Top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year

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(Photo: Courtesy of Verve)

Samara Joy’s Linger Awhile topped a daunting list of amazing music.

Samara Joy, Linger Awhile (VERVE) … 1,910
With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.

Terri Lyne Carrington, New Standards Vol. 1 (CANDID) … 1,350
Putting her music where her mouth is, Carrington brings much-needed attention to the composing voices of women in jazz.

Redman/Mehldau/McBride/Blade, Long Gone (NONESUCH) … 1,190
A breathtaking reunion of four of the brightest stars in jazz.

Kenny Barron, The Source (ARTWORK) … 1,110
The master at 80, alone at the piano ... perfection!

Charles Lloyd, Trio Of Trios (BLUE NOTE) … 1,080
Three different trios, three full albums, one work of beauty, poise, joy and ambition.

Brad Mehldau, Your Mother Should Know (NONESUCH) … 810
The music of The Beatles channeled through the mind of one of our greatest living pianists.

Shorter/Carrington/Genovese/Spalding, Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival (CANDID) … 730
A beautiful moment captured not long before Wayne Shorter left the planet. Thank you, Detroit and Candid.

Fred Hersch & esperanza spalding, Alive At The Village Vanguard (PALMETTO) … 620
Two masters, one magical evening — Hersch at piano, spalding with just her lovely voice.

Julian Lage, View With A Room (BLUE NOTE) … 580
The amazing guitarist continues to thrill with another recording full of heart and soul.

Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (NONESUCH) … 500
The leading lady of jazz vocals creates a masterpiece of thoughtful, adventurous music. DB



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    Benjamin possessed a fluid, round sound on the alto saxophone, and he was often most recognizable by the layers of electronic effects that he put onto the instrument.

  • Albert_Tootie_Heath_2014_copy.jpg

    ​Albert “Tootie” Heath (1935–2024) followed in the tradition of drummer Kenny Clarke, his idol.

  • Geri_Allen__Kurt_Rosenwinkel_8x12_9-21-23_%C2%A9Michael_Jackson_copy.jpg

    “Both of us are quite grounded in the craft, the tradition and the harmonic sense,” Rosenwinkel said of his experience playing with Allen. “Yet I felt we shared something mystical as well.”

  • 1_Henry_Threadgills_Zooid_by_Cora_Wagoner.jpg

    Henry Threadgill performs with Zooid at Big Ears in Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • Ambrose_Akinmusire-908Z-5301_copy.jpg

    “I’m also at a point in my life where I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, like at all,” Akinmusire says about his art.


On Sale Now
May 2024
Stefon Harris
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