NOTES ON JAZZ :
BEST OF JAZZ 2025
As the Holidays approach and the year end approaches once again, it is a tradition to look back and take account of what has happened in the passing year. The year two-thousand and twenty-five was a prolific year for music. The year found an amazing amount of exceptional new albums released from established artists as well as albums from some promising up and coming artists. Music, and particularly jazz, is an artform that is very expressive. It has an open door policy, inviting new ideas and approaches that welcome creativity, diversity and intra-cultural cross-pollination. Contrary to what we are currently being fed by the xenophobic leanings in the current political forum, music continues to validate positivity and inclusiveness. Jazz musicians can be any color, any race, any religious persuasion or any sexual orientation so long as they can play. Art has always thrived best with cultural diversity, open-mindedness and collaborative cooperation. World geographical distances have shrunken with convenient and efficient air travel. Musicians can study almost anywhere. They can now imbed in a culture to absorb folk and cultural aspects of a music that they could only previously be experienced and explored through imported recordings. Additionally, the internet has opened up a world of collaboration to musicians across the world remotely, through podcasts and zoom. Music and the musical audience has benefitted from this amalgamation of cross cultural influences. This cross-pollination of musical styles from around the world has created a delicious jambalaya of music. A living and breathing organic artform that continues to delight and surprise. Here's a crazy idea. If making music on the international level could be used as a template for political and social cooperation, we would all be the better off resulting in a less threatening and more joyous world state of affairs. Just a thought for all of us to ponder.
Keeping that theme of inclusion and diversity in mind, it is no wonder that so many of my picks for the best of jazz in 2025, is itself a testimony to the variety and global nature of jazz this year. In my picks from 2025, we find a Polish piano trio playing with a titan of an American saxophonist. There is a New York City born banjo master playing with a harpist from Columbia and a drummer from Mexico. A French pianist playing with an American band anchored by a noted New Orleans drummer. There is a wonderful vocalist and her pianist from Denmark, who are including Japanese influences in their work. A creative Austrian guitarist with his own unique approach that teams up with a master American rhythm section to great affect. There is a Russian trumpeter whose European melodicism and technical proficiency make this once sought after session sideman into a formidable bandleader in his own right. There is music from Venezuelan, Argentinian and Cuban pianists whose Afro-Latin influences have contributed to this year's music. Not to mention a superb live performance from an alto saxophonist from Puerto Rico and some diverse, exquisite guitarists, one from Pakistan and one from Italy. Let's not forget the many fine American and Canadian artists that make the music for people in this country and the world so vibrant and alive. It is like a United Nations of musicians whose work together does more for the beauty, the peaceful continuation and unity of the world then all the ambassadors that sit on the General Assembly of the real U.N. in NYC!
So without further ado, here are my picks for some of this years best of what we like to call "jazz" which all comes from its roots, which is Black Improvisational Music. This is by no means a complete list, only some of what I have had a chance to listen to and which from my point of view is worth your uninterrupted attention. I have chosen a total of thirty albums to highlight here. They include one impressive debut album by an impressive baritone and two albums that equally represent the Latin side of jazz. The list also singles out four notable vocalists that are worth your consideration.
I hope you will all find this list as compelling and enjoyable as I do.
Here in no particular order is my top picks for 2025:
Branford Marsalis Quartet: Belonging-Blue Note
A reimagining of Keith Jarrett's ECM album of the same name from 1975
Sullivan Fortner: Southern Nights-Artwork
An expressive pianist makes beautiful and evocative music.
Bela Fleck, Edmar Castaneda, Antonio Sanchez-BEATrio-Flecktone
The master banjoist finds musical simpatico with an inventive harpist and a talented percussionist.
Joe Lovano and The Marcin Wasilewski Trio-Homage-ECM
The titan saxophonist finds common ground with the Polish piano trio that used to back trumpeter Tomasz Stanko.
Sinne Eeg and Jacob Cristoffersen -Shikiori-Stunt
A gorgeous voice and a sympathetic piano say it all on this one. Eeg has a voice and delivery deserves further acclaim. See for yourself.
Wolfgang Muthspiel w Scott Colley and Brian Blade-Tokyo-ECM
This guitarist has a style all his own and it blooms with these two brilliant rhythm makers supporting his ideas.
John Ellis-Heroes-Blue Room Music
This dynamic saxophonist creates a set that probes and swings all the same time and to great delight.
John Patitucci-Spirit Fall-Edition
This first call bassist is always exploring ways to make his instrument sing. Here he teams up with the seemingly ubiquitous saxophonist Chris Potter and the impressionistic drummer Brian Blade
Alex Sipiagin-Reverberations-Chriss Cross
This top notch trumpeter has assembled some bandmates that function like a symbiotic organism. Sipiagin is at the apex of his talent, with stunning facility and precision and he has emerged as a formidable composer/bandleader.
Linda May Han Oh-Strange Heavens-Biophilia Records
Matched on this outing with two of the most creative artists of this era- trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer/composer Tyshawn Sorey- Oh creates a wonderful album that piques your interest in her message.
My pick for best Debut album:
Tyreek McDole-Open Up Your Senses- Artwork
A wonderful debut from a promising baritone that has a warm, silky voice that recalls Johnny Hartman and should be watched.
Two pick for best Latin Jazz Albums:
Miguel Zenon Quartet-Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard-Miel Music.
The first live recording of this excellent alto saxophonist and his quartet at the legendary jazz club.
Conrad Herwig with Eddie Palmieri and Luques Curtis- Reflections-Facing South-Savant Records
Uniting the Latin pianist icon Eddie Palmieri, who recently passed this August, in what may be his last recording, with the trombone artist Conrad Herwig, who made interpreting the Latin side of things an art form. The fine bassist Luques Curtis is the perfect foil for these two.
More of the best of jazz for 2025:
Carl Allen with Chris Potter and Christian McBride-Tippin'-Cellar Music
Hard to imagine a better trio to get the most of modern jazz with more energy and aplomb. Potter is especially unleashed in a Sonny Rollins mode as Mc Bride and Allen cook together. This is the first release from Allen as a leader for over twenty years!
Amaury Faye and his NOLA Quartet-RUST- Hypnote
A French pianist finds inspiration in the Crescent City with a brilliant quartet including Amina Scott, Julian Lee and the drummer ace Herlin Riley. This music seems to keep you entertained repeatedly.
Rez Abassi Acoustic Quintet- Sound Remains-Whirlwind records
This quintet adds the ethereal sound of Bill Ware's vibraphone to Abassi's unique approach to the steel-stringed acoustic guitar and some empathetic bass and percussion work to make this one a moving, dreamlike experience.
Denny Zeitlin-Worth A Song In My Heart-Sunnyside records
The octogenarian pianist is still making magical music. This time he deconstructs and reassembles some of Richard Rodgers music on his solo piano, in a way that makes it all his own.
Jeff Parker ETA IV Ntet- The Way Out Easy-International Anthem
These four musicians create a swelling ambience that captures your attention.
Larry Goldings-I Will-Sam First Records
A keyboard artist mostly know for his cutting edge organ trio work, Goldings showing just how good a piano player he can be, here with two young bandmates recorded live in LA.
Pasquale Grasso- Fervency- Sony Masterworks
Grasso is a superb Italian born guitarist that has the facile mastery that recalls Joe Pass. He is an accomplished accompaniest and here he is recorded in a trio setting with Ari Rolland on bass and Keith Balla on drums.
The Perceptions Trio- The Wicked Trio-Sense-Music Release Club
This international trio is based in Switzerland and include Charley Rose on saxophone, Silvan Joray on guitar and Paulo Almeida on drums. They create their own contemporary atmospheric music.
Tessa Souter-Shadows and Silence- The Erik Satie Project- NonAra
British/Trinidadian chanteuse Tessa Souter uses the music of the French composer Erik Satie to create a suite of vocal interpretations in his minimalist style.
Michael Dease- Flow- Posi-Tone Records
Its hard to not tap your feet to this master trombonist when he brings it to the table as a leader. Here, he is teamed up with Sharel Cassity on saxophone, as Geoff Keezer drives the music on his joyful piano. A Greek drummer and one of Dease's Michigan State student protege bassists fill out the rhythm section.
Michael May- Fly- Mack Avenue
May's excellent album came out in late Oct of last year, but it was so entertaining that I couldn't resist including it in this years best of list. He has a smooth, flexible, endearing voice that reminds me a bit of Al Jarreau. Need I say more?
Experimental music of the highest order that allows three accomplished musicians to create in the moment. On another level.
Guilio Gentile-Dream's Madness- Auand Records
This young Italian pianist offers a driving, classically influenced approach to his interpretations of dreams.
The WDR Big Band featuring Mike Marshall and Darol Anger- Bluegrass- MCG Jazz
This Cologne, Germany based internationally acclaimed big band tackles Bluegrass under the direction of saxophonist/ arranger Bob Mintzer and featuring two bluegrass musicians, mandolinist Mike Marshall and violinist Darol Anger.
Phil Haynes- Return to Electric-Corner Store Jazz
Drummer Phil Haynes along with guitarist Steve Salerno and double bass ace Drew Gress return to their days of electric driven fusion and blues, with music by the trio and Chick Corea, Billy Cobham and Wayne Shorter. These guys make some worthwhile music.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba with Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland- First Meeting- Live at Dizzy's Club- 5 Passion Records
The effervescent Cuban pianist is joined for the first time with the accomplished rhythm section of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland with the fiery saxophone of Chris Potter at the famed Dizzy's Jazz Club in NYC. This first meeting is one not be missed.