garnett, Cosmos Nucleus (1976, Muse/Time Traveler) 
4. Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain: Esoteric, Modal, and Progressive Jazz From Central and Eastern Europe (1962-1988) (Jazzman) 
5. Anthony Braxton, Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance) 

VOCAL

• Ambrose Akinmusire, Honey From a Winter Stone (Nonesuch) 
• Amina Claudine Myers, Solace of the Mind (Red Hook) 
• Sonya Belaya, Dacha (Ropeadope) 

LATIN

• Patricia Brennan, Of the Near and Far (Pyroclastic) 
• Adam O'Farrill, For These Streets (Out of Your Head) 
• Aruán Ortiz, Créole Renaissance (Intakt) 

DEBUT

• Thomas Morgan, Around You Is a Forest (Loveland Music) 
• Marcus Gilmore, Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard (Drummerslams) 
• Paul Cornish, You're Exaggerating! (Blue Note) 

My Best of Jazz 2025

• Branford Marsalis Quartet-Belonging- (Blue Note)
• Sullivan Fortner-Southern Nights-(Artwork)
• Bela Fleck, Edmar Castaneda, Antonio Sanchez-BEATrio- (Flecktone Recs)
• Joe Lovano with Marcin Wasilewski Trio-Homage-(ECM)
• Sinne Eeg and Jacob Christoffersen-Skikori-(Stunt Recs)
• Wolfgang Muthspiel w Scott Colley an Brian Blade-Tokyo-(ECM)
• John Ellis-Heroes-(Blue Room Music)
• John Patitucci-Spirit Fall- (Edition)
• Alex Sipiagin-Reverberations-(Cris Cross)
• Linda May Han Oh-Strange Heavens-(Biophilia)
• Carl Allen-Tippin'-(Cellar)
• Amaury Faye-RUST-(Hypnote)
• Rez Abassi Quintet-Sound Remains-(Whirlwind)
• Denny Zeitlin-Worth A Song in My Heart-(Sunnyside)
• Larry Goldings-I Will-(Sam First)
• Pasquale Grasso-Fervency-(Sony Masterworks)
• The Perception Trio-The Wicked Trio-(Music Release Club)
• Tessa Souter-Shadows and Silence: The Erik Satie Project-(NonAra)
• Michael Dease-Flow-(Posi-Tone)
• Michael Mayo-Fly-(Mack Ave)
• Jeff Parker ETA IV Ntet-The Way Out Easy-(Anthem Int)
• Pheeroan aKlaff, Scott Robinson, Julian Thayer-aRT- (ScienSonic)
• Guilio Gentile-Dream's Madness-(Auand)
• WDR Big Band featuring Mike Marshall and Darol Anger-Bluegrass-(MCG)
• Phil Haynes, Steve Salerno. Drew Gress-Return to Electric-(Cornerstore)
• Gonzalo Rubalcaba-First Meeting: Live at Dizzy's Club-(5Passion)
• Josh Lawrence-Still We Dream-(Posi-Tone)

Best Debut Album: 

• Tyreek McDole-Open Up Your Senses-(Artwork) 

Best Latin Jazz Albums:

• Miguel Zenon Quartet-Vanguardia Subterranea-Live at the Village Vanguard-(Miel Music)
• Conrad Herwig, Eddie Palmieri. Luques Curtis-Reflections-Facing South-(Savant)

Best Historical and Reissue Albums:

• George Colligan-Live at the Jazz Standard-(Whirlwind)
• John Surman-Flashpoints and Undercurrents-(Cuneiform)
• The Charlie Rouse Band-Cinnamon Flower-(Resonance)
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk- Vibrations in the Village-Live at the Village Gate- (Resonance)
• Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Paul Motian-The Old Country-Live at the Deer Head Inn- (ECM)
• Zakir Hussain-Making Music-(ECM)

New Recordings:

• 1.    Joe Farnsworth- “The Big Room” (Smoke Sessions)
• 2.    Sullivan Fortner- “Southern Nights” (Artwork)
• 3.    Brandee Younger- “Gadabout Season” (Impulse!)
• 4.    Artemis- “Arboresque” (Blue Note)
• 5.    Jimmy Greene- “As We Are Now” (Greene Music Works)
• 6.    Branford Marsalis- “Belonging” (Blue Note)
• 7.    Dave Stryker- “Stryker with Strings Goes to the Movies” (Strikezone)
• 8.  Gregory Groover, Jr.- "Old Knew" (Criss Cross Jazz)

 

Reissues/Rara Avis:

• 1.    Bill Evans- “Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings” (Craft Recordings)
• 2.    Pharoah Sanders: The Complete Theresa Recordings (Mosaic Records)
• 3.    Horace Silver- “Silver in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse” (Blue Note)
• 4.    Keith Jarrett: “The Old Country” (ECM)
• 5.    Roy Brooks- “Free Slave” (Muse/Jazz Detective)
• 6.    Sonny Criss- “Sonny’s Dream (Birth of the New Cool)” (Craft OJC)
• 7.    Ken McIntyre/Eric Dolphy- “Looking Ahead” (Craft OJC)
• 8.    Nathan Davis- “Happy Girl” (MPS)

10 Best of 2025:

1.       Mary Halvorson – About Ghosts (Nonesuch)

1.       Theo Croker – dream manifest (Dom Recs) [TIE]

3.       Donny McCaslin – Lullaby for the Lost (Edition)

4.       Trio of Bloom – Trio of Bloom (Pyroclastic)

5.       James Brandon Lewis Quartet – Abstraction Is Deliverance (Intakt)

6.       Paul Cornish – You’re Exaggerating! (Blue Note)

7.       Benjamin Lackner – Spindrift (ECM)

8.       Ambrose Akinmusire – honey from a winter stone (Nonesuch)

9.  Kalia Vandever – Another View (Northern Spy)

10. Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Plays Mulatu (Strut)

Top 50 Picks for 2025:

1. Mark Turner, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (Giant Step Arts)

2. Fred Hersch, The Surrounding Green (ECM)

3. Joshua Redman, Words Fall Short (Blue Note)

4. Dave Douglas, Alloy (Greenleaf Music)

5. Nels Cline, Concentric Quartet (Blue Note)

6. Branford Marsalis, Belonging (Blue Note)

7. Carl Allen, Tippin’ (Cellar Music)

8. John Scofield/Dave Holland, Memories of Home (ECM)

9. Shakti, Mind Explosion (Abstract Logix)

10. Jerome Sabbath, Stand Up! (Analog Tone Factory)

11. Chris Cheek, Keepers of the East Door (Analog Tone Factory)

12. Linda May Han Oh, Strange Heavens (Biophilia)

13. Anthony Wilson Nonet, House of the Singing Blossoms (Sam First Records)

14. Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quintet, Sound Remains (Whirlwind Recordings)

15. Miguel Zenon, Vanugardia Subterranean (Miel Music)

16. George Coleman, With Strings (Highnote)

17. Gilad Hekselman, Downhil From Here (La Reserve Records)

18. Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Chris Potter/Larry Grenadier/Eric Harland, First Meeting: Live at Dizzy's Club (5Passion Records)

19. Mike Clark, Itai Doshin (Wide Hive)

20. Sullivan Fortner, Southern Nights (Artwork Records)

21. Jaleel Shaw, Painter of the Invisible (Changu)

22. Tony Davis, Jessamine (La Reserve Records)

23. Aaron Parks, By All Means (Blue Note)

24. Mary Halvorson, About Ghosts (Nonesuch)

25. Bela Fleck/Edmar Castaneda/Antonio Sanchez, BEATrio (Thirty Tigers)

26. Michael Dease, City Life: Music of Gregg Hill (Origin)

27. Gregory Groover Jr., Old Knew (Criss Cross)

28. John O'Gallagher, Ancestral (Whirlwind Recordings)

29. Amina Claudine Myers, Solace of the Wind (Red Hook)

30. John McLaughlin, Music for Abandoned Heights (IMPEX Records)

31. David Kikoski Trio, Weekend at Smalls (Cellar Music)

32. Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet, Turn It Up! Live at the Side Door (Cellar Music)

33. Juan Chiavassa, Fourth Generation (Whirlwind Recordings)

34. Nicole Glover, Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Savant)

35. Josh Lawrence, Still We Dream (PosiTone)

36. Kenny Barron, Songbook (Artwork Records)

37. Nicole Zuraitis & Friends, Live at Vic's Las Vegas (La Reserve)

38. Olli Soikkeli, New York Trio (ollisoikkeli.com)

39. Eric McPherson, Double Bass Quartet (Giant Step Arts)

40. Theon Cross, Affirmations: Live at the Blue Note New York (New Soil)

41. Pasquale Grasso, Solo Be-Bop! (Sony Masterworks)

42. Anat Fort, The Dreamworld of Paul Motian (Sunnyside)

43. Al Foster, Live at Smoke (Smoke Sessions)

44. David Becker/Paul Wertico, Tuxedo Man (GAD Records)

45. Billy Hart, Multidirectional (Smoke Sessions)

46. Eric Reed, Out Late (Smoke Sessions)

47. Karl Ratzer Trio, Vienna Red (In+Out Records)

48. Tessa Souter, Shadows and Silence: The Erik Satie Project (Noanara Music)

49. George Colligan, Live at the Jazz Standard (Whirlwind Recordings)

50. Danny Gatton, Live at the Holiday Inn, 1987 (Gress Records)  

Top 10 new releases of 2025:

1. Marcus Gilmore, Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard 
2. Amina Claudine Myers, Solace of the Mind
3. Jacob Garchik, Ye Olde 2: At the End of Time
4. Craig Taborn, Nels Cline, Marcus Gilmore, Trio of Bloom
5. Kassa Overall, Cream
6. Billy Hart Quartet, Just
7. Brandee Younger, Gadabout Season
8. Chicago Underground Duo, Hyperglyph
9. Joe Farnsworth, The Big Room
10. Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons, Live in Philadelphia

What a joy to have shared tracks from a number of new releases from local Portland musicians as well as established icons. Alternate Wednesdays on KBOO.FM/program/jazz-lives.

The Powerhouse Quintet - Shared Stories; https://www.youtube.com/@PowerhouseJazz Quintet-xb6wt.

Christopher Brown Quartet - Sole City; PJCE Records

Kerry Politzer - Ruminations; PJCE Records

Tom Wakeling - West By Northwest/Live at Ravenscroft:Vol 1; Cellar Music Group

Domo Branch - Hands of Gifts: Albina Music Trust

*Terell Stafford - Between Two Worlds; Le Coq Records

Allan Harris - The Poetry of Jazz/Live at Blue Llama

Caelan Cardello - Chapter One; Jazz Bird Records

NYO Jazz - Live in Johannesburg; Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute

Lucy Yeghiazaryan - Some Other Spring w/Grant Steward; self published

Nicholas Payton - Triune w/Esperanza Spalding, Karriem Riggins; Smoke Sessions

The EMPRESS - Square One; Cellar Music

*Live interview on 11/19 in the second hour