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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    ​Jack DeJohnette boasted a musical resume that was as long as it was fearsome.

  • Pascal_Le_Boeuf_by_Nadine_Sherman_copy.jpeg

    “I’ve told students, ‘I don’t mind if you use AI for this or that project,’” says MIT’s Pascal Le Boeuf. “‘But you need to tell me.’”

  • Chuck_Manning_by_Mary_Barrow_copy.jpg

    Chuck Manning Works for NASA … and plays jazz.

  • Brandee_Younger_by_Erin_Patrice_OBrien.jpg

    Gadabout Season developed over many months of recording sessions in Brandee Younger’s East Harlem living room.

  • Jaleel_Shaw_by_Yusuke_Yamanouchi_copy.jpg

    “People don’t truly understand or know about the contributions of Black artists, Black composers, Black inventors,” said saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, who aims to change that with his new recording, Painter Of The Invisible.


On Sale Now
November 2025
Gary Bartz
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