Tom Hull: The Best Jazz Albums of 2025

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The Best Jazz Albums of 2025

Initial draft collected on July 8, 2025 (jazz but not non-jazz, and only the A-list parts of the file; the reason was to provide an aid for the mid-year poll). The file will be updated as additional worthy records are found (although updating may lag behind the official 2025 list). Last year's list was never frozen (perhaps around Nov. 1, 2025).

Note: numbering of lists (aside from A/A-) is only temporary, to make it easier for me to tally up stats. I've made no effort to order (other than alphaetical by artist) anything in grades below A-.

Also, several A-list albums below were close enough to Non-Jazz that I duplicated the entries in the Non-Jazz file (sometimes giving them lower rankings there; the year file rank is more authoritative).

[*] indicates that I reviewed this on the basis of an advance, often a CDR copy (a good thing, I might add, for vinyl-only releases). [**] identifies a record that I've only heard via download or through a streaming service like Napster.

For all lists, I've included a few 2023 (and possibly earlier) records that I discovered after last year's freeze date, but I've only included such records if they were released on or after Dec. 1, 2023, or were so little known that they received no mention in the 2023 metacritic file. These are marked, e.g., '23, after the label.

New Music

1.		*Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton* (Pi)** While I've rated 69 Braxton albums -- looking at the list suggests I still have a lot of work to do -- I've never gotten a good sense of him as a composer, while having no doubts as to his chops, especially on his marvelous standards albums. On the other hand, several of his students have made superb albums from his compositions, and Lehman's own work, both as alto saxophonist and composer, over the last 20+ years has few peers. He wrote two pieces here, to go with five Braxtons and one Monk, and added the tenor saxophonist to his trio with Matt Brewer (bass) and Damon Reid (drums).
2.		*Miguel Zenón Quartet: Vanguardia Subterranea: Live at the Village Vanguard* (Miel Music)** Alto saxophonist, from Puerto Rico, long-running quartet with Luis Perdomo (piano), Hans Glawischnig (bass), and Henry Cole (drums), celebrates their 20th anniversary with their first-ever live album, drawn from a six-day stand. They've been producing superb studio albums all along, taking Latin idioms and distilling them (and Coleman and Coltrane) into conventional quartet form all along, so it's no surprise that this is also superb. Some day I expect the whole series to get boxed up, like they do with Art Pepper.
3.		*Archer: Sudden Dusk* (Aerophonic)** Another group led by Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis (soprano, tenor, baritone), this one with Terrie Ex (guitar), Jon Rune Strøm (bass), and Tollef Østvang (drums). Rempis has been producing 3-5 outstanding albums every year, and this is another, with the guitar especially energizing.
4.		*Fieldwork: Thereupon* (Pi)** Fourth album under this name, the first in 2002 with pianist Vijay Iyer and sax (Aaron Stewart) and drums (Elliot Humberto Kavee). The second substituted Steve Lehman on sax (2005), and the third brought in Tyshawn Sorey on drums (2008) -- a supergroup, even then, with Sorey contributing 6 songs to 3 for Iyer and 2 for Lehman. All three are superb, as is this new one, from the free rhythmic extravaganza to open to the soft landing to close. Song credits split 5-4-0, but "all tracks collectively developed."
5.		*Sheila Jordan With Roni Ben-Hur & Harvie S: Portrait Now* (Dot Time)** Jazz singer, got her start chasing Charlie Parker when he played Detroit, and after 1951 in New York, where she married his pianist, Duke Jordan, studied with Lennie Tristano and Charles Mingus. She always sung, but remained a well-kept secret, even after George Russell gave her a feature on his 1962 album, which led to a single Blue Note album, Portrait of Sheila (1963), and well into the 1970s she made her living doing secretarial work. I encountered her on Roswell Rudd's 1974 album Flexible Flyer (or maybe it was Rudd's 1973 Numatik Swing Band -- in either case it must have been 1978 when I caught up), and she's been my favorite jazz singer ever since. (One of the first things that attracted me to Francis Davis was how much he appreciated Jordan.) She cut a second album in 1975, when she was 47, and never again paused. In 1977 she hit on the idea of recording only backed with a bass -- Arild Andersen (one of Russell's now-famous students from his Scandinavian exile days) on Sheila -- a format she's often returned to, notably with Cameron Brown and Harvie S (né Swartz). Harvie returns here, along with guitarist Roni Ben-Hur. Title refers back to her first album, but to make a point of how far she's come. She's not quite in perfect voice, but her ability to accentuate just the right syllables, salvaging standards like "Willow Weep for Me," and still maneuver around a piece as tricky as "Relaxing at the Camarillo" -- and turn it into a riveting story, not just a piece of scat gymnastics -- is uncanny. Regrets after deaths are common. Mine is that she never had a producer who could just let the tape run as they fed her with songs, like Norman Granz with Ella Fitzgerald, or Rick Rubin with Johnny Cash. I imagine it would be like lobbing softballs at Ted Williams. **
6.		*Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp String Trio: Armageddon Flower* (TAO Forms)** Avant-saxophonist from Brazil, based in New York, albums start around 1989, recording pace picked up considerably, probably 8-12 albums per year over the last decade. The pianist is his most frequent collaborator, stating with a duo in 1996, plus a trio that year adding William Parker. The string section here consists of Parker and Mat Maneri (viola), who also has duos and trios with Shipp and/or Parker going back to the late 1990s.
7.		*Rodrigo Amado: The Bridge: Further Beyond* (Trost)** Consistently outstanding tenor saxophonist, from Portugal, albums since 2000, second album with this international quartet, where bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, drummer Gerry Hemingway, and especially pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach provide much more than backup. Their 2023 album Beyond the Margins was easily the year's best — not only topping my list, but winning El Intruso's poll and showing up all the others (including ours). This one is a bit less commanding, but the group's strengths are still much in evidence. **
8.		*Isaiah Collier/William Hooker/William Parker: The Ancients* (Eremite) Up-and-coming tenor saxophonist -- first appeared in Ernest Dawkins Young Masters Quartet (2016) -- along with relatively ancient wise men on drums and bass. Effectively a blowing session, but a really impressive one. This would have made my mid-year ballot as I gotten to it in time.
9.		*أحمد [Ahmed]: سماع [Sama'a] (Audition)* (Otoroku)** British quartet, formed 2017 in tribute to bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, with Pat Thomas (piano), Seymour Wright (alto sax), Joel Grip (double bass), and Antonin Gerbal (drums). Sixth album, follows the box set Giant Beauty, which got a lot of attention in 2024. Four pieces (66:04). Can grate in spots, but impressive or maybe I mean awesome. I've listened to a fair amount from Thomas recently, but Wright, with 60 credits since 2002, could use further research. **
10.		*Motian & More: Gratitude* (Phonogram Unit) Portuguese quartet, bassist Hernâni Faustino seems to be the leader, with José Lencastre (tenor sax), Pedro Branco (bass), and João Sousa (drums), opens with "Misterioso" (Monk), followed by four Paul Motian pieces, with "Mandeville" a very choice cut, and that's just a warm up for the finale.
11.		Cosmic Ear: Traces (We Jazz) New free jazz group, mostly well known Scandinavians remembering and revering Don Cherry: Christer Bothén (bass/contrabass clarinet, ngoni, piano); Mats Gustafsson (tenor sax, flutes, clarinets, electronics, organ, harmonica); Goran Kajfes (trumpets, electronics); Kansan Zetterberg (bass, ngoni); Juan Romero (percussion, berimbau, congas); with "special guest" Manane N Lemwo (kangnan). **
12.		*Colin Hancock's Jazz Hounds Featuring Catherine Russell: Cat & the Hounds* (Turtle Bay)** "A 1920s Jazz and Blues Centennial," arranged and produced by Hancock, who plays cornet and C-melody sax. Seems to be his first album, but he scored a coup in getting the singer. Only band member I recognize is Evan Christopher (clarinet/alto sax), but Vince Giordano (bass sax) guests. Terrific songs from the real jazz era.
13.		*SML: How You Been* (International Anthem) Second group album by Anna Butterss (bass), Jeremiah Chiu (synths), Josh Johnson (sax/electronics), Gregory Uhlmann (guitar), and Booker Stardrum (drums), most with notable parallel solo work. Recorded live in various venues. The intense rhythm pieces are super appealing. The ambient pieces slightly less.
14.		*Rodrigo Amado/Chris Corsano: The Healing: Live at ZDB* (2016, European Echoes) Tenor sax and drums duo, the first of a promised series of archival tapes fallen by the wayside, but barely falls within our 10-year New Music window. Terrific straight out the gate.
15.		*Deepstaria Enigmatica: The Eternal Now Is the Heart of a New Tomorrow* (ESP-Disk)** Quintet from Memphis named for a rare deep-sea jellyfish, listing Chad Fowler (sax), David Collins (guitar), Alex Greene (keyboards), Khari Wynn (bass, credited as Misterioso Africano), and Jon Scott Harrison (drums). I found another group that latched onto the same name, with somewhat similar cosmic speculation (If Life on Earth Is to Abscise Than I Have Forever Been Quantized), but this one adds a bit of Memphis boogie to the free jazz fusion.
16.		*Scheen Jazzorkester & Ståle Storløkken: Double Reality Beyond Space and Time* (Grong)** All compositions by Storløkken, a "synth wizard" from Norway with occasional albums as far back as 2002 and many side credits since 1991, including work with Motorpsycho, Supersilent, Elephant9, and Krokofant. The 12-piece big band, with 10 previous albums since 2013, gives him a lot to work with.
17.		*Larry Ochs/Joe Morris/Charles Downs: Every Day → All the Way* (ESP-Disk)** Tenor/sopranino sax, bass, drums; the former best known for his work in ROVA, but has a long history of bracing free sax work, to which this is an excellent addition.
18.		*James Brandon Lewis Trio: Apple Cores* (Anti-) Tenor saxophonist, two-time poll winner, backed by Josh Werner (bass/guitar) and Chad Taylor (drums/mbira), on a rock label I get no publicity from, both LP and CD already marked "Sold Out." Terrific, as always.
19.		*Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band: What Is?* (self-released)** Arranger and conductor, started playing bass in a Grateful Dead tribute band, leads a scraggly commune of 11 musicians -- 3 reeds, 4 brass (including French horn), vibes/xylo/congas, guitar, bass, drums -- through what will pass for hippie standards, including "Dixie Chicken," "Free Man in Paris" (segueing into "Freedom Jazz Dance"), "She Said She Said," "Saint Stephen" (paired with what I recognize as the theme music to Treme), "Uncle John's Band" (which slides into some James Bond movie music), "Into the Mystic," "Whipping Post," "What Is Hip?" This music is less recent than the Berlin, Porter, and Arlen show tunes were in the 1950s when they became jazz staples, so why not have fun with them now? Note guest spots for Stephen Bernstein and Oz Noy.
20.		*Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio: Dream a Dream* (Libra)** Super-prolific Japanese pianist, this one a trio with bass (Takashi Sugawa) and drums (Ittetsu Takemura), drags a bit in spots, but is brilliant often enough.
21.		*Jason Kao Hwang: Myths of Origin* (True Sound)** Violinst, born in US but also has a solid grounding in Chinese classical music, subtitle here is "for improvising String Orchestra and Drum Set," I'm counting: 10 [more] violins, 5 violas, 4 cellos, 3 guitars, 1 bassist (Ken Filiano), and one drummer (Andrew Drury). Live set from Vision Fest, every bit as glorious as you'd expect.
22.		*Extraordinary Popular Delusions: The Last Quintet* (Corbett vs. Dempsey) Late, probably the last record recorded by Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams, struck by cancer and dead within three months. Quintet adds a second saxophonist, Edward Wilkerson Jr., plus Jim Baker (piano), Brian Sandstrom (bass), and Steve Hunt (drums), with everyone supplementing their primary credits, including digeridoo (Wilkerson), toys (Williams), and "miscellaneous paraphernalia" (Hunt). Group name goes back to a 2010 quartet (minus Wilkerson, who may have been added for backup, and may have been the lead early, but Williams certainly got his licks in later). Song titles may have come from Kim Stanley Robinson, but the Mars featured here was in the room.
23.		*Laura Jurd: Rites & Revelations* (New Soil) British trumpet player, debut 2012, probably best known for her group Dinosaur (3 albums 2016-20). Quintet with folk musos Martin Green (accordion) and Ultan O'Brien (violin/viola), along with Ruth Goller (electric bass) and Corrie Dick (drums). The folk music is vital, and the jazz just builds on it, like Miles on funk.
24.		*Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Bone Bells* (Pyroclastic)** Swiss pianist, albums since 1997, this a duo with the famous guitarist. Engages slowly, but pays off in the end.
25.		*Hamid Drake & Pat Thomas: A Mountain Sees a Mountain* (Old Heaven Books) Drums and piano duo, recorded live in Shenzhen, China, and released on a label there. Some terrific piano here, but Drake makes everyone he plays with sound better.
26.		*Amalie Dahl: Breaking/Building Habits* (SauaJazz) Danish alto saxophonist, based in Oslo, has several albums with her group Dafnie, this a quartet with guitar (Viktor Bomstad), vibes (Viktoria Holde Søndergaard), and drums (Tore Ljøkelsøy). The percussion is especially striking here.
27.		*Freedom Art Quartet: First Dance* (self-released) Group founded in 1991 by Lloyd Haber (drums) and Omar Kabir (trumpet/flugelhorn/sea shells/didgeridoo), released an album in 2003 (with Abraham Burton and Jaribu Shahid), returns here with Alfredo Colon (alto sax) and Adam Lane (bass), playing eight Haber originals. Fast and furious freebop.
28.		*Anthony Joseph: Rowing Up River to Get Our Names Back* (Heavenly Sweetness)** British poet and novelist, originally from Trinidad, started recording spoken word jazz albums with the Spasm Band in 2007. His 2021 album is a favorite, not only for its title (The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives). This was less immediately appealing, but the bounty of words has few peers, and in the end that's also true for the music. **
29.		*Nels Cline: Consentrik Quartet* (Blue Note) Jazz guitarist, albums start around 1990, but has played in the rock band Wilco since 2004, and this is his first jazz album since 2020. Quartet, with Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Chris Lightcap (bass), and Tom Rainey (drums). Cline wrote all the pieces, his guitar laying down a foundation for the sax, in particular, to build on.
30.		*Dave Rempis/Russ Johnson/Jakob Heinemann/Jeremy Cunningham: Embers and Ash* (Aerophonic) Saxophonist (soprano/alto/tenor here), quartet with trumpet, bass, and drums, live set from the Hungry Brain in Chicago. This freewheeling two horn, no piano/guitar improv is often thrilling, especially with such strong and thoughtful players.
31.		*Damon Locks: List of Demands* (International Anthem) Sound and visual artist, vocalist for post-hardcore Trenchmouth, joined Exploding Star Orchestra and founded Black Monument Ensemble, spoken word and electronics here on his fourth album (first as solo leader). I can't say that I've followed the words close enough for them to really speak to me, but I get the gist, and the music may bring me back for more.
32.		*Instant Arts Quartet: Lingua Franca* (High Two) Philadelphia-based percussionist Kevin Diehl, best known for leading Sonic Liberation Front, with bass (Pete Dennis) and two horns: Terry Lawson (tenor sax) and Matt Lavelle (trumpet, alto/bass clarinet), with some switches to bamboo flute, gong, and bells. The horns spin freely, relentless conflict and communication, as no one's writing harmony lines here.
33.		*Frank Carlberg: Dream Machine* (Red Piano)** Finnish pianist, has a couple dozen albums since 1992, was inspired by a 1959 sci-fi gadget to compose four "Dream" suites (13 pieces in all), with complementary keyboards from Leo Genovese (organ, farfisa, synths), outstanding tenor sax from Hery Paz, backed with bass (John Hébert) and drums (Dan Weiss).
34.		*James Brandon Lewis Quartet: Abstraction Is Deliverance* (Intakt) Poll-winning tenor saxophonist, well-established quartet with Aruán Ortiz (piano), Brad Jones (bass), and Chad Taylor (drums) -- their fifth album. This starts out sounding like a hitherto unknown Coltrane masterpiece. It doesn't develop much beyond that level, but how much can anyone ask for?
35.		*Earscratcher: Otoliths* (Aerophonic)** Free jazz quartet with Dave Rempis (soprano/alto/tenor sax), Elisabeth Harnik (piano), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), and Tim Daisy (drums), second album, first I've heard all week that's just pure delight to listen to.
36.		*Mary Halvorson: About Ghosts* (Nonesuch)** Guitarist, student of Anthony Braxton, started producing interesting records around 2004, got her first A- in my book with Dragon's Head in 2008, and has moved on to effective stardom in the postmodern jazz world, with a major label contract, a MacArthur "genius" grant, and a Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll win with Amaryllis (2022). This reconvenes her stellar Amaryllis Sextet, with Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Patricia Brennan (vibes), Nick Dunston (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara (drums), adding saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins (alto) and/or Brian Settles (tenor) for four tracks each (three in tandem). This is dazzling as long as you keep your attention focused to pick up the myriad ever-shifting details. But it's not so compelling that I notice much without thinking to focus. I'm not sure that's even a knock. It may just be my own personal limitation. By the way, she's also having a terrific year in side-credits.
37.		*Heat On: Heat On* (Cuneiform) Chicago group, two saxophonists -- Edward Wilkerson Jr. (tenor, best known for 8 Bold Souls) and Fred Jackson Jr. (alto) -- with bass (Nick Macri) and drums (Lily Finnegan), playing 8 tracks composed by the drummer. Finnegan started out in hard core punk band Deodorant, but also plays in Ken Vandermark's Edition Redux, and has a duo album with Gabby Fluke-Mogul. None of that background suggests how meticulously, or remarkably, this plays out.
38.		*Branford Marsalis Quartet: Belonging* (Blue Note)** Saxophonist, mostly tenor, major figure since he (and his brother) left Art Blakey in the early 1980s. Quartet with Joey Calderazzo (piano), Eric Revis (bass), and Justin Faulkner (drums), together since 2012 (when Faulkner joined, otherwise since 1998). Music is by Keith Jarrett, all six tracks from his 1974 album -- possibly his best ever (with Jan Garbarek, and sure, I've always been partial to saxophone) -- expanding on their 2019 cover of "The Windup." As with their previous cover of A Love Supreme, they add something of their own without challenging the original. On the other hand, he reaches further here, and comes up with more. If one took this at face value, it would be one of his best. So why not just enjoy it as such? **
39.		*David Murray Quartet: Birdly Serenade* (Impulse!) Tenor sax great, pretty great on bass clarinet as well, fought his way through the NYC lofts, and spent the 1980s and 1990s on small foreign labels (mostly Black Saint in Italy and DIW in Japan), compiling the most prodigious discography in modern jazz. After 2000, he slowed down a bit, gated by small labels in Canada (Justin Time) and Switzerland (Intakt). So this is supposedly a big deal: a major label debut (Impulse! is one of many brands managed by Universal, which is as major as they get), recorded at Van Gelder Studio. Same Quartet as has appeared recently on Intakt: Marta Sanchez (piano), Luke Stewart (bass), and Russell Carter (drums). This offers eight Murray originals, with titles that fit well enough with "The Birdsong Project" (a tie-in to a group that issued a 20-LP Grammy-winning box celebrating the avian world, with little if any connection to Charlie Parker). Two feature vocals by Ekep Nkwelle, a third with poetry by Francesca Cinelli. They're ok, but I'd rather just listen to the sax (and especially to the bass clarinet), and the rhythm section is exceptionally fluid. I should point out though that despite how much as I enjoy this, I wouldn't rank it in his top dozen albums (or probably two dozen, or maybe even three).
40.		*Terry Waldo & the Gotham City Band: Treasury Volume 2* (Turtle Bay) Ragtime pianist, learned from Eubie Blake, who said that Waldo reminds him of Fats Waller. He first recorded in 1969 with his Gutbucket Syncopators, and introduced his Gotham City Band in 1984. Unclear how old these recordings are, or for that matter who's playing what, but at 80 he appears to still be active. I like modern (and for that matter postmodern) jazz just fine, but for me "real jazz" will always be pre-bop, and this really hits that mark.
41.		*PlainsPeak: Someone to Someone* (Irabbagast)** New quartet led by Jon Irabagon (alto sax), all his pieces, with Russ Johnson (trumpet), Clark Sommers (bass), and Dana Hall (drums), the group name a nod to Chicago, where the skyscrapers are supposed to tower higher than any of the surrounding plains -- which is probably true as far as one can see from there, but the plains I know go higher (if not steeper). Still, a good example of freewheeling two-horn quartets.
42.		*Ziv Taubenfeld/Helena Espvall/João Sousa: You, Full of Sources and Night* (NoBusiness)** Bass clarinet, cello, drums trio, the former an Israeli based in Lisbon with a half dozen albums since 2016. The combination works especially well.
43.		*Loot: Loot* (ICP) Quartet led by Dutch pianist Oscar Jan Hoogland, who composed all the pieces, with Ab Baars (tenor sax/clarinet), Uldis Vitols (bass), and Onno Govaert (drums). The label reminds us of the lamentably passed Mengelberg, and so does the opening piano, a playful trickiness that lifts everyone's spirits.
44.		*Keiji Haino/Natsuki Tamura: What Happened There?* (Libra)** Guitar and trumpet duo, the former gets top billing, possibly for raw vocal power, and possibly for pushing this over the edge, and scraping it bloody in the process. Most often I shy away from records this harsh, but here I'm convinced. Probably helped that it's just one 35:43 piece, so not only didn't wear out its welcome, but got a couple extra plays.
45.		*Carlos "Zingaro"/João Madeira: Arcada Pendular* (4DaRecord) Portuguese violin and bass duo, the former with many albums since 1988, many more side credits since 1969, but still no explanation for the quote marks (last name evidently Alves; use sometimes suggests a nickname, but quotes are as often omitted). I'm beginning to feel compromised here, as I would normally never give a violin-bass duo stream more than a cursory single pass, with some flavor of B+ depending on how it hit me, but Madeira keeps sending me CDs, and after 4-5 plays I start to love them. (Needless to say, there's no guarantee that I'll give your CD commensurate attention. But it happens on occasion, and with Madeira it's happened a lot.)
46.		*Dee Dee Bridgewater + Bill Charlap: Elemental* (Mack Avenue)** Née Denise Garrett, from Memphis, grew up in Flint, married trumpet player Cecil Bridgewater, recorded some scarcely remembered disco albums in the 1970s, remade herself as a jazz singer with 1989's Live in Paris -- the first of a string of Grammy-nominated albums (with wins for tributes to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday). First album since 2017, just her and the pianist for eight standards, kicking off with Ellington's "Beginning to See the Light," giving her a lot of opportunity to scat. The ballads don't, but she nails them too. **
47.		*Linda May Han Oh: Strange Heavens* (Biophilia) Bassist, born in Malaysia, grew up in Australia, lives in New York, has a dozen or so albums since 2012, as well as such notable side credits as Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, and Vijay Iyer. This trio with Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet) and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) got mid-year poll votes two months before its release date. I was pleased when my copy arrived, until I opened up the "origami-inspired" packaging and didn't find any music inside. This is supposedly a feature: "This innovative design caters to the environmentally-conscious listener, who is aware of the harmful effects of plastic in the environment, yet feels that a digital download is just not enough." I'll grant that digital downloads aren't enough, as I'm often left scrambling to collect bits of information that accompany physical CDs, but the music itself is essential to the value proposition. So I ignored this until I could conveniently stream it. (Downloading is a pain I avoid if possible. I did wind up consulting the packaging to determine that the recording dates were Jan. 10-11, 2025, at Bunker Studios -- information not (yet) available at Discogs or Bandcamp. As for the music, simple pleasures: focusing on the bass leads, neat fit for the trumpet (who I like more here than on any of his own albums), outstanding drummer.
48.		*Carlos "Zingaro"/Flo Stoffner/Fred Lonberg-Holm/João Madeira: Na Parede* (4DaRecord)** Violin, guitar, cello, bass, pretty much the same avant-chamber jazz lineup as on bassist Madeira's other recent production (Enleio, listed under Bruno Parrinha, replaced here by the guitarist; both records are, of course, joint improv). Although this seems like a self-limiting concept, but details really replay close listening.
49.		*Marty Ehrlich: Trio Exaltation: This Time* (Sunnyside)** Alto saxophonist (tenor one track), has an impressive discography since the mid-1980s, tends to produce tricky postbop but returns to basic here, in what is basically a blowing session, backed only by bass (John Hébert) and drums (Nasheet Waits), not that anyone could ask for more. Group name goes back to a 2018 album. Album cover can be parsed multiple ways.
50.		*Craig Taborn/Nels Cline/Marcus Gilmore: Trio of Bloom* (Pyroclastic)** Keyboards (mostly electric), guitars (too, including lap steel), drums. Billed as a self-titled debut, but the names are big enough they couldn't keep them off the cover. Long (70:18).
51.		*John Scofield/Dave Holland: Memories of Home* (ECM)** Guitar and bass duo, both legends: Holland left Miles Davis to record one of the greatest avant-jazz albums of 1972 (Conference of the Birds), then developed into one of the definitive postbop composer-bandleaders; Scofield picked up the fusion banner in 1981 and brought it to a new level of intricacy and sophistication. Not their first meeting, but their first duo album together. **
52.		*Korham Futaci: Heavyweight Rehearsal Tapes* (PUMA) Turkish saxophonist, a founder of the avant group Konstrukt, leads his own quartet here with Baris Ertürk (reeds), bass, and drums. The title is both on point and a bit too modest, as these pieces are powerful, with bits of rock and folk in the foundation, and the improv is polished enough.
53.		*Nnenna Freelon: Beneath the Skin* (Origin)** Jazz singer, started in church, got married, had kids, started singing professionally in her late 30s, with 15+ albums since 1992. Has done standards, including a Billie Holiday tribute, but wrote or added claim to everything here (even "Oh! Susanna"). She never impressed me much before, but she's on fire here, and the Alan Pasqua-led band provides impeccable support.
54.		Adam O'Farrill: For These Streets (Out of Your Head) Trumpet player, father and grandfather were famous Cuban musicians, which he also knows a thing or two about, but he's more likely to hang out with free jazz types, collecting here a pretty stellar octet: Mary Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibes), David Leon (alto sax/flute), Kevin Sun (tenor sax/clarinet), Kalun Laung (trombone/euphonium), Tyrone Allen II (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). I'm struggling, as my instinct says this is too fancy, but the only thing that might keep this from becoming one of the year's top-rated albums is that it's on a tiny label few have heard of. (Note that Brennan and Halvorson have won two of the last three FDJC Polls.)
55.		*Mikko Innanen & Ingebrigt Håker Flaten: Live in Espoo* (Fiasko/Sonic Transmissions) Finnish saxophonist, alto is probably his first choice but also plays baritone, sopranino, tenor, and oboe here, fair number of albums since 2006, including some dandies. Duo here with the prolific Norwegian bassist, who gets a fair share of the mix and makes the most of it.
56.		*Joe Chambers/Kevin Diehl/Chad Taylor: Onilu* (Eremite) Percussion trio, each with a long list of credits, although Diehl (leader of Sonic Liberation Front) specializes in batá drums, and Chambers plays conga and idiophones and is well established on marimba/vibraphone, which Taylor also plays, as well as mbira and piano. Title is from Yoruba, which pins down the center of their map, extending everywhere.
57.		*Antonio Borghini & Banquet of Consequences: Resta Chi Va* (We Insist!) Italian bassist, debut album 2004, group name continues from his 2023 title. With Tobias Delius (tenor sax/clarinet), Pierre Borel (alto sax), Rieko Okuda (piano), Anil Eraslan (cello), and Steve Heather (drums). This is a good setting, especially for Delius.
58.		*Kaze & Koichi Makigami: Shishiodoshi* (Circum/Libra)** One of Satoko Fujii's groups, with two trumpets (Natsuki Tamura and Christian Pruvost) and drums (Peter Orins), joined here by the Japanese vocalist, who also plays shakuhachi and more trumpet. This can get seriously noisy, or fill in with scratchy minimalism and cartoonish voice -- far from sure bets with me, but for once I find it all delightful.
59.		*Wheelhouse: House and Home* (Aerophonic)** Trio of Dave Rempis (saxophones), Jason Adasiewicz (vibes), and Nate McBride (bass). Sort of the avant-garde's version of a chamber jazz group. The saxophonist remain supreme in any setting.
60.		Peter Brötzmann/Jason Adasiewicz/Steve Noble/John Edwards: The Quartet: Cafe Oto, London, February, 10 & 11, 2023 (Otoroku) German saxophonist, one of the founders of the European avant-garde, recorded an enormous amount from 1967 up to his death, at 82, in June, 2023, a few months after this two-night, four set performance (140:28, available on 2-CD, with a 4-LP box and a 2-LP edit in the works), backed with vibes, drums, and bass. Hard to make fine distinctions among his work, but this seems like the sort of monumental capstone one can only imagine a career ending with. **
61.		*Jaleel Shaw: Painter of the Invisible* (Changu)** Alto saxophonist, originally from Philadelphia, half-dozen albums since 2005, Discogs lists 57 performance credits, has some range and isn't real consistent but finds a nice post-Coltrane vibe here and expands on it at length (11 tracks, 71:13). Mostly quartet with Lawrence Fields (fender rhodes), Ben Street (bass), and Joe Dyson (drums), with spots for Lage Lund (guitar) and Sasha Berliner (vibes), one track on piano.
62.		*Omer Avital: New York Now & Then* (Zamzama)** Bassist, originally from Israel, long based in Brooklyn, recorded this live with trumpet/flugelhorn, two saxes, trombone, piano, drums, and justly excited crowd noise. "IDKN" seems to be his song, but sounds a lot like Horace Silver to me. And there's much more like that. Also a Lucy Wijnands vocal.
63.		Nils Agnas: Köper Sig Ur En Kris (Moserobie) Swedish drummer, leads a quartet with Max Agnas (on two pianos) and Mauritz Agnas (bass) -- relationship unspecified but likely [cousins; they, but not Nils, are in a group called Agnas Bros.] -- and saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar, in his usual very fine form, playing four jazz tunes (Ornette Coleman, Joe Henderson, two from Carla Bley) and "Over the Rainbow." Quaint line on the hype sheet: "The only foreign musician he has performed so far with is the great Zoh Amba" (who's all of 24 now).
64.		*Samo Salamon & Ra Kalam Bob Moses Orchestra: Dream Suites Vol. 1* (Samo)** Guitarist and percussionist wrote three long pieces (24:46, 13:38, 17:12) for large ensembles of 19, 16. and 18, total 27 musicians, nearly all familiar names, which add marks of individuality to the collective reverie.
65.		*Sinsuke Fujieda Group: Fukushima* (SoFa) Japanese tenor/soprano saxophonist, first Group album, side-credits back to 2003. Group includes piano, bass, drums, extra percussion, and violin. Starts out shades of Coltrane, replete with "spiritual jazz" hype, then gets even catchier.
66.		*Ned Rothenberg: Looms & Legends* (Pyroclastic)** Alto sax/clarinet player, tends to work the gentler side of free jazz, and has since 1981. Solo here, includes some shakuhachi, a very attractive album, one that doesn't sound like practice, as most solo reeds albums do. Holds up to multiple replays.
67.		*Wrens: Half of What You See* (Out of Your Head) On paper I figured this group was led by Jason Nazary, the drummer who produced and took most of the technical credits, but the album is dominated by rapper Ryan Easter, who also plays some trumpet, while cellist Lester St. Louis and pianist Elias Stemeseder work their skewed electronics. Interesting in every direction.
68.		*Nils Petter Molvaer: Khmer Live in Bergen* (Edition)** Norwegian trumpet player, developed a distinctive strain of jazztronica in the 1990s -- which, by the way, started with Masqualero with Arild Andersen, which once again brings us back to George Russell and his Electronic Sonata -- especially on the ECM albums Khmer (1998) and Solid Ether (2000). This draws songs from both albums, bringing back the original band from the latter, plus long-time collaborator Jan Bang (live sampling). **
69.		*Sarathy Korwar: There Is Beauty, There Already* (Otherland) US-born, India-raised, London-based percussionist, has a handful of albums since 2016, thoughtfully tying his whole world together. This is an enchanting, otherworldly groove album, with a bit of vocal aura and a few words.
70.		*John O'Gallagher/Ben Monder/Andrew Cyrille/Billy Hart: Ancestral* (Whirlwind)** Alto saxophonist, many albums since 2002, some quite impressive. With guitar and two drummers here. Here again he rises to the occasion.
71.		*Patricia Brennan: Of the Near and Far* (Pyroclastic)** Vibraphonist, from Mexico, based in Brooklyn, follow up to her poll-winning Breaking Stretch, has had a big year already with appearances on new albums by Mary Halvorson (A-), Dave Douglas (), Tomas Fujiwara (A-), Adam O'Farrill (A-), Dan Weiss (), Arturo O'Farrill (), and Kalia Vandever (*). Original pieces, a large group conducted by Eli Greenhoe, with piano (Sylvie Courvoisier), guitar (Miles Okazaki), bass (Kim Cass), drums (John Hollenbeck), electronics (Arktureye), three violins and a cello. Seemed nice enough, even with an excess of strings, but poll votes persuaded me to revisit. Starts off sparkling, which is admittedly the adjective mallet instruments were designed to evoke. Ends in ambient territory, but pretty lush.
72.		*Rick Roe: Wake Up Call: The Music of Gregg Hill* (Cold Plunge)** Tenth album I've heard since 2017 of Hill's compositions, all by Hill's former Michigan State students (Roe, Michael Dease, Randy Napoleon, Rodney Whitaker, and the younger, lesser-kown Techno Cats). I always figured these were vanity projects, notable mostly because no other composer with no real performance credits has done so much promotion. But this postbop with an extra shot of swing is a consistent delight, especially the tenor sax of Marcus Elliot, but also some slick piano, with Robert Hurst on bass and Nate Winn on drums.
73.		*Sumac and Moor Mother: The Film* (Thrill Jockey) Canadian-American metal band, five albums on their own since 2015, also have three collaborations with Keiji Haino before this one with jazz rapper Camae Ayewa. (This was preceded by a Moor Mother remix of a Sumac track on a 2024 EP.) She adds weight a message that they probably already considered, while they provide the gravity. Just "don't look away."
74.		*Lucian Ban/John Surman/Mat Maneri: Cantica Profana* (Sunnyside)** Pianist from Romania, moved to New York 1999, has frequently looked back to his native music, as in his 2011 Transylvanian Concert with Maneri (viola) and his 2020 recording of Transylvanian Folk Songs with Maneri and Surman (baritone/soprano sax, bass clarinet). The latter was dubbed The Bela Bartók Field Recordings, although the recordings were new, based on his research. Subsequent tours generated two more live albums, this and The Athenaeum Concert (below). This one was taken from three earlier concerts. Surman is an inspired addition here. **
75.		*Satoko Fujii This Is It!: Message* (Libra)** Pianist-led trio with trumpet (Natsuki Tamura) and drums (Takashi Itani), third group album, although the first two probably have close to a hundred together, and this is their most basic grouping, and exemplary as usual.
76.		*Tomas Fujiwara: Dream Up* (Out of Your Head) Drummer, a Braxton student, fair number of albums since 2007, lots of side credits. Quartet with Patricia Brennan (vibes), plus Tim Keiper and Kaoru Watanabe on a long list of African- and Asian-sounding instruments, mostly percussion but some flute-like.
77.		*David Grollman/Andy Haas/Sabrina Salamone: SCRT* (self-released)** Improv trio, drums, saxophone, violin, with some spoken word poetry written by the drummer's late wife, Rita Stein-Grollman. Beyond its own merits, the poetry provides some focus, which sharpens the surrounding music.
78.		*Joe Morris/Elliott Sharp: Realism* (ESP-Disk)** Two guitarists, the former also credited with "effects," the latter with "electronics," both have been on the fringe since it was called "avant-garde" (hype sheet says since 1983 and 1979, respectively). This sums their life's work up admirably.
79.		*Rubén Reinaldo: Fusión Olívica* (Free Code Jazz)** Spanish guitarist, Bandcamp page has "Reinaldo" in quotes and shows last name as Baña, I'm not finding anything on Discogs but he has a previous duo album on Bandcamp. Backed by organ (Antonio López "Monano"), bass (Gustavo Hernán), and drums (David Failde). He bravely defied Trump and sent me vinyl, but I buried it under some pile until it came to the top of my unplayed list. Fits loosely in the soul jazz idiom, but a bit fancier, with the bass adding a resonance that organ alone could never quite deliver.
80.		*Joe Alterman Feat. Houston Person: Brisket for Breakfast* (self-released) Pianist, from Atlanta, blurb cites praise from Ahmad Jamal, Les McCann,and Ramsey Lewis, and he has a McCann tribute among his nine albums since 2009. He seems to be a fine mainsream pianist, with a bass/drums trio playing standards, but my interest is the saxophonist, approaching 90 when this was cut. It's a delight, not least when the pianist breaks loose.
81.		*Chris Jonas: Backwardsupwardsky: Music From the Deserts* (Edgetone)** Saxophonist, plays soprano and tenor, based in Santa Fe, Discogs lists a couple albums (first from 1999), but mostly group credits (back to 1991), including a saxophone quartet with Anthony Braxton and big bands led by Cecil Taylor and William Parker. Three sessions here: two trios with bass and drums, mixed in with a quartet recorded in Bologna with Luca Serrapiglio (baritone sax/contra alto clarinet). This latter session is exceptional, and mixed in as it is elevates the trio work, interesting in its own right.
82.		*George Coleman: George Coleman With Strings* (HighNote)** Tenor saxophonist, now 90, perhaps best known for his brief term in the Miles Davis Quintet, but he's recorded some outstanding albums on his own: My Horns of Plenty (1991) is a favorite, Eastern Rebellion (1975) is another classic, and A Master Speaks (2016) kicked off one of history's finest octogenarian revivals. Seems like everyone wants to do a strings album sooner or later, even though very few have panned out. Stan Getz, in Focus, is perhaps the only one where the strings are as interesting as the sax; Art Pepper's Winter Moon is one where the strings are as gorgeous as one might hope for, and the sax even more splendid. But early efforts, like Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and Ben Webster, were nothing more than signature saxophone over mediocre backdrops, and that's been par for the course. Bill Dobbins handles the strings here, and gives them a tolerable air of 1940s soundtrack melodrama. Also helping is a fine mainstream rhythm section: David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), and Café Da Silva (percussion). **
83.		*Ivo Perelman/John Butcher: Duologues 4* (Ibeji)** Tenor sax duo (with some soprano?), adds to an ongoing Perelman series, on top of many previous duos. My download calls this London Silhouettes, but while the email links to this series, I cannot find further evidence of the title. I couldn't bring myself to deal with Perelman's massive Reed Rapture in Brooklyn, figuring the twelve duo discs would turn into an endurance contest and wash out into some kind of meaningless B+. But even with the inevitable limits of all-saxophone groups, this is remarkably steady and engaging work. **
84.		*Italian Surf Academy + Denver Butson: Ennio Morricone Is Dissolving* (41st Parallel)** Italian guitarist Marco Cappelli, from Naples, with Damon Banks (bass) and Dave Miller (drums), fourth album since 2012; Cappelli's various projects include an Acoustic Trio, a Derek Bailey Tribute Band, an Extreme Guitar Project, work with Adam Rudolph and Evan Parker. Butson is a Brooklyn-based poet, who recites the title poem, with the group's music weaving bits of Morricone soundtrack into the guitar jam, in one remarkable 28:54 piece.
85.		*Thomas Morgan: Around You Is a Forest* (Loveland Music)** Bassist, Discogs credits him with 154 credits since 2000, of which 17 are counted as his albums, but his name appears first on none of them, so this is arguably his debut. He plays bass on the first piece, but his main "instrument" is WOODS, a program written in SuperCollider with a recursive acronym (for WOODS Often Oscillates Droning Strings). This is followed by eight more pieces, each with a guest feeding sound into the program. Those guests are people he's worked with over the years (Bill Frisell, Dan Weiss, Craig Taborn, Henry Threadgill) plus some notables (Gerald Cleaver, Ambrose Akinmusire, Immanuel Wilkins, the poet Gary Snyder). Seems a bit scattered at first, but the many facets seem to be the point. [PS: While I generally feel that music should be evaluated free from its conception, Morgan's story did much to sell me on the process.]
86.		Claire Ritter: Songs of Lumière (Zoning) Pianist, from North Carolina, record label name from Mary Lou Williams, has a dozen-plus albums since 1987, several collaborations with Ran Blake, claims over 300 compositions. Solo, originals sprinkled with a few distinctive standards. I'm not a big fan of the format, usually responding only to a lot of flash and/or a "left hand like God," neither of which apply here, but she keeps my interest throughout.
87.		*Lao Dan/Vasco Trilla: New Species* (NoBusiness)** Chinese musician, trained in traditional flutes, regarded as a master with a number of albums since 2018, picked up tenor sax and branched into free jazz, although credits line here includes "diy flute, dizi (Chinese flute). Duo with Spanish drummer recorded in Shenzhen, bridges their worlds effectively.
88.		Anla Courtis Ja Lehtisalo: 1972 (2022-24 [2025], Full Connect): Duo, two long-established experimental guitarists (plus long list of other instruments), both born in 1972 ("an era when sound was an experiment"), the former in Argentina, the latter in Finland (first name Jussi; "ja" here seems to be Finnish for "and"). Some remarkable rough-hewn ambient for a world on edge. **
89.		*Marshall Allen: The Omniverse Oriki* (High Two)** Alto saxophonist, turned 100 last year, around the time that New Dawn was being touted as his "debut" album: a lie, or at least a ridiculous rationalization that proved so attractive that I wound up rejecting a dozen poll votes for him in the Debut category. The idea that one can always start afresh is as seductive as ever, but to promote it you have to overlook 70+ years of real, substantial accomplishment. True he spent most of his career just playing in Sun Ra's Arkestra, but after its namesake passed in 1993, Allen not only took over but put his name on the revitalized ghost band (at least 6 albums since 1999). Moreover, he's increasingly played with other ad hoc groups: Discogs has him on the slugline of 28 more albums, and has him playing on 400. Allen also got votes (including one Debut) for his Ghost Horizons album, but this one, where Allen's trio meets up with Kevin Diehl's bata drums and a Lucumi chorus led by Joseph Toledo escaped attention. It is a little darker and drabber than their early work as Sonic Liberation Front, but we're all getting older (even Allen), and the expanding universe is still getting emptier. **
90.		*Matthew Shipp: The Cosmic Piano* (Cantaloupe Music) One of the major pianists in jazz history, many albums since 1988, I've written a whole Consumer Guide about his work, which was a substantial task 20 years ago and would have to be more than doubled today. Along the way, he's recorded well over a dozen solo albums, with this the latest, and this is one more. I've never been a huge solo piano fan, but this is clearly pretty remarkable, in ways that make him instantly recognizable.
91.		*Eunhye Jeong/Michael Bisio Duo: Morning Bells Whistle Bright* (ESP-Disk)** Piano and bass duo, with one solo track each, but also joined for four tracks (three in the middle, plus the closer) by Joe McPhee (tenor sax) and Jay Rosen (drums). In some ways this seems slight, but every detail signifies.

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024 year-end file:

1.		*Andreas Gerth & Carl Oesterheit: Music for Unknown Rituals* (Umor Rex '24) German musicians, have fairly substantial credits since early 1990s, but not much more than their two duo albums as leaders. One of the best albums I've heard in the Hassell-Eno "4th world" domain.
2.		*Camila Nebbia/Dietrich Eichmann/John Hughes/Jeff Arnal: Chrononaux* (Generate '24) Tenor saxophonist from Argentina, impressive last couple years, with the German pianist (specifically credited with upright), bass, and drums, for one long improv (25:37) and another longer one (63:34). Both pieces are terrific.
3.		*K. Curtis Lyle/George Sams/Adi Du Dharma Joshua Weinstein/Damon Smith/Ra Kalaam Bob Moses/Henry Claude: 29 Birds You Never Heard* (Balance Point Acoustics '24)** Spoken word by the poet, who has a previous album from 1971, two new ones in 2024, a book from 1975, not much more I can find, but he's been around, knows a lot, and has his way with words. Also with music here, backed by trumpet (Sams), bass (Weinstein & Smith), percussion (Moses & Claude). Reminds me of Conjure.
4.		*Paul Dunmall Quartet: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow* (RogueArt '24)** British avant-saxophonist (tenor/soprano), many albums, with Liam Noble (piano), John Edwards (bass), and Mark Sanders (drums). Joint improv, making it look easy as well as dazzling.
5.		*Uroboro: As in an Unpicking of Time's Garment* (Discus Music '24) Group, one previous album, presumably English (but I'm finding too little to be sure), principally Keith Jafrate, who plays sax, opens with spoken word, and wrote all the pieces, while backed by keyboard (Matthew Bourne), guitar (Anton Hunter), bass (John Pope), and drums (Johnny Hunter), with a vocal from Sylvie Rose.
6.		*Funkrust Brass Band: Make a Little Spark* (self-released) New York band, 20-piece group (at least at one point), "mixes post punk, disco, EDM, metal, funk, Balkan brass and New Orleans second line, with snazzy uniforms, choreography, megaphone vocals, and all-original music." Two earlier (2017-19) albums fall short of LP-length, and their collection of demos and remixes isn't much longer, but this one counts, and I'm a sucker for a good tuba section.

Honorable Mention

Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

3 Cohens/WDR Big Band: Interaction (Anzic) **
@xcrswx: Moodboard (Feedback Moves) **
Affinity Trio [Eric Jacobson/Pamela York/Clay Schaub]: New Outlook (Origin)
Agnas Bros.: Sista Försöket (Moserobie)
Sophie Agnel: Learning (Otoroku) **
Alchemy Sound Project/Sumi Tonooka: Under the Surface (ARC)
Eric Alexander: Chicago to New York (Cellar Music Group) **
Eric Alexander: Like Sugar (Cellar Live) **
Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet: El Muki (Saponegro)
Lina Allemano Four: The Diptychs (Lumo) **
Carl Allen: Tippin' (Cellar) **
Marshall Allen: New Dawn (Mexican Summer) **
Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia (Otherly Love/Ars Nova Workshop) **
Oren Ambarchi/Johan Berthling/Andreas Werlin: Ghosted III (Drag City) **
Tarun Balani: ڪڏهن ملنداسين Kadahin Milandaasin (Berthold) **
Lucian Ban/John Surman/Mat Maneri: The Athenaeum Concert (Sunnyside) **
Kenny Barron: Songbook (Artwork) **
Believe: Spirits of the Dead Are Watching (Relative Pitch) **
Believers [Brad Shepik/Sam Minaie/John Hadfield]: Hard Believer (Shifting Paradigm) **
Benny Benack III: This Is the Life (Bandstand Presents)
Brigitte Beraha's Lucid Dreamers: Teasing Reflections (Let Me Out) **
Tim Berne/Tom Rainey/Gregg Belisle-Chi: Yikes Too (Screwgun/Out of Your Head, 2CD)
Ludovica Bertone: Migration Tales (Endectomorph Music)
Ron Blake: Scratch Band (7Ten33 Productions)
Silvia Bolognesi & Eric Mingus: Is That Jazz? Celebrating Gil Scott-Heron Live (Fonterossa) **
Christer Bothén 3: L'Invisible (Thanatosis) **
Anouar Brahem: After the Last Sky (ECM) **
Olie Brice: All It Was (West Hill) **
BROM: Чёрная голова [Black Head] (Addicted Label) **
David Broza & Omer Avital: Brozajazz: Paris Alhambra (Magenta) **
Jarod Bufe: Brighter Days (Calligram)
Daniel Carter/Ayumi Ishito: Endless Season (577) **
Sharel Cassity: Gratitude (Sunnyside) **
Brian Charette: Working Out With Big G (SteepleChase) **
Cyrus Chestnut: Rhythm, Melody and Harmony (HighNote) **
Juan Chiavassa: Fourth Generation (Whirlwind)
Chicago Edge Ensemble: Paradoxes in Freedom (Lizard Breath) **
Chicago Underground Duo: Hyperglyph (International Anthem) **
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer: Different Rooms (International Anthem) **
Mike Clark: Itai Doshin (Wide Hive)
Xhosa Cole: On a Modern Genius, Vol. 1 (Stoney Lane) **
Adegoke Steve Colson & Iqua Colson With Andrew Cyrille/Mark Helias: Glow: Music for Trio . . . and Voice (Silver Sphinx)
Gustavo Cortiñas: The Crisis Knows No Borders (Desafio Candente) **
Christopher Dammann: Sextet (Out of Your Head)
James Davis' Beveled: Arc and Edge (Calligram)
Anita Donndorff: Thirsty Soul (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Drank [Ingrid Schmoliner/Alexander Kranabetter]: Breath in Definition (Trost) **
Jakob Dreyer: Roots and Things (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Ryan Ebaugh/Matt Crane/Cameron Presley: Detergent (Scatter Archive) **
Silke Eberhard Trio: Being-a-Ning (Intakt) **
Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield: Speaking in Tongues (Adhyâropa) **
Eight Dice Cloth: The Songs and Arrangements of Armand J. Piron (self-released) **
Amir ElSaffar: New Quartet Live at Pierre Boulez Saal (Maqām) **
Signe Emmeluth/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Axel Filip: Hyperboreal Trio (Relative Pitch) **
Peter Evans/Being & Becoming: Ars Ludicra (More Is More) **
Peter Evans, Mike Pride: A Window, Basically (Relative Pitch) **
Lorraine Feather: The Green World (Relation)
Joe Fiedler Trio 2.0: Dragon Suite (Multiphonics Music) **
Adam Forkelid: Dreams (Prophone)
Anat Fort: The Dreamworld of Paul Motian (Sunnyside) **
Al Foster: Live at Smoke (Smoke Sessions) **
Mike Freeman Zonavibe: Circles in a Yellow Room (VOF)
Fred Frith/Mariá Portugal: Matter (Intakt) **
Satoko Fujii GEN: Altitude 1100 Meters (Libra)
Satoko Fujii Quartet: Burning Wick (Libra)
Michika Fukumori: Eternity (Summit)
Champian Fulton & Klas Lindquist: At Home (Turtle Bay) **
Adrian Galante: Introducing Adrian Galante (Zoho)
Lafayette Gilchrist & New Volcanoes: Move With Love (Morphius)
Frode Gjerstad/Alexander von Schlippenbach/Dag Magnus Narvesen: Seven Tracks (Relative Pitch) **
Omer Govreen Quartet: All Things Equal (J.M.I.) **
Muriel Grossmann: MGQ Live in King Georg, Köln (Powerhouse) **
Mats Gustafsson/Ken Vandermark/Tomeka Reid/Chad Taylor: Pivot (Silkheart) **
Andy Haas/Brian g Skol: The Honeybee Twist (Resonant Music)
Noah Haidu: Standards III (Sunnyside)
Billy Hart: Multidirectional (Smoke Sessions) **
The Hemphill Stringtet: Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill (Out of Your Head)
Todd Herbert: Captain Hubs (TH Productions)
Conrad Herwig: Reflections - Facing South (Savant) **
Jacob Felix Heule/Teté Leguía/Sanishta Rivero/Martín Escalante: An Inscrutable Bodily Discomforting Thing (Kettle Hole)
Steve Hirsh: Root Causes (Mahakala Music) **
History Dog: Root Systems (Otherly Love) **
Julia Hülsmann Quartet: Under the Surface (ECM) **
Jon Irabagon: Server Farm (Irabbagast)
Maja Jaku: Blessed & Bewitched (Origin)
Sven-Åke Johansson Quintet: Stumps (Trost) **
Jessica Jones Quartet: Edible Flowers (Reva)
Rico Jones: Bloodlines (Giant Step Arts)
Rodney Jordan: Memphis Blue (Baxter Music)
Ryan Keberle & Collectiv Do Brasil: Choro Das Aguas (Alternate Side)
Stefan Keune/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith: Two Felt-Tip Pens: Live at Moers (Balance Point Acoustics) **
Izumi Kimura & Gerry Hemingway: How the Dust Falls (Auricle)
Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys: Mutiny in the Parlor (self-released) **
Marilyn Kleinberg: Let Your Heart Lead the Way (Waking Up Music)
KnCurrent: KnCurrent (Deep Dish)
Kokayi: Live at Big Ears: The Standard Knoxville, TN (Why!Not) **
Benjamin Lackner: Spindrift (ECM) **
Lagon Nwar: Lagon Nwar (AirFono) **
Le Vice Anglais: Vas-y (4DaRecord)
Carol Liebowitz/Nick Lyons: The Inner Senses (SteepleChase LookOut)
Peter Lin/AAPI Jazz Collective: Identity (OA2) **
Littorina Saxophone Quartet: Leaking Pipes (NoBusiness)
Zack Lober: So We Could Live (Zennez)
Brandon Lopez: Nada Sagrada (Relative Pitch) **
Rocio Giménez López/Franco Di Renzo/Luciano Ruggieri: La Forma Del Sueño (Blue Art) **
Seth MacFarlane: Lush Life (Verve) **
Madre Vaca: Yukon (Madre Vaca)
Roberto Magris: Lovely Day(s) (JMood)
Mark Masters Ensemble: Sam Rivers 100 (Capri)
Mark Masters Ensemble: Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! (Capri)
Makaya McCraven: The People's Mixtape (2025, International Anthem, EP) **
Chad McCullough/Gordon Spasovski/Kiril Tufekcievski/Viktor Filipovski: Transverse (Calligram)
Joe McPhee & Strings: We Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (RogueArt) *
Myra Melford: Splash (Intakt) **
Neal Miner: Invisibility (Cellar Music) **
Billy Mohler: The Eternal (Contagious Music) **
Hedvig Mollestad Trio: Bees in the Bonnet (Rune Grammofon) **
Joe Morris/Brad Barrett/Beth Ann Jones: Abstract Forest (Relative Pitch) **
Fred Moten & Brandon López: Revision (TAO Forms) **
Matthew Muñesses/Riza Printup: Pag-Ibig Ko Vol. 1 (Irabbagast)
Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle: Exhaust (Relative Pitch) **
Camila Nebbia/Marilyn Crispell/Lesley Mok: A Reflection Distorts Over Water (Relative Pitch) **
Camila Nebbia/Michael Formanek/Vinnie Sperrazza: Live at Blow Out (Soundholes) **
Andy Nevala: El Rumbón (The Party) (Zoho)
Paal Nilssen-Love Circus With the Ex Guitars: Turn Thy Loose (PNL) **
Arturo O'Farrill/The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley (Zoho) **
Bill Orcutt/Steve Shelley/Ethan Miller: Orcutt Shelley Miller (Silver Current) **
Aruán Ortiz: Créole Renaissance (Intakt)
Kassa Overall: Cream (Warp) **
Gilbert Paeffgen Trio: Der Mann Auf Dem Trampolin (Rabbit Hill)
Raphaël Pannier Quartet: Live in Saint Louis, Senegal (Miel Music)
Juan Pastor's Chinchano: Memorias (Calligram)
John Patitucci: Spirit Fall (Edition) **
Ivo Perelman/Ken Vandermark/Joe McPhee: Oxygen (Mahakala Music) **
Ivo Perelman/Nate Wooley/Matt Moran/Mark Helias/Tom Rainey: A Modicum of the Blues (Fundacja Słuchaj) **
Dan Phillips Trio: Array in Brown (Lizard Breath) **
Alberto Pinton's Relentless: Allt Större Klarhet (Moserobie)
Noah Preminger: Ballads (Chill Tone)
Noah Preminger: Dark Days (Criss Cross Jazz) **
Preservation Brass: For Fat Man (Sub Pop) **
Private Property: Private Property (Kraakeslottet Platekompagni) **
The Reddish Fetish With the Jersey City All Stars: Llegue (F&F)
Marcelo dos Reis/Flora: Our Time (JACC) **
Dave Rempis/Jason Adasiewicz/Chris Corsano: Dial Up (Aerophonic)
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble: Serpentine (Cuneiform) **
Herb Robertson/Christopher Dell/Christian Ramond/Klaus Kugel: Blue Transient (Nemu, 2CD) **
Joris Roelofs/Guus Janssen/Han Bennink: Rite of Spring (ICP) **
Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Chris Potter/Eric Harland/Larry Grenadier: First Meeting: Live at Dizzy's Club (5Passion)
Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Yainer Horta/Joey Calveiro: A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole (Calveiro Entertainment) **
Akira Sakata/Giotis Damianidis/Giovanni Di Domenico/Aleksandr Škorić/Paal Nilssen-Love/Petros Damianidis/Tatsuhisa Yamamoto: Hyperentasis: Live in Thessaloniki (Defkaz) **
Loren Schoenberg and His Jazz Orchestra: So Many Memories (Turtle Bay) **
Frank Paul Schubert/Dieter Manderscheid/Martin Blume: Spindrift: Trio Studies (Jazz Haus Musik) **
Marc Seales With Ernie Watts: People & Places (Origin)
Rin Seo Collective: City Suite (Cellar Music) **
Dave Sewelson/Steve Hirsh/Steve Swell/Matthew Shipp/William Parker: Muscle Memory (Mahakala Music) **
Shifa: Ecliptic (Discus Music) **
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Corbett vs. Dempsey) **
Ches Smith: Clone Row (Otherly Love)
Wadada Leo Smith/Sylvie Courvoisier: Angel Falls (Intakt)
Jim Snidero: Bird Feathers (Savant)
Tessa Souter: Shadows and Silence: The Erik Satie Project (Noanara Music) **
Spinifex: Maxximus (Trytone)
Carmen Staaf: Sounding Line (Sunnyside) **
Jason Stein/Marilyn Crispell/Damon Smith/Adam Shead: 'Live at the Hungry Brain (Trost) **
Luke Stewart/Silt Rembrance Ensemble: The Order (Cuneiform) **
Yuhan Su: Over the Moons (Endectomorph Music) **
Aki Takase/Daniel Erdmann/Kazuhisa Uchihashi: Tanto (Innocent) **
Pat Thomas: The Bliss of Bliss (Konnekt) **
Pat Thomas: ود ود (Wadud/Most Loving) (Nyahh) **
Pat Thomas: Hikmah (TAO Forms)
Henry Threadgill: Listen Ship (Pi)
Trio Glossia: Trio Glossia (Sonic Transmissions) **
Mark Turner: Reflections On: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (Giant Step Arts)
Kalia Vandever: Another View (Northern View) **
Luis Vicente/John Dikeman/William Parker/Hamid Drake: No Kings! (JACC) **
David Virelles: Igbó Alákorin (The Singer's Grove) III [Theatrical Cut] (El Tivoli Productions) **
Chris Wabich: 1978 (Steep) (ADW)
Webber/Morris Big Band: Unseparate (Out of Your Head)
Dan Weiss Quartet: Unclassified Affections (Pi)
Rodney Whitaker: Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill (Origin)
Simón Willson: Bet: Live at Ornithology (Endectomorph Music)
Michael Wollny Trio: Living Ghosts (ACT) **
Stephane Wrembel: Django New Orleans II: Hors Série (Water Is Life) **
Jeong Lim Yang: Synchronicity (Sunnyside)
Carlos "Zingaro"/Bruno Parrinha/Fred Lonberg-Holm/João Madeira: Enleio (4DaRecord)

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024 year-end file:

Arashi With Takeo Moriyama: Tokuzo (Trost '24) **
Ilia Belorukov & Marina Džukljev: Everything Changes, Nothing Disappears (Acheulian Handaxe '24) **
Nat Birchall Unity Ensemble: New World (Ancient Archive of Sound '24) **
Nat Birchall: Dimensions of the Drums: Roots Reggae Instrumentals (Ancient Archive of Sound '24) **
The Brunt [Gerrit Hatcher/Dave Rempis/Kent Kessler/Bill Harris]: Near Mint Minus (Aerophonic '24) **
Vinny Golia Quintet: Can You Outrun Them? (Nine Winds '24) **
Ill Considered: UnEvensong (New Soil '24) **
Sheila Jordan/Jose Carra/Bori Albero: En La Fundación Valparaiso (Clasijazz '24) **
Martin Küchen/Mathias Landæus: Müæm (SFÄR '24) **
K. Curtis Lyle/Jaap Blonk/Alex Cunningham/Damon Smith/Kevin Cheli: A Radio of the Body (Balance Point Acoustics '24) **
Fergus McCreadie: Stream (Edition '24) **
Joe McPhee & Paal Nilssen-Love: I Love Noise (PNL '24) **
Nate Mercereau: Excellent Traveler (Third Man '24) **
Charles Owens Trio: The Music Tells Us (La Reserve '24) **
Julius Rodriguez: Evergreen (Verve '24) **
Toms Rudzinskis: Interception (Jersika '24) **
Nasheet Waits: New York Love Letter (Bitter Sweet '24) (Giant Step Arts) **
David Weiss Sextet: Auteur (Origin '24) **

Reissues/Historic Music

The standard for historic music is a record where everything was recorded 10+ years ago, regardless of whether it's ever been in print before. Some past lists may have treated previously unreleased music as new (regardless of actual age), but I've never been able to manage that distinction consistently. This category also includes compilations of previously released music, including straight reissues, although my selection is very erratic.

1.		*James Moody: 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note March 26, 2005* (Origin)** Bebop saxophonist (1925-2010), mostly tenor, also played quite a bit of flute, joined Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and was a regular in his various bands, while he established his own career with "Moody's Mood for Love" in 1952. He opens this 80th birthday bash singing "Benny's From Heaven," badly at first but so infectiously he won me over. He opened with a solid band -- David Hazeltine (piano), Todd Coolman (bass), and Adam Nussbaum (drums) -- then brought out the stars for the back stretch: Jon Faddis (trumpet), Paquito D'Rivera (alto sax/clarinet), Slide Hampton (trombone), plus guest spots for Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Cedar Walton (piano). He turns this into an old-fashioned bebop revival, reprising his hits as well as "Cherokee," "Birk's Works," and "Bebop" itself.
2.		The Bottle Tapes: 1996-2005, Corbett vs. Dempsey, 6CD) Chicago had a storied avant-jazz scene back in the 1960s, when AACM was founded, but got a second jolt in the 1990s when Ken Vandermark moved in from Boston and started organizing his groups, many drawing on top European free jazz players. From 1996 he and John Corbett organized weekly sets at the Empty Bottle, where a steady stream of Europeans could gig with locals, while being treated like jazz royalty. This collects 41 tracks from their tapes, including a couple pieces that run quite long — Peter Brötzmann for 41:16; Alexander Schlippenbach with Evan Parker, Paul Lytton, and Conrad Bauer for 55:01 — some short, most in the 10-23 minute range. Solo pieces include pianists Misha Mengelberg and Irène Schweizer, clarinetists François Houle and André Jaume, and drummer Milford Graves. Remarkable stuff, especially the hard-hitting saxes. There must be tons more where this came from. **
3.		*Arkady Gotesman: Music for an Imaginary Ballet* (2000-25, NoBusiness)** Lithuanian drummer, b. 1959, credits since 1990, some as Arkadijus Gotesmanas, including early work with Vyacheslav Ganelin and Charles Gayle. This "summation of a thirty-year journey" impressed first with its earliest recording, a duo with saxophonist Liudas Mockunas, then skips around, including 2025 live sets with Jan Makismovic's trio and a duo with Martin Küchen, bits with Ganelin and Gayle, Ned Rothenberg and Nate Wooley, a drums duo with Mark Sanders, and more, held together by his own relentlessly creative percussion.
4.		*Jimmy Lyons: Live From Studio Rivbea: 1974 & 1976* (NoBusiness)** Alto saxophonist (1931-86), best known for his work with Cecil Taylor, but his own albums are almost all worth checking out, and this one is crackling: two improv sets (27:52 and 26:10), the first with Karen Borca (bassoon), Hayes Burnett (bass), and Henry Letcher (drums), the second with Syd Smart (drums) and Burnett again.
5.		*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985* (Burning Ambulance)** The alto saxophonist, who started in AACM in Chicago, cut a Penguin Guide crown-winning solo (For Alto) that was so ugly even I can't stand it 55 years later, got a major visibility boost when Arista signed him in the late 1970s, got a long-term teaching gig at Wesleyan whence he has had several students lauded with genius grants (Mary Halvorson most famously). Now past 80, he continues to add to the hundreds of albums in his discography, which is only starting to be fleshed out with old tapes. One thing that helped solidify his reputation was his 1980s quartet, with Marilyn Crispell (piano), Mark Dresser (bass), and Gerry Hemingway (drums), which ranks among the great quartets in jazz history — peers include Coltrane's in the 1960s, and Ware's 1990s (with any of its drummers, but let's say Guillermo E. Brown). Their 1985 tour of England produced three 2-CD sets at the time, from Coventry (the Penguin Guide pick), Birmingham, and London (my pick). This digital-only release collects four more shows, each with two 36-47 minute sets, from successive nights in Sheffield, Leicester, Bristol, and Southampton. Playing them end to end is liable to feel like drowning, but any time you come up for air, you're likely to notice something simply brilliant. Ends with a bonus set drawn from soundchecks, including bits of standards. **
6.		*Charles Mingus: Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts* (1977, Resonance, 2CD) A tremendous bassist from the start, his genius period as a composer ran from roughly 1956-64, although he got a second wind in the early 1970s with a new quartet that went independent under the joint leadership of George Adams and Don Pullen. His health soon deteriorated, and he died in 1979 (age 56), so anything from his last few years doesn't come with great expectations. I found this one unsettling at first, but flashes of brilliance kept surfacing, most from compositions that undoubtedly have been done better elsewhere, but he had an uncanny knack for breathing fresh life into everything he touched. And for making small groups -- this one especially notable for Jack Walrath (trumpet) and Ricky Ford (tenor sax). Also, he closes both sets with his own solo piano.
7.		*Griot Galaxy: Live on WUOM 1979* (Two Rooms) Jazz band from Michigan, spanned 1972-89, recorded albums in 1982 and 1985, had another live set released in 2003. Names I first recognize here are Jaribu Shahid (bass) and Tani Tabbal (drums), who were Sun Ra veterans but I know them mostly from James Carter's 1990s Quartet. Here they're backing two saxophonists, Faruq Z. Bey and Anthony Holland. Strong sax interplay, outstanding rhythm section, some spoken word.
8.		*Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra: Live at Widney High December 26th, 1971* (The Village)** A phenomenal pianist from Los Angeles, also notable as a community organizer, ran this not-quite-big band at least through 1979's Live at I.U.C.C.. Starts strong with a 25:03 version of John Coltrane's "Equinox," with Al Collins on tenor sax, two trumpets (Butch Morris and Walter Graham), two trombones, two bassists, drums and congas. The following pieces, with vocalist Linda Hill and "word musician" Kamau Daáood are no less wonderful. **
9.		Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley: Flashing Spirits (1988, Burning Ambulance) "Pioneering avant-garde pianist" (1929-2018), holds the record for most 4-star albums in Penguin Guide, partly because they're so consistent they're hard to sort among, partly because at any given moment the one you're listening to is likely to sound uniquely brilliant. It's easy to pick 1988 as his peak, not least because he recorded so much in Berlin that year. Duo with drums, one of many that year but Oxley was the one he worked with most in later years, and good reasons for that. **
10.		*Irène Schweizer/Rüdiger Carl/Johnny Dyani/Han Bennink: Irène's Hot Four* (1981, Intakt) Swiss pianist (1941-2024), an astonishing player, especially in her duos with various free jazz drummers -- the ones with Bennink are among the best, but not alone. She started in the 1970s with Carl playing saxophones, clarinet, and accordion.
11.		*Joe Henderson: Multiple* (1973, Craft)** Major tenor saxophonist (1937-2001), made his reputation in a series of now-classic Blue Note albums 1963-66, moved on to an extended run at Milestone 1968-77, had an unaccountably spotty decade-plus after that -- a couple albums on European labels, one more for Blue Note (The State of the Tenor, which pretty much was) -- before Verve picked him up in 1991, giving him the living legend treatment (but saddling him with concepts that I found less satisfying: tributes to Strayhorn, Davis, and Jobim; a big band; Porgy & Bess). I'm far less familiar with the Milestones, although he easily aced his entry in 2006's Milestone Profiles series, so I didn't even recognize this title (a Penguin Guide *). It may have been easy to dismiss due to the then-fashionable electric keyboards/bass/guitar, congas, bits of soprano sax, flute and vocals. But a rhythm section with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette shouldn't be dismissed -- they also contributed one song each, to go with three by Henderson. But now you can't help but focus on his tenor sax -- the Penguin Guide line is that he always sounds like he's in the middle of a great solo -- an this is certainly a good example. But I also have to admit I'm also digging Larry Willis' funky electric piano.
12.		Thelonious Monk: Bremen 1965 (Sunnyside) Radio shot, with a live audience, part of a European tour that has produced other similar documents (one from Olympia was recorded the day before, and another from Olympia a couple months later). Quartet with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Larry Gales (bass), and Ben Riley (drums) was in peak form, with the once-quirky tunes confirmed as classics. **
13.		*Stanley Cowell/Billy Harper/Reggie Workman/Billy Hart: Such Great Friends* (1983, Strata-East) Documenting a live tour in Japan, the pianist opens, with the saxophonist holding back until the second tune, when he unleashes his full power and glory. Second half evens out a bit as a group.
14.		Kristen Noguès/John Surman: Diriaou (1998, Souffle Continu) Celtic harp player (1952-2007), French but sings in Breton, released an album in 1976, several more in the 1990s. This a duo with the English saxophonist, mostly playing bass clarinet. This is really lovely, a unique item. **
15.		*Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers: African Party [Deluxe Edition]* (1967, Innovative Collective/BBE Music) Percussionist from Nigeria (1916-75), moved to London after WWII, played with jazz musicians like Ronnie Scott, recorded some singles and this 1967 album (slightly expanded here). Intense drums, wailing sax, chants, lives up to its title.
16.		*Ryan Truesdell: Shades of Sound: Gil Evans Project Live at Jazz Standard Vol. 2* (2014, Outside In Music)** Composer, arranger, conductor, appeared in 2012 with Centennial: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans, and followed that up with an excellent live "Gil Evans Project" album, Lines of Color (2015). This Vol. 2 comes from the same stand, and reminds us how impressive the interplay and the solos were.
17.		*Ellery Eskelin: Trio New York About (or On) First Visit* (2011-13, Ezz-Thetics)** Remaster of Trio New York and Trio New York II, previouly released on Prime Source -- hence the title fudging for what is normally a series of previously unreleased tapes. Leader plays tenor sax, with Gary Versace (organ) and Gerald Cleaver (drums). **
18.		*Dave Burrell/Sam Woodyard: The Lost Session: Paris 1979* (NoBusiness)** Avant pianist, known on occasion to look back with delight, at the moment he was coming off an excellent Plays Ellington and Monk and a Lush Life I haven't heard, and would later go on to The Jelly Roll Joys. Here he's in a duo with Ellington's longtime drummer, whose name rarely shows up in sluglines. Mostly originals, some of which could be vintage rags, but they work in "Lush Life," "Sentimental Lady," and "Embraceable You."
19.		*Misha Mengelberg/Sabu Toyozumi: The Analects of Confucius* (2000, NoBusiness)** Piano and drums duo, recorded in Japan, on the latter's home turf. Coming in my playlist right after dazzling piano from Cecil Taylor and Irène Schweizer, this took a bit longer to sort out, but in the end he won me over. I suppose it's a bit like comparing Monk and Peterson (or maybe even Tatum), an analogy he would most likely find flattering.
20.		*Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett/Louis Moholo-Moholo: Live in Foggia* (1985, Ogun)** British saxophonist, b. 1949, not a lot under his own name but side credits start up in 1971, joining the pianist in 1978, and the drummer by 1982, while also working in groups led by Chris McGregor, John Stevens, Tony Oxley, and Barry Guy. This same trio recorded Tern in 1982. Two long pieces here (45:34 and 27:11). In fast company here, he rises to the occasion. **
21.		*Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse* (1967, Resonance, 2CD)** This one sprawls onto a second CD, but isn't that much longer (84 minutes vs. 78). Group is more obscure, with Rahn Burton (piano), Steve Novosel (bass), and Jimmy Hopps (drums). But the medleys are brighter here, the originals on the second disc cook, and his vocal to close is an unexpected delight.
22.		*François Tusques/Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra: Vol. 4: Jo Maka* (1977, Souffle Continu)** French pianist, b. 1938, many records up to 2015, formed this group in 1974, the albums sometimes under his name, sometimes the group's. Jo Maka was a saxophonist from Guinea (1929-81), who plays alto and soprano on this set, which was released shortly after he died. The African flavor is a delight here. All compositions by Tusques except for a long cover of "Fables of Faubus."
23.		*Charles Tolliver With Gary Bartz/Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Joe Chambers: Right Now . . . and Then* (1968, Strata-East)** The trumpet player's first side credits came in 1965 with Jackie McLean, followed by work with Booker Ervin, Horace Silver, and Max Roach. This could have been his first album, although it looks like it wasn't released until 1971, first as Charles Tolliver and His All Stars, then on Arista/Freedom as Paper Man. A 2019 reissue adopted this title/cover, and added a bonus track, which has now grown to two. The "stars" were pretty young at the time -- Carter was 31, Hancock and Bartz 28, Chambers and Tolliver 26 -- but well on their way, with Tolliver writing all the songs (I would have guessed Horace Silver). **
24.		*Motoharu Yoshizawa/Kim Dae Hwan: Way of the Breeze* (1993, NoBusiness)** Japanese bassist (1931-98), credited here with "homemade electric vertical 5-strings bass," duo with Korean free jazz percussionist (1933-2003), who takes charge early with one of the most striking drum solos I've heard lately. Gets more complicated further on.
25.		*Horace Silver: Silver in Seatte: Live at the Penthouse* (1965, Blue Note) Pianist, initially led the Jazz Messengers, the genre-defining hard bop group that went through many editions led by drummer Art Blakey. Silver continued to lead 5/6-piece groups, drawing on many of the same musicians as Blakey, but where he was unique was in composing some of the catchiest tunes ever to come out of jazz. His Blue Notes from 1956-66 were often classic. This previously unreleased live tape features Woody Shaw (trumpet) and Joe Henderson (tenor sax), with Teddy Smith (bass) and Roger Humphries (drums), stretching out on five of hi better known tunes.
26.		*Roy Brooks: The Free Slave* (1970, Muse/Time Traveler)** Hard bop drummer (1938-2005), from Detroit, started with Blue Mitchell in 1960, rarely appeared as leader (first in 1964, then this in 1972). Crackling live quintet with Woody Shaw (trumpet), George Coleman (tenor sax), Hugh Lawson (piano), and Cecil McBee (bass).
27.		Charles Tolliver With Gary Bartz/Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Joe Chambers: Right Now . . . and Then (1968, Strata-East): Trumpet, quartet with guitar (Nathan Page), bass (Steve Novosel), and drums (Alvin Queen), recorded in Paris, originally came out in 1980, also released as New Tolliver (mostly in Japan). Four songs (39:15), snappy up front, seductive when they take it easy, oustanding trumpet both ways. **
28.		*François Tusques/Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra: Après La Marée Noire: Vers Une Musique Bretonne Nouvelle* (1979, Souffle Continu)** French pianist, recorded his debut Free Jazz in 1965, recorded Intercommunal Music in 1971, leading to the group which registered four volumes 1974-82, and possibly a couple more albums like this one. Front cover has no artist credit, so I'm following Discogs. Back cover has three lines of credits, with "Sonneurs Traditionnels" in between. The Celtic component comes from bombarde (an oboe) and binioù koz (a small bagpipe) but you also get darbuka (a middle eastern drum) and congas. **
29.		*Mary Halvorson Quartet: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Volume 1* (2019, Tzadik)** Originally released as the first disc in Zorn's Bagatelles 4-CD box set (2021) -- actually, the first of four 4-CD boxes, which still didn't exhaust the 300 compositions Zorn wrote for the series -- now broken out separately, and unlike most of the albums Tzadik releases of Zorn's compositions, credited to the musician(s) -- perhaps some recognition that the guitarist has arrived. Actually, she's joined here by a second guitarist, Miles Okazaki, along with Drew Gress (bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). Despite his massive cache of compositions, I still have little sense of Zorn as a composer, but anyone who doubts Halvorson's chops or arranging sense should shut up. **

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024 year-end file:

1.		*Ray Russell Quartet: The Complete Spontaneous Event: Live 1967-1969* (Jazz in Britain) British guitarist, b. 1947, so was pretty young when these six BBC radio sessions were recorded: 6 tracks were released in 2000, expanded here to 20 tracks, 133:33, the with Roy Fry (piano), Alan Rushton (drums), and either Dave Holland or Ron Mathewson on bass. This is closer to classic bebop guitar jazz than to the avant/fusion strains developing around John McLaughlin, but is remarkably cogent and flat out enjoyable.
2.		*Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Tony Orrell: That's My Life* (1989, 577 '23) British saxophonist, plays soprano here, Discogs credits him with 201 albums since 1986 (325 credits), so this is a fairly early set, a live tape from Albert Inn in Bristol, backed by bass and drums. I've only sampled him lightly (18 albums, 4 A-), so don't have much sense of how consistent he is, but this one sizzles all the way.
3.		Ansamblul Hyperion: Conducerea Muzicală: Iancu Dumitrescu (1980 [2024], Corbett vs. Dempsey) Romanian composer, reissue of his first album, originally relesed in 1981, his Ensemble including clarinet, flute, bassoon, viola, cello, double bass, trombone, and percussion, with his piano on one track, and there's certainly some uncredited electronics in the mix. The first piece doesn't go far beyond surveying the sound pallette, but the later pieces are often quite remarkable. [PS: Briefly released in 2024, but given a 2025-01-10 release date, then withdrawn due to some licensing snafu. Reviewed in 2024, but might as well be counted here.] **

Honorable Mention

Additional jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

Gato Barbieri: Standards Lost and Found 2 (1968, Red) **
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Strasbourg 82 (Gearbox) **
Charles Brackeen: Rhythm X (1968, Strata-East) **
The Brass Company: Colors (1974, Strata-East) **
Peter Brötzmann Trio: Hurricane (Old Heaven Books) **
Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell: We Insist 2025! (Candid) **
Jacques Coursil: Black Suite (1969, BYG) **
Stanley Cowell: Musa: Ancestral Streams (1974, Strata-East) **
Kenny Dorham: Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live From the Blue Morocco (1957, Resonance)
Marco Eneidi Quartet: Wheat Fields of Kleyehof (2004, Balance Point Acoustics) **
Bill Evans: Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings (1959-61, Craft) **
The Bill Evans Trio: Moon Beams (1962, Craft) **
Ivan Farmakovskiy: Epic Power (2010, SteepleChase) **
Shamek Farrah: First Impressions (1974, Strata-East) **
Fred Frith/Shelley Burgon: The Life and Behavior (2002-05, Relative Pitch) **
Herb Geller Quartet: Barcelona Session (1990, Fresh Sound) **
Dizzy Gillespie/Sonny Stitt/Sonny Rollins: Sonny Side Up (1957, Verve) **
Billy Harper: Trying to Make Heaven My Home (1979, MPS) **
John Hicks: Hells Bells (1975, Strata-East) **
William Hooker: A Time Within: Live at the New York Jazz Museum, January 14, 1977 (Valley of Search) **
Khan Jamal: Give the Vibes Some (1974, Souffle Continu) **
Keith Jarrett: New Vienna (2016, ECM) **
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate (1964, Resonance)
Charles Kynard: Woga (1972, We Want Sounds) **
Oliver Lake: Live From Studio Rivbea 1975 & 1976 [Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 4] (NoBusiness)
Stephen McCraven: Wooley the Newt (1979, Moved-by-Sound) **
Nellie McKay: Gee Whiz: The Get Away From Me Demos (Omnivore) **
Mujician: In Concerts (1993-2010, Jazz in Britain) **
Music Inc. [Charles Tolliver/Stanley Cowell/Cecil McBee/Jimmy Hopps]: Live at Sluggs' Volume I & II (1970, Strata-East) **
Cecil Payne: Zodiac (1972, Strata-East) **
Art Pepper: Geneva 1980 (Omnivore) **
Art Pepper: An Afternoon in Norway: The Kongsberg Concert (1980, Elemental Music) **
Soft Works: Abracadabra (2002, MoonJune) **
Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain: Esoteric, Modal, and Progressive Jazz From Central and Eastern Europe (1962-1988) (Jazzman) **
Strata-East: The Legacy Begins (1968-75, Strata-East) **
Sun Ra: Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (1970, Strut) **
John Surman: Flashpoints and Undercurrents (1969, Cuneiform) **
Charles Tolliver's Music Inc: Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (1972, Strata-East) **
Charles Tolliver: Live in Berlin: At the Quasimodo (1988, Strata-East) **

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2024 year-end file:

Gato Barbieri: Standards Lost and Found 1 (1968, Red) **
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Live in Paris (1970): Lost ORTF Recordings (1970, Transversales Disques) **
James Moody: The Moody Story: James Moody Septet 1951-1955 (1951-55, Fresh Sound, 3CD) **
Sun Ra: Inside the Light World: Sun Ra Meets the OVC (1986, Strut) **

Notes

Additional new jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

Kris Adams/Peter Perfido: Away (Jazzbird) [B+(*)]
Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quintet: Sound Remains (Whirlwind) [**] [B+(**)]
Sophie Agnel & John Butcher: Rare (Les Disques Victo) ** [B+(**)]
Bruno Angelini/Sakina Abdou/Angelika Niescier: Lotus Flowers (Abalone) ** [B+(**)]
Yazz Ahmed: A Paradise in the Hold (Night Time Stories) ** [B]
Marja Ahti: Touch This Fragrant Surface of Earth (Fönstret) ** [B+(*)]
Ambrose Akinmusire: Honey From a Winter Stone (Nonesuch) ** [B+(**)]
Pheeroan akLaff/Scott Robinson/Julian Thayer: aRT: Live at Kampo Bahal Gallery (Sciensonic, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Albare: Eclecticity (Alfi) [B+(*)]
Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring: Split Decision (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(**)]
JD Allen: Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions) (Savant) ** [B+(**)]
Steve Allee Big Band: Naptown Sound (Jazzville) [B]
Gino Amato: Latin Crossroads 2 (Ovation) [B+(*)]
Oren Ambarchi & Eric Thielemans: Kind Regards (AD 93) ** [B+(**)]
Ancient Infinity Orchestra: It's Always About Love (Gondwana) ** [B+(*)]
Leon Anderson: Live at Snug Harbor (Outside In Music) ** [B+(**)]
Florian Arbenz/Michael Arbenz/Ron Carter: The Alpine Session: Arbenz Vs Arbenz Meets Ron Carter (Hammer) ** [B+(**)]
Michael Arbenz/Andy Sheppard: From Bach to Ellington: Live (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Elia Aregger Trio: Live (Unit) ** [B+(*)]
Artemis: Arboresque (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
David Bailis: Running Through My Mind (Create or Destroy) [B+(**)]
Jon Balke: Skrifum (ECM) ** [B+(*)]
Charlie Ballantine: East by Midwest (Origin) [B+(**)]
Gary Bartz & NTU: The Eternal Tenure of Sound: Damage Control (OYO) ** [B+(*)]
Basic: Dream City (No Quarter, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Martin Bejerano: The Purple Project (Figgland) [B-]
Sonya Belaya: Dacha (Ropeadope) ** [B+(**)]
Gregg Belisle-Chi: Slow Crawl: Performing the Music of Tim Berne (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Antonia Bennett: Expressions (self-released) [B+(**)]
Sasha Berliner: Fantôme (Outside In Music) ** [B+(**)]
Håkon Berre: Mirror Matter (Barefoot) ** [B+(**)]
Marilina Bertoldi: Para Quien Trabajas Vol. 1 (Sony Music Argentina) ** [B+(**)]
Andy Biskin/Peter Hess/Mike McGinniss/Sam Sadigursky: Reed Basket (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Ingi Bjarni: Hope (Losen) ** [B+(**)]
Blacks' Myths Meet Pat Thomas: The Mythstory School (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Johnathan Blake: My Life Matters (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Theo Bleckmann: Love and Anger (Sunnyside) [B]
Lena Bloch/Kyoko Kitamura: Marina (Fresh Sound New Talent) [B+(**)]
Jane Ira Bloom: Songs in Space (Outline) ** [B+(**)]
Blue Moods: Force & Grace (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(**)]
Silvia Bolognesi: Jungle Duke (Caligola) ** [B+(**)]
Booker T & the Bleeds: Ode to BC/LY . . . And Eye Know BO . . . Da Prez (Mahakala Music) ** [B]
Christer Bothén: Christer Bothén Donso N'goni (Black Truffle) ** [B+(**)]
Jakob Bro & Midori Takada: Until I Met You (Loveland Music) ** [B+(**)]
Alan Broadbent: Threads of Time (Savant) ** [B+(**)]
Vilhelm Bromander Unfolding Orchestra: Jorden Vi Ärvde (Thanatosis) ** [B+(**)]
Yves Brouqui: Mean What You Say (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Jakob Bro Large Ensemble: New Morning (Loveland Music) ** [B+(*)]
Jakob Bro/Wadada Leo Smith/Marcus Gilmore: Murasaki (Loveland Music) ** [B+(**)]
Rob Brown: Walkabout (Mahakala Music) ** [B+(**)]
Kevin Brunkhorst: After the Fire (Calligram) [B]
Michael Buckley: Ebb and Flow (Livia) ** [B+(**)]
Burnt Sugar/The Arkestra Chamber: If You Can't Dazzle Them With Your Brilliance, Then Baffle Them With Your Blisluth Pt. Two (Avant Groid Musica) ** [B+(**)]
Caelan Cardello: Chapter One (Jazz Bird) ** [B+(**)]
Nanna Carling: Melodies for Two (The End) ** [B+(*)]
George Cartwright & Bruce Golden: South From a Narrow Arc (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
Milena Casado: Reflection of Another Self (Candid) ** [B+(*)]
Chaos Magick: Through the Looking Glass (Tzadik) ** [B+(*)]
Brian Charette: Borderless (SteepleChase) ** [B]
Etienne Charles: Gullah Roots (Culture Shock) [B+(**)]
Alan Chaubert: Just the Three of Us: Me, the Trumpet and the Piano (Pacific Coast Jazz) [B+(**)]
Coco Chatru Quartet: Limbokolia (Trygger Music) [B+(**)]
Chris Cheek: Keepers of the Eastern Door (Analog Tone Factory) ** [B+(*)]
Chicago Jazz Orchestra: More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (Chicago Jazz Orchestra) ** [B+(*)]
Chrome Hill: En Route (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Albert Cirera & Tres Tambors: Orangina (UnderPool) ** [B+(**)]
Gerald Clayton: Ones & Twos (Blue Note) ** [B]
Dawn Clement/Buster Williams/Matt Wilson: Delight (Origin) [B+(**)]
Laura Cocks: FATHM (Relative Pitch/Out of Our Heads) ** [B]
Tom Cohen: Embraceable Brazil (Versa) [B+(**)]
Yuval Cohen Quartet: Winter Poems (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Situation (PlayOn) [B]
Liz Cole: I Want to Be Happy (self-released) [B]
Marco Colonna: Icarus Falling: To Mosab Abu Toha (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
The Convenience: Like Cartoon Vampires (Winspear) ** [B+(**)]
Chick Corea/Christian McBride/Brian Blade: Trilogy 3 (2020, Candid) ** [B+(*)]
Alyn Cosker: Onta (Calligram) [B+(*)]
Paul Cornish: You're Exaggerating! (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Marilyn Crispell/Thommy Andersson/Michala Østergaard-Nilsen: The Cave (ILK Music) ** [B+(*)]
Theo Croker: Dream Manifest (Dom Recs) ** [B+(*)]
Ermelinda Cuellar: Under a Lavender Sky (self-released) [B+(*)]
Theon Cross: Affirmations: Live at the Blue Note New York (New Soil) ** [B+(**)]
Paquito D'Rivera & Madrid-New York Connection Band: La Fleure De Cayenne (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Lao Dan: To Hit a Pressure Point (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(**)]
Eddie Daniels: To Milton With Love (Resonance) ** [B+(**)]
Jonah David: Waltz for Eli (Swish Tap) [B+(*)]
Angel Bat Dawid & Naima Nefertari: Journey to Nabta Playa (Spiritmuse) ** [B]
Dawn Patrol Jazz Band: A Tribute to Benny Strickler and the Yerba Buena Jazz Band (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Geoffrey Dean Quartet: Conceptions (Cellar Music) [B+(*)]
Laura De Jongh: Fundus (Klankhaven, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Maya Delilah: The Long Way Round (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Hannah Delynn: Trust Fall (self-released) [B+(**)]
Orhan Demir/Neil Swainson: Wicked Demon (Hittite) [B+(**)]
Alabaster DePlume: A Blade Because a Blade Is Whole (International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Dena DeRose: Mellow Tones (HighNote) ** [B+(**)]
Erez Dessel: Pro Fake No Reject (Corbett vs. Dempsey) ** [B+(*)]
John Dikeman/Sun-Mi Hong/Aaron Lumley/Marta Warelis: Old Adam on Turtle Island (Relative Pitch) ** [B]
Sam Dillon: My Ideal (Cellar Music) ** [B+(**)]
Pierre Dørge New Jungle Orchestra: Jazzhus Montmartre Live (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Dave Douglas: Alloy (Greenleaf Music) ** [B+(**)]
Nick Dunston: Colla Voce: Praylewd (Out of Your Head) ** [B]
Nick Dunston: Reverse Broadcast (Carrier) ** [B]
Mia Dyberg/Axel Filip: Hobby House (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(**)]
Mathias Eick: Lullaby (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
El Infierno Musical: II (Klanggalerie) ** [B+(**)]
Joe Elefante: Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma (self-released) [B+(*)]
Kurt Elling/Christian Sands: Wildflowers Vol. 3 (Big Shoulders) ** [B-]
John Ellis: Heroes (Blue Room Music) ** [B+(**)]
Amir ElSaffar/Lorenzo Bianchi Hoesch: Inner Spaces (Kuroneko) ** [B+(*)]
Ensemble C: Every Journey (Adhyâropa) [B]
Peter Erskine & the Jam Music Lab All-Stars: Vienna to Hollywood: Impressions of E.W. Korngold & Max Steiner (Origin) [B+(*)]
Jorge Espinal: Bombos Y Cencerros (Buh) ** [B+(**)]
Esthesis Quartet: Sound & Fury (Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Peter Evans/Petter Eldh: JazzFest (More Is More) ** [B+(**)]
Alon Farber Hagiga: Dreams | Dream (Origin) [B+(**)]
Joe Farnsworth: The Big Room (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(*)]
Maria Faust Sacrum Facere: Marches Rewound & Rewritten (Stunt) ** [B+(**)]
Trygve Fiske Sextet: The Flowers. The Dance. The Rumble and the Stumble. (Slaraffensongs) ** [B+(**)]
Paul Flaherty: A Willing Passenger (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(*)]
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/(Exit) Knarr: Drops (Sonic Transmissions) ** [B+(**)]
Béla Fleck/Edmar Castañeda/Antonio Sanchez: BEATrio (Thirty Tigers) ** [B+(*)]
Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Sextet: Armando Mi Conga (Amor De Flores Productions) ** [B+(*)]
Sullivan Fortner: Southern Nights (Artwork) ** [B+(**)]
Elliot Galvin: The Ruin (Gearbox) ** [B+(*)]
Daniel Garbin: Rising (6x20) [B+(*)]
Jacob Garchik: Ye Olde 2: At the End of Time (Yestereve) [B+(**)]
Ben Lamar Gay: Yowzers (International Anthem) ** [B+(*)]
Bruce Gertz Quintet: Octopus Dreams (Open Mind Jazz) [B+(*)]
Marcus Gilmore: Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard (Drummerslams) ** [B+(*)]
Dave Gisler Trio: The Flying Mega Doghouse (Intakt) ** [B+(*)]
Roger Glenn: My Latin Heart (Patois) [B+(**)]
Nicole Glover: Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Savant) [**] [B+(**)]
José Gobbo Trio: Confluence (Calligram) [B+(**)]
GoGo Penguin: Necessary Fictions (XXIM) ** [B+(**)]
Jon Gold: Chasing Echos (Entropic) [C+]
Larry Goldings: I Will (Sam First) ** [B+(*)]
Vinny Golia/Ken Filiano/Michael TA Thompson: Catastasis (Nine Winds) ** [B+(**)]
The Vinny Golia Quintet: Out for Blood (Nine Winds) ** [B+(*)]
Phillip Golub/Lesley Mok: Dream Brigade (Infrequent Seams) ** [B+(**)]
Brad Goode Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer (Origin) [B+(**)]
Luigi Grasso: La Dimora Dell'atrove (LP345) [B+(*)]
Kelly Green: Corner of My Dreams (La Reserve) [B+(*)]
Jimmy Greene: As We Are Now (Greene Music Works) ** [B+(**)]
Danny Grissett: Travelogue (Savant) ** [B+(**)]
Groovology: Almost Home (Sugartown) [B]
John Gunther: Painting the Dream (Origin) [B+(**)]
The Haas Company Featuring Samuel Hällkvist: Vol. 3: Song for Mimi (Psychiatric) [B+(*)]
The Haas Company Featuring Jerry Goodman: Thirteen (Psychiatric) [B]
Andreas Haddeland Trio: Estuar (Tare) ** [B+(**)]
Hanging Hearts: Where's Your Head At (Ropeadope) ** [B+(*)]
Dave Hanson: Blues Sky (Origin) [B+(**)]
Lafayette Harris Jr.: All in Good Time (Savant) ** [B+(**)]
Joel Harrison: Guitar Talk Vol. 2: Classical Duos/Jazz Duos (AGS, 2CD) [B+(*)]
Billy Hart Quartet: Just (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Alexander Hawkins: Song Unconditional (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Phil Haynes: Return to Electric (Corner Store Jazz) [B+(**)]
Phil Haynes/Ben Monder: Transition[s] (Corner Store Jazz) [B]
Phil Haynes & Free Country: Liberty Now! (Corner Store Jazz, 2CD) [B+(**)]
Miho Hazama: Live Life This Day: Celebrating Thad Jones (Edition) ** [B+(*)]
Hearts & Minds: Illuminescence (Astral Spirits) ** [B+(**)]
Gilad Hekselman: Downhill From Here (La Reserve/Diggers Factory) ** [B+(*)]
Nick Hempton/Cory Weeds: Horns Locked (Cellar Music) ** [B+(**)]
Arve Henriksen/Trygve Seim/Andmers Jormin/Markku Ounaskari: Arcanum (ECM) ** [B+(*)]
Fred Hersch, The Surrounding Green (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Fred Hersch/Rondi Charleston: Suspended in Time: A Song Cycle (Resilience Music Alliance) ** [B+(*)]
Daniel Herskedal: Movements of Air (Edition) ** [B]
Jake Hertzog: Ozark Concerto (Zoho) [B-]
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band: Live at Birdland (Turtle Bay) ** [B+(**)]
Nyron Higor: Nyron Higor (Far Out) ** [B+(*)]
Art Hirahara: Peace Unknown (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(*)]
Hiromi's Sonicwonder: Out There (Telarc) ** [B]
Jim Hobbs/Timo Shanko: The Depression Tapes (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(**)]
Jasper Høiby: Fellow Creatures: We Must Fight (Edition) ** [B+(**)]
Hamilton de Holanda Trio: Live in NYC (Sony) ** [B+(**)]
Anna Högberg Attack: Ensamseglaren (Fönstret) ** [B+(**)]
Gao Hong/Baluji Shrivastav: Neelam (ARC Music) ** [B+(*)]
Sun-Mi Hong: Fourth Page: Meaning of a Nest (Edition) ** [B+(*)]
William Hooker: Jubilation (ORG Music) ** [B+(**)]
Hot 8 Brass Band: Big Tuba (Tru Thoughts) **

Kjetil Husebø: Piano Transformed - Interspace

Hvalfugl: Bag Vore Øjne Strømmer Drømme Sagte Forbi (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
ICP Orchestra: Happy Birthday → Naar Zee Z.O.Z. (ICP) ** [B+(**)]
Johnny Iguana: At Delmark: Chicago-Style Solo Piano (Delmark) ** [B+(**)]
Ill Considered: Balm (New Soil) ** [B+(**)]
Chris Ingham Quintet: Walter/Donald (Downhome) ** [B+(*)]
Christoph Irniger Pilgrim: Human Intelligence Live (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Ayumi Ishito: Roboquarians Vol. 2 (577) ** [B+(*)]
Vijay Iyer/Wadada Leo Smith: Defiant Life (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Carrie Jackson: Jersey Bounce (Arabesque Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Keefe Jackson/Jakob Heinemann/Adam Shead: Stinger (Irritable Mystic) ** [B+(**)]
Jane in Ether: Oneiric (Confront) ** [B+(*)]
Erik Jekabson: Breakthrough (Wide Hive) [B+(**)]
Jennie: Ruby (Columbia) ** [B]
Bonnie J Jensen: Rise (MGM Metropolitan Groove Merchants) [B+(*)]
Eugenie Jones: Eugenie (Open Mic) [B+(**)]
Jung Stratmann Quartet: Confluence (ARC) [B+(*)]
Kaisa's Machine: Moving Parts (Greenleaf Music) ** [B+(**)]
Kali Trio: The Playful Abstract (Ronin Rhythm) ** [B+(*)]
Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group: Moments (MKMusic) [B+(*)]
Rick Keller: Heroes (Vegas) [B-]
Nancy Kelly: Be Cool (Origin) [B+(**)]
Jukka-Pekka Kervinen/Kevin Miller: Primordial (Ramble) ** [B+(**)]
Knats: Knats (Gearbox) ** [B+(*)]
Kneebody: Reach (GroundUP Music) ** [B]
Alex Koo: Blame It on My Chromosomes (W.E.R.F.) ** [B+(*)]
Lex Korten: Canopy (Sounderscore) [B]
Vladimir Kostadinovic: Iris (Criss Cross Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Sofia Kourtesis: Volver (Ninja Tune, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Joachim Kühn: Échappée (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Clemens Kuratle Ydivide: The Default (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Hélène Labarrière: Puzzle (Jazzdor) ** [B+(**)]
Mathias Landæus/Nina de Heney/Kresten Osgood: Dissolving Patterns (SFÄR) ** [B+(**)]
Stian Larsen/Colin Webster/Ruth Goller/Andrew Lisle: Temple of Muses (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(*)]
Karl Latham: Living Standards II (Dropzone Jazz) [B+(*)]
Ingrid Laubrock: Purposing the Air (Pyroclastic, 2CD) [B-]
Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet: Turn It Up! (2004-24, Cellar Music, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Nicolas Leirtrø: Cherry Blossom (Sonic Transmission) ** [B+(*)]
José Lencastre/Flak: Cloudy Skies (Phonogram Unit) ** [B+(**)]
Billy Lester Trio: High Standards (Ultra Sound) [B+(**)]
Dave Liebman/Billy Hart/Adam Rudolph: Beingness (Meta/Defkaz) ** [B+(**)]
Lizzy & the Triggermen: Live at Joe's Pub (self-released) [B+(**)]
Charles Lloyd: Figure in Blue (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Ramon Lopez: 40 Springs in Paris (RogueArt) * [B+(**)]
Rocío Giménez López/Franco Di Renzo/Luciano Ruggieri: La Palabra Repetida (Blue Art) ** [B+(**)]
Harold López-Nussa: Nueva Timba (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Los Angeles Improvisation Ensemble: Insubordinate Lunar Transgressions (Denouement) [B+(*)]
Russ Lossing: Proximity Alert (Blaser Music) ** [B+(**)]
Russ Lossing Trio: Moon Inhabitants (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Joe Lovano: Homage (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
K. Curtis Lyle/Alex Cunningham: Quantum Nursery Rhymes of the Divine Horseman (Storm Cellar) ** [B+(**)]
Doug MacDonald: Santa Monica Session (DMAC Music) [B+(*)]
Joe Magnarelli: Concord (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
John Mailander's Forecast: Let the World In (self-released) * [B+(**)]
Emi Makabe: Echo (Sunnyside) ** [B]
Lili Maljic: The Nearness of You: In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi (Pacific Coast Jazz) [B+(**)]
Fabia Mantwill Orchesrtra: In.Sight (GroupUP Music) ** [B+(**)]
Paul Marinaro: Mood Ellington (Origin) ** [B+(**)]
Ben Markley: Tell the Truth (OA2) [B+(*)]
Will Mason Quartet: Hemlocks, Peacocks (New Focus) ** [B+(**)]
Nicolas Masson: Renaissance (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Christian McBride Big Band: Without Further Ado, Vol. 1 (Mack Avenue) ** [B+(**)]
Nicole McCabe: A Song to Sing (Colorfield) ** [B+(**)]
Donny McCaslin: Lullaby for the Lost (Edition) ** [B]
Makaya McCraven: Hidden Out! (International Anthem, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Makaya McCraven: Techno Logic (International Anthem, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Tyreek McDole: Open Up Your Senses (Artworks) ** [B+(*)]
The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra: Mixed Bag (Summit) [B+(**)]
Dave McMurray: I Love Life Even When I'm Hurting (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Jim McNeely: Primal Colors (Challenge) ** [B+(*)]
Joe McPhee: I'm Just Sayin' (Smalltown Supersound) ** [B+(**)]
Eric McPherson: Double Bass Quartet (Giant Step Arts) [B+(**)]
Medler Sextet: River Paths (OA2) [B+(**)]
Brad Mehldau: Ride Into the Sun (Nonesuch) ** [B]
Tobias Meinhart: Sonic River (Sonic River) [B+(**)]
Memphis Metaphysics: Memphis Metaphysics (Sonic Transmissions) ** [B+(**)]
Ava Mendoza/Gabby Fluke-Mogul/Carolina Pérez: Mama Killa (Burning Ambulance) ** [B+(**)]
Mira Trio: Machinerie (4DaRecord) [B+(**)]
Roscoe Mitchell/Michele Rabbia: In 2 (RogueArt) * [B+(**)]
Kelsey Mines: Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious (OA2) [B+(*)]
Kelsey Mines/Erin Rogers: Scratching at the Surface (Relative Pitch) ** [B]
Kelsey Mines/Vinny Golia: Collusion and Collaboration (Relative Pitch) ** [B]
Pasquale Mirra/Hamid Drake: Lhasa (Parco Della Musica) ** [B+(*)]
Roscoe Mitchell: Gratitude: One Head Four People (Wide Hive) ** [B+(*)]
Silvano Monasterios Venezuelan Nonet: The River (self-released) [B+(**)]
Roberto Montero: Todos Os Tempos (Vaicomtudo Music) [B+(*)]
Patricio Morales: La Tierra Canta (Northsound) [B+(*)]
Leszek Możdżer/Lars Danielsson/Zohar Fresco: Beamo (ACT Music) ** [B+(*)]
Greg Murphy: Snap Happy (Whaling City Sound) [B+(**)]
Wolfgang Muthspiel/Scott Colley/Brian Blade: Tokyo (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Amina Claudine Myers: Solace of the Mind (Red Hook) ** [B+(**)]
Max Nagl Quintett: Phasolny (Rude Noises) ** [B+(**)]
Qasim Naqvi: Endling (Erased Tapes) ** [B+(*)]
Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas: Totality (Drag City) ** [B+(**)]
Camila Nebbia: Rastro O Vacío (Lilaila) ** [B+(**)]
Camila Nebbia/Gonçalo Almeida/Sylvain Darrifourcq: Hypnomaniac (Defkaz) ** [B+(**)]
Marius Neset: Cabaret (ACT Music) ** [B+(*)]
Eva Novoa: Novoa/Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio Volume 2 (577) ** [B+(**)]
Caili O'Doherty: Bluer Than Blue: Celebrating Lil Hardin Armstrong (Outside In Music) ** [B+(**)]
Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico [Live at Town Hall] (Tiger Turn) ** [B+(**)]
Mark O'Leary Group: A Simple Question (TIBProd.) ** [B+(**)]
Noel Okimoto: Hō'ihi (Noel Okimoto Music) [B]
Isabelle Olivier: Impressions (Rewound Echoes) [B+(**)]
Tom Ollendorff: Where in the World (Fresh Sound New Talent) [B+(**)]
Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet: HausLive 4 (Hausu Mountain) ** [B+(**)]
Otherlands Trio [Stephan Crump/Darius Jones/Eric McPherson]: Star Mountain (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Out Of/Into [Joel Ross/Gerald Clayton/Kendrick Scott/Matt Brewer/Immanuel Wilkins]: Motion II (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Keith Oxman: Home (Capri) [B+(**)]
PainKiller: The Great God Pan (Tzadik) ** [B+(**)]
Evan Parker/Bill Nace: Branches (Otoroku) ** [B+(*)]
Zeena Parkins: Lament for the Maker (Relative Pitch) ** [B+(*)]
Aaron Parks: "By All Means!!" (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra: Mad Scientist Music (Origin) [B+(*)]
Hanna Paulsberg Concept & Elin Rosseland: Himmel Over Hav (Grappa) ** [B+(*)]
Nicholas Payton: Triune (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(*)]
Hery Paz: Fisuras (Porta-Jazz/Carimbo) ** [B+(**)]
Jeremy Pelt: Woven (HighNote) ** [B+(*)]
Juan Perea: Lightkeeper (Zoho) [B+(*)]
Pat Petrillo: Contemporaneous (Innervision) [B+(*)]
Ted Piltzecker: Peace Vibes (OA2) [B+(**)]
Pitch, Rhythm and Consciousness: Sextet (Reva) [B+(**)]
Mehmet Polat Quartet: Roots in Motion (Aftab) ** [B+(**)]
Mike Pope: The Parts You Keep (Origin) [B+(**)]
Benjie Porecki: All That Matters (Funklove Productions) [B+(**)]
Potsa Lotsa XL: Amoeba's Dance (Trouble in the East) ** [B+(**)]
Jackson Potter: Small Things (Shifting Paradigm) [B+(**)]
Simona Premazzi/Kyle Nasser Quartet: From What I Recall (OA2) [B+(**)]
The Quantum Blues Quartet: Quantum Blues (Ropeadope) ** [B+(**)]
Andrew Rathbun: Lost in the Shadows (SteepleChase) ** [B+(**)]
Ravita Jazz: Alice Blue (Ravita Music) [B]
Joshua Redman: Words Fall Short (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Eric Scott Reed: Out Late (Smoke Sessions) ** [B+(**)]
Jussi Reijonen: Sayr: Salt/Thirst (Unmusic) [B+(*)]
Jussi Reijonen: Sayr: Kaiho - Live in Helsinki (Unmusic) ** [B+(*)]
Anaïs Reno: Lady of the Lavender Mist (Club44) ** [B+(**)]
Resavoir & Matt Gold: Horizon (International Anthem) ** [B]
Marc Ribot: Map of a Blue City (New West) ** [B+(*)]
Ron Rieder: Día Precioso! (Meson) [B+(*)]
Crystabel Efemena Riley: Live at Ormside (Infant Tree, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Diego Rivera: West Circle (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(**)]
Rick Roe: Tribute: The Music of Gregg Hill (Cold Plunge) [B+(**)]
Juan Romeros Manuella Orkester: Lua Armonia (Supertraditional) **
Rent Romus/Tatsuya Nakatani: Uplift (Edgetone) ** [B+(**)]
Steve Rosenbloom Big Band: San Francisco 1948 (Glory) [C]
Ted Rosenthal Trio: Classics Reimagined: Impromp2 (TMR) [B+(**)]
Bobby Rozario: Healer (Origin) [B+(**)]
Sverre Sæbo Quintet: If, However, You Have Not Lost Your Self Control (SauaJazz) ** [B+(**)]
Felipe Salles: Camera Obscura (Tapestry) [B+(**)]
Dino Saluzzi: El Viejo Caminante (ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Cécile McLorin Salvant: Oh Snap (Nonesuch) ** [B]
Kathy Sanborn: Romance Language (Pacific Coast Jazz) [B+(*)]
Brandon Sanders: Lasting Impression (Savant) [B+(**)]
Gina Saputo: Daydream (GSJQ Productions) [B+(**)]
Michael Sarian: Esquina (Greenleaf Music) ** [B+(**)]
Sarter Kit: What I Am and What I Am Not (Squama) ** [B+(**)]
Sault: 10 (Forever Living Originals) ** [B+(*)]
Boz Scaggs: Detour (Concord) ** [B+(**)]
Scheen Jazzorkester & Fredrik Ljungkvist: Framåt! (Grong) [B+(**)]
Mark Scott III: Soft Light (Miller Three Publishing) [B+(**)]
Stefan Schultze/Peter Ehwald/Tom Rainey: Public Radio (Jazzwerkstatt) ** [B+(**)]
Altin Sencalar: Unleashed (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(*)]
Sara Serpa/Matt Mitchell: End of Something (Obliquity) [B+(*)]
Dave Sewelson/Gabby Fluke-Mogul/George Cartwright/Anthony Cox/Steve Hirsh: Murmuration (Mahakala Music) ** [B+(**)]
Mark Sherman: Bop Contest (Miles High) [B+(**)]
Elijah Shiffer: City of Birds: Volume 2 (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Patrick Shiroishi: Forgetting Is Violent (American Dream) ** [B+(*)]
Julian Shore Trio: Sub Rosa (Chill Tone) [B+(**)]
Deborah Shulman: We Had a Moment (Summit) ** [B+(*)]
Rich Siegel: It's Always Been You (self-released) [B]
Deborah Silver/The Count Basie Orchestra: Basie Rocks! (Green Hill) [B]
Laura Ann Singh: Mean Reds (Out of Your Head) ** [B+(**)]
Jae Sinnett: The Blur the Lines Project (J-Nett Music) [B+(*)]
Alex Sipiagin: Daydream (SkyDeck Music) ** [B]
Alex Sipiagin: Reverberations (Criss Cross Jazz) ** [B+(*)]
Tom Skinner: Kaleidoscopic Visions (International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Ches Smith: The Self (Tzadik) ** [B+(*)]
Enoch Smith Jr.: The Book of Enoch Vol. 1 (Misfitme Music) [B+(*)]
Junior Smith and His Remote Rangers: Junior Smith's Remote Round Up (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
Steve Smith and Vital Information: New Perspective (Drum Legacy) [B]
Snowpoet: Heartstrings (Edition) ** [B+(*)]
Mark Solborg: Tungemål: Confluencia (ILK Music) ** [B+(*)]
Something Blue: In the Beginning (Posi-Tone) ** [B+(*)]
Sonic Chambers Quartet: Kiss of the Earth (577) ** [B+(**)]
Sons of Ra: Standard Deviation (Free Electric Sound) ** [B+(*)]
Omar Sosa: Sendas (Otá) ** [B+(*)]
Vinnie Sperrazza/Jacob Sacks/Masa Kamaguchi: Play Elmo Hope (Fresh Sound) ** [B+(**)]
Kandace Springs: Lady in Satin (SRP) ** [B+(*)]
Larry Stabbins/Mark Sanders: Cup & Ring (Discus Music) ** [B+(**)]
Ben Stapp: Uzmic Ro'Samg (577) ** [B+(**)]
Elias Stemeseder/Christian Lillinger + Craig Taborn: Umbra III: Live Setting (Intakt) ** [B+(**)]
Dayna Stephens: Hopium (Contagious Music) ** [B+(*)]
Sultan Stevenson: El Roi (Edition) ** [B+(*)]
Bill Stewart: Live at the Village Vanguard (Criss Cross Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Grant Stewart: Next Spring (Cellar Music) ** [B+(**)]
Macie Stewart: When the Distance Is Blue (International Anthem) ** [B+(*)]
Thomas Strønen/Time Is a Blind Guide: Off Stillness (ECM) ** [B+(*)]
Dave Stryker: Stryker With Strings Goes to the Movies (Strikezone) [B-]
Ray Suhy/Lewis Porter Quartet: What Happens Next (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Kevin Sun: Lofi at Lowlands 一 (Endectomorph Music, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Kevin Sun: Lofi at Lowlands (二) (Endectomorph Music) ** [B+(**)]
Sun & Rain: Waterfall (Out of Your Head) ** [B+(**)]
Natsuki Tamura/Satoko Fujii: Ki (Libra) [B+(**)]
Sophie Tassignon: A Slender Thread (Nemu) [B+(*)]
Chad Taylor Quintet: Smoke Shifter (Otherly Love) ** [B+(**)]
Laura Taylor: Think I'm in Love (Vegas) [B+(*)]
Ternion Q Expanded: Marbles (Bju'ecords) ** [B+(**)]
Emma-Jean Thackray: Weirdo (Brownswood/Parlophone) ** [B]
Things of This Nature: Things of This Nature (Mahakala Music) ** [B+(*)]
Ben Thomas Tango Project: The Hat With the Grin and the Chuckle (Origin) [B+(**)]
Omar Thomas Large Ensemble: Griot Songs (Omar Thomas Music, 2CD) [B+(*)]
Patrisha Thomson: Your Love (PT Designs Productions) [B]
Three-Layer Cake: Sounds the Color of Grounds (Otherly Love) ** [B+(**)]
Joona Toivanen Trio: Gravity (We Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Mitch Towne: Refuge (Cross Towne) [B+(*)]
Transcendence: Music of Pat Metheny (FMR) [B+(**)]
Triology Featuring Scott Hamilton: The Slow Road (Cellar Music Group) ** [B+(**)]
Maxine Troglauer: Hymn (Fun in the Church) ** [B+(**)]
Tropos: Switches (Endectomorph Music) ** [B+(**)]
Premik Russell Tubbs & Margee Minier-Tubbs: The Bells (Margetoile, EP) [B]
Premik Russell Tubbs/Margee Minier-Tubbs: Oneness-World (Margetoile) [B+(*)]
Mark Turner: We Raise Them to Lift Their Heads (Loveland Music) ** [B+(**)]
Gregory Uhlmann/Josh Johnson/Sam Wilkes: Uhlmann/Johnson/Wilkes (International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Julia Úlehla and Dálava: Understories (Pi) [B+(**)]
Unity Quartet [Helio Alves/Guilherme Monteiro/Gili Lopes/Alex Kautz]: Samba of Sorts (Sunnyside) [B+(**)]
University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1: Let the Good Times Roll (Vegas) [B+(**)]
UNLV Jazz Ensemble 1: Double or Nothing (Vegas) [08-25] [B]
Ken Vandermark: October Flowers for Joe McPhee (Corbett vs. Dempsey) ** [B+(**)]
Jordan VanHemert: Survival of the Fittest (Origin) [B+(**)]
Chris Varga: Breathe (Calligram) [B+(*)]
Milan Verbist Trio: Time Change (Origin) [B+(*)]
Inés Velasco: A Flash of Cobalt Blue (self-released) [B+(*)]
Martina Verhoeven/Luis Lopes/Dirk Serries: Invincible Time (Raw Tonk) ** [B+(**)]
Mathilde Grooss Viddal/Friensemblet: Tri Vendur Blés Ho I Den Høgaste Sky (Losen) ** [B+(*)]
Vincenzo Virgillito: Precondition (self-released) [B]
Michael Waldrop: Native Son (Origin) [B+(**)]
Jeff Walton: Pack Animals (Jules) [B+(**)]
Kamasi Washington: Lazarus [Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack] (Milan) ** [B]
WDR Big Band: Bluegrass (MCG Jazz) [B+(*)]
The Westerlies: Paradise (Westerlies) ** [B+(**)]
Kenny Wheeler Legacy: Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores (Greenleaf Music) ** [B+(**)]
Wild Iris Brass Band: Way Up (Ear Up) ** [B+(*)]
Chris Williams: Odu: Vibrations II (AKP) ** [B+(**)]
Simón Willson: Feel Love (Endectomorph Music) [B+(**)]
Gaia Wilmer & Ra Kalam Bob Moses: Dancing With Elephants (Sunnyside) ** [B+(*)]
Sarah Wilson: Incandescence (Brass Tonic) [B+(*)]
Christian Winther: Sculptures From Under the City Ice (Earthly Habit) ** [B+(**)]
Wolf Eyes X Anthony Braxton: Live at Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 (ESP-Disk) [B+(**)]
Brandon Woody: For the Love of It All (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Clay Wulbrecht: The Clockmaster (Instru Dash Mental) [B+(*)]
John Yao and His 17 Piece Instrument: Points in Time (See Tao) [B+(**)]
Yoko Yates: Eternal Moments (Banka) [B]
Yes Deer: Everything That Shines, Everything That Hurts (Superpang) ** [B+(**)]
The Young Mothers: Better If You Let It (Sonic Transmissions) ** [B+(**)]
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Jazz Is Dead 22: Ebo Taylor (Jazz Is Dead) ** [B+(*)]
Adrian Younge: Jazz Is Dead 23: Hyldon (Jazz Is Dead, EP) ** [B+(**)
Brandee Younger: Gadabout Season (Impulse!) ** [B+(*)]
James Zito: Zito's Jump (self-released) [B+(*)]
Gabriel Zucker: Confession (Boomslang) [B+(**)]
Zurhub [Mattan Klein/Ezequiel Hezi Joit]: Countryside Motorways (Origin) [B]

Additional reissued/archival jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

Alts 'N Outs: The Other Side of Blue Note (1958-64, Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
Derek Bailey/John Stevens: The Duke of Wellington (1989, Confront) ** [B+(*)]
Ray Barretto Y Su Orquesta: Celia · Ray · Adalberto: Tremendo Trio! (1983, Craft) ** [B+(*)]
Kenny Barron: Sunset to Dawn (1973, Muse/Time Traveler) [B+(**)]
Han Bennink & Misha Mengelberg: ICP010 (1971, ICP) ** [B+(*)]
Blackbyrds: City Life (1975, Craft/Jazz Dispensary) ** [B+(*)]
Anthony Braxton: B-X0 N0-47A (1969, BYG) ** [B+(**)]
Kenny Burrell With Art Blakey: On View at the Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters (1959 [2025], Blue Note): [sp]: B+(**)
Jaki Byard: Blues for Smoke (1960, Candid) ** [B+(**)]
Don Cherry/Latif Khan: Music/Sangam (1978, Heavenly Sweetness) ** [B+(**)]
George Colligan: Live at the Jazz Standard (2014, Whirlwind) ** [B+(**)]
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio: The Cosmic Tones Research Trio (Mississippi) ** [B+(**)]
Stanley Cowell: Regeneration (1975, Strata-East) ** [B]
Miles Davis: The Musings of Miles (1955, Craft) ** [B+(**)]
Walter Davis Jr: A Being Such as You (1979, Red) ** [B+(*)]
The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe: A Spirit Speaks (1974, Strata-East) ** [B]
Michel Doneda & Frédéric Blondy: Points of Convergence (2014, Relative Pitch) ** [B+(**)]
Armen Donelian: Stargazer (1980, Sunnyside) [B+(**)]
Bill Evans: Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 (Elemental Music) ** [B+(**)]
Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith: The World of the Children (1976, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
Ella Fitzgerald: The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum (1967, Verve) ** [B+(**)]
Erik Friedlander and Michael Nicolas: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Vol. 2 (2019, Tzadik) ** [B+(**)]
Fred Frith: Fred Frith and the Gravity Band (2014, Klanggalerie) ** [B+(**)]
Carlos Garnett: Cosmos Nucleus (1976, Muse/Time Traveler) [B+(*)]
Melvin Gibbs: Amasia: Anamibia Sessions 2 (2006-25, Hausu Mountain) ** [B+(**)]
Dexter Gordon: Landslide (1961-62, Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
John Gordon: Step by Step (1975, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
Green Cosmos: Abendmusiken (1981-82, Frederiksberg) ** [B+(**)]
Vince Guaraldi Trio: Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964, Craft, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Billy Harper: Capra Black (1973, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
John Hicks: Steadfast (1975, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
Freddie Hubbard: On Fire: Live From the Blue Morocco (1967, Resonance, 2CD) [B+(**)]
Charlie Hunter/Bobby Previte/Skerik/Steven Bernstein: Omaha Diner (2013, SideHustle) ** [B+(*)]
Frank Kimbrough: The Call (2010, Sunnyside) ** [B+(**)]
Roland Kirk Quartet: Domino: Live at Radio Bremen TV-Studios 1963 (MIG) ** [B+(**)]
Kirk Knuffke/Stomu Takeishi/Bill Goodwin: Window (Royal Potato Family) ** [B+(**)]
Agustin Pereyra Lucena: Puertos De Alternativa (1988, Far Out) ** [B+(*)]
Edison Machado: Edison Machado & Boa Nova (1978, Far Out) [B+(*)]
Rob Mazurek: Alternate Moon Cycles [IA11 Edition] (2012, International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Cecil McBee: Mutima (1974, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) ** [B+(*)]
Makaya McCraven: PopUp Shop (2015, International Anthem, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Makaya McCraven: Off the Record (2015-25 [2025], International Anthem) ** [B+(**)]
Charles Mingus: Mingus at Monterey (1964, Candid) ** [B+(**)]
Lee Morgan: Here's Lee Morgan (1960, Craft) ** [B+(**)]
Lee Morgan: The Procrastinator (1967, Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
Gerry Mulligan: Nocturne (1992, Red) ** [B+(**)]
Yusuf Mumin: Journey to the Ancient (We Want Sounds) ** [B+(*)]
Music Is a Message From Space (Corbett vs. Dempsey) ** [B+(*)]
Jovino Santos Neto Quartet: Mais Que Tudo: Live at Kerry Hall 1995 (Origin) [B+(**)]
The New York Bass Violin Choir: The New York Bass Violin Choir (Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
David "Fathead" Newman/Ellis Marsalis/Cornell Dupree: Return to the Wide Open Spaces (1990, Amazing/Steady Boy) ** [B+(**)]
Mark O'Leary Quartet: White Album (1998, TIBProd.) ** [B+(*)]
Mark O'Leary Group: I See Further Than You (2001, TIBProd.) ** [B+(**)]
Billy Parker's Fourth World: Freedom of Speech (1974, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
The Piano Choir: Handscapes (1972, Strata-East) ** [B]
The Piano Choir: Handscapes 2 (1974, Strata-East) ** [B+(*)]
Charlie Rouse: Two Is One (1974, Strata-East) ** [B]
Charlie Rouse: Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition (1977, Resonance) [B+(*)]
Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 3: A Colection of SF Bay Area Salsa and Latin Jazz: Renegade Queens (Patois, 2CD) [B+(*)]
Pharoah Sanders: Love Is Here: The Complete Paris 1975 ORTF Recordings (Transcendence Sounds, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Archie Shepp and the Full Moon Ensemble: Live at Antibes (1970, BYG) ** [B+(**)]
Alan Silva and His Celestial Communication Orchestra: Luna Surface (1969, BYG-Actuel) ** [B+(**)]
Louis Stewart: I Thought About You (1977, Livia) ** [B+(**)]
Sun Ra: On Jupiter (1979, Saturn/Strut) ** [B+(**)]
Sun Ra: Stray Voltage (1970s-80s, Modern Harmonic) ** [B+(**)]
Sun Ra: Uncharted Passages: New York Piano Soliloquies 1977-79 (Modern Marmonic) ** [B+(**)]
John Taylor: Tramonto (2002, ECM) ** [B+(**)]
Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia: Live at Leverkusen 1994 (Repertoire) ** [B+(**)]
Clifford Thornton: Ketchaoua (1969, BYG Actuel) ** [B+(**)]
3 Concerts Per a A.T.: In Der Kestner Gesellschaft Hannover (1998, Corbett vs. Dempsey) ** [B+(*)]
Steve Tintweiss and the Purple Why: Live in Tompkins Square Park 1987 (Inky Dot Media) [B+(**)]
Masahiko Togashi: Session in Paris Vol. 1: Song of Soil (1979, We Want Sounds) ** [B+(**)]
Masahiko Togashi: Session in Paris Vol. 2: Colour of Dream (1979, We Want Sounds) ** [B+(**)]
Charles Tolliver Music Inc & Orchestra: Impact (1975 [2025], Strata-East): ** [B+(**)]
Charles Tolliver/Stanley Cowell/Cecil McBee/Jimmy Hopps [Music Inc.]: Music Inc. (1970, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
Trigger: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Vol. 3 (2019, Tzadik) ** [B+(*)]
Charles Tyler Ensemble: Voyage From Jericho (1974, Frederiksberg) ** [B+(*)]
Harold Vick: Don't Look Back (1974, Strata-East) ** [B+(**)]
Mal Waldron: Candy Girl (1975, Strut) ** [B+(*)]
Tony Williams: Civilization (1986, Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]

Recommended but Unheard Jazz Records

New jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them. Also unheard records that got votes in Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, regardless of their prospects.

Limited sampling grades may be noted for any record in this section. Bracketed grades refer to older editions of reissues.

Angles 11: Tell Them It's the Sound of Freedom (Fundacja Sluchaj)
Edition Redux [Ken Vandermark]: Broadcast Transformer (Audiographic) - bc(1/4)
Joe Fonda: & Bass of Operation (Fundacja Słuchaj '24)
Ivo Perelman/Tyshawn Sorey: Parallel Aesthetics (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(2/6)
Ivo Perelman/Ray Anderson: 12 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy (Fundacja Słuchaj)
Remedy [Thomas Heberer/Joe Fonda/Joe Hertenstein]: Hipp Hipp Hooray: Celebrating the Centennial of Jutta Hipp (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(4/9)

Additional unheard new jazz records that received votes in Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll (2% criteria not yet applied; bc indicates availability on Bandcamp):

Antonio Adolfo: Carnaval: The Songs Were So Beautiful (AAM Music)
Nat Adderley Jr.: Took So Long (NAJ)
The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective: Cortadito (JGB Music)
Pheeroan akLaff/Scott Robinson/Julian Thayer: aRT (ScienSonic)
Albita & Chucho Valdés: Masters of Our Roots (InnerCat Entertainment)
Aleph Quintet: Hiwar (Igloo) - bc(*)
Matteo Alfonso/Giovanni Maier: Mingus Revisited (Caligola) - bc(*)
Almufaraka: Master of Disorder (Circum-Disc/Tour De Bras \'24)
Irene Amata: Sembianze (Prodastar)
Roxana Amed: Todos Los Fuegos (Sony)
Olga Amelchenko: Howling Silence (Edition)
Kioto Aoki/Haruhi Kobayashi/Mai Sugimoto: Miminari (Asian Improv)
Atlantic Jazz Collective: Seascape (Alma) - v
Alex "Apolo" Ayala & the Bámbula Project: Afro Puerto Rican Jazz (PMC/Miel Music)
Arcadia Dance Orchestra: St. Louis Jazz (Rivermont)
Gaelle Bagot & Juan Manuel Nieto: Jardin D'ailleurs (Musique Live)
Baltimore Jazz Collective: Baltimore Jazz Collective (Stricker Street)
Carlos Barretto: Solo: Lonely Dog (self-released '24)
Luciana Bass: Desatornillándonos (Relative Pitch '24)
Fini Bearman: Last Night of the World (Pastiche)
Bec & Ongles [François de Larrard/Mathieu Bec]: Zanzibar (Mazeto Square)
Shems Bendali Quintet: Casbah Qassioun (Jazz Family) - bc(*)
Ben Bennett: Answers (Lobby Art)
Leif Berger: Secret, Normalization (Klaeng)
Camille Bertault: Voz E Vocês (Sunnyside) - v
Emmanuel Bex: Eddy M'a Dit (PeeWee)
The Birdland Big Band: Storybook: The Music of Mark Miller (Birdland)
Rubén Blades Y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta: Fotografías (R B)
Jasper Blom Quartet + Metropole Orkest: Metropolarity (Whirlwind) - bc(*)
Jane Ira Bloom & Brian Shankar Adler: Once Like a Spark (Adhyâropa)
David Bode: Good Hang (1718)
Anneleen Boehme: Eunoia (W.E.R.F.) - bc(*)
Sofia Borges/Ada Rave: The Unseen Pact (Relative Pitch)
Sacha Boutros: Sacha: Paris After Dark (Hear Me Roar)
Bobby Bradford/Frode Gjerstad/William Roper/Alex Cline: Frice (Fundacja Słuchaj '24)
Bob Bralove & Patti Weiss: Acoustic Conversations (BLove Music \'24)
Adrien Brandeis: Resurgence (Montondea Productions)
Anthony Braxton: Trillium X (PMP) - bc(0/8)
George Brown: Jazz in Paris (Astana Music)
Etienne Brunet: Ear Asphyxia (self-released)
Gary Brunton: Spacecraft (Juste Une Trace)
Nicholas Bussmann - Sven-Åke Johansson - Yan Jun: Tea Time (Ni-Vu-Ni-Connu \'24)
John Butcher/John Edwards: This Is Not Speculation (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(1/4)
Butcher Brown: Letters From the Atlantic (Concord Jazz)
Brian Byrne: She Must Go (Timberlake)
Nicola Caminiti: Vivid Tales of a Blurry Self-Portrait (self-released \'24)
Leandro Cardenas: Against the Jazz Police (577)
Tereza Catarov: Koren (PKmusik)
Conor Chaplin/Anton Eger/Mathias Heise/Rasmus Sørensen: The Action 4s (April)
Sarah Elizabeth Charles: Dawn (Stretch)
Jason Charos: Opening Statement (Hollistic MusicWorks)
Holly Cole: Dark Moon (Rumpus Room/Universal)
Stella Cole: It's Magic (Decca)
Alana Amore Colvin: Huckleberries and Lullabies/Oh, Allegra (self-released)
Braxton Cook: Not Everyone Can Go (Nettwerk)
Marilyn Crispell & Harvey Sorgen: Forest (Fundacja Słuchaj -24) - bc(5/10)
Cuban Jazz Syndicate: Y Llego La Luz (Olivera Productions) - l
Luca Curcio: La BOMBA (Boomslang)
Czajka & Puchacz: Flapping (Lado ABC)
Marleen Dahms' Alloy: Running and Belonging (Xjazz)
Sylvain Darrifourcq/Manuel Hermia/Valentin Ceccaldi: Unicorn and Flexibility (Hector) - bc(*)
Das B: Love (Thanatosis/Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Caroline Davis and Dustin Carlson: Sprites (Out of Your Head)
Brittany Davis: Black Thunder (Loosegroove)
Emma Dayhuff: Innovations & Lineage: The Chicago Project (Division 81)
Michael Dease: City Life: Music of Greg Hill (Origin)
Michael Dease: Flow (Posi-Tone)
Catina DeLuna/Otmar Ruiz: Lado B Brazilian Project 2 (Sunnyside)
Randal Despommier: South (Sunnyside)
Harvey Diamond/John Lentz: How Strange the Road Should Be So Easy (Orchard of Pomegranates)
Diva Jazz Orchestra: A Celebration of Maurice Hines: Tappin' Thru Life (self-released)
Doideca: Sketches (Underpool)
Chano Dominguez & Ethan Margolis: The Blues Around Us (Unifying Sounds)
Michel Doneda & Thierry Waziniak: Le Chemin Du Jour (Intrication \'24)
Rita Donte: Ritual (Ansonia)
Doreen's Jazz New Orleans: Vol. 33: Walkin' Through the Streets (self-released)
David Dower Trio: Sonder (self-released)
Sophie Dunér & Steve Beck: Stockhausen: Tierkreis/Schwartz: The Neon Pterodactyl (Urlicht)
Marina Džukljev/Christian Weber/Michael Griener: Industrielsalon (Trouble in the East) - bc(1/3)
Eclectic Maybe Band: Cosmic Light Clusters (Discus Music) - bc(6/10)
Sinne Eeg & Jacob Christoffersen: Shikiori (Stunt)
Ellinoa: Mejiro (Les P\'tits Cailloux Du Chemin)
The Empress: Square One (Cellar Music) - bc(*)
Enemy: Fiend (Edition)
Enji: Sonor (Squama)
Ensemble Shippolly: Love Shippolly (Niteco Studio & Music Arts) - bc(4/9)
Entre Amigos: Magpie: The Music of Joe Clark (Entre Amigos)
Shuteen Erdenebaatar/Nils Kugelmann: Under the Same Stars (Motéma Music)
Martin Escalante/Charlie Mumma/Tete Leguia: This Molten Salt (Wash and Wear)
Esinam & Sibusile Xaba: Healing Voices (W.E.R.F.)
Kai Fagaschinski: Aerodynamics (Ni Vu Ni Connu) - bc(*)
Jimmy Farace: Hours Fly, Flowers Die (Shifting Paradigm) - bc(*)
Dominique Fils-Aimé: Live at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Ensoul)
Mickey Finn: Antiruggine (2012, Hora)
Flyways: Mutualism (Daily Music)
Thomas Fonnesbæk: In Rome (Storyville \'24)
For Living Lovers: Natural Name (Sunnyside)
Alexandre Frazão Quinteto: Quintesséncia (self-released '24)
Pete Fucinaro: Little Window (Concrete)
Fuerza Regida: 111xpantia (Rancho Humilde/Street Mob/Sony Music Latin)
Michika Fukumori: Eternity and a Day (Summit)
Ganavya: Nilam (Leiter)
Violeta Garcia: IN/OUT (Bongo Joe) - bc(*)
Bertrand Gauguet/Didier Lasserre: Mehr (Akousis/NUNC '24) - bc(1/4)
Macha Gharibian: Phenomenal Women (Rue Bleu Meredith) - bc(*)
Javier Girotto/Fabrizio Bosso: Desde Cuando (Parco Della Musica)
Mac Gollehon & His Hispanic Mechanics: Pistoleros (World Funk Orchestra)
Vinny Golia/Ken Filiano/Michael TA Thompson: Catastasis (Nine Winds) - bc(*)
Ayelet Rose Gottlieb & Dream Keepers: Dust (Corne de Brume) - bc(*)
GPS: Directions + Destinations (577) - bc(11/14)
Pasquale Grasso: Fervency (Masterworks)
Pasquale Grasso: Solo Be-Bop! (Sony Masterworks)
Ronny Graupe's Szelest: Newfoundland Tristesse (BMC)
GTO Trio [Gadi Levahi/Tal Mashiach/Ofri Nehemya]: Within (Anzic) - bc(*)
Gulli Gudmundsson - Jeroen van Vliet - Koen Smits: Flóð Og Fjara (Challenge)
Joy Guidry: Five Prayers (Jaid)
Jean-Luc Guionnet: L\'Épaisseur De L\'Air Live (Potlatch)
Sunna Gunnlaugs: Ástin, Bjartsýnin Og Andskotans Blaðrið Í Fólkinu (Sunny Sky '24)
Halli Guðmunds Club Cubano: Live at Mengi (self-released)
Happy Family: 4037 (Cuneiform, EP)
Allan Harris: The Poetry of Jazz: Live at Blue Llama (Blue Llama)
Nanami Haruta: The Vibe (Origin)
Alexander Hawkins & Taylor Ho Bynum: A Near Permanent State of Wonder (RogueArt)
Paul Hecht: Pyrography (Ears & Eyes)
Emma Hedrick: Newcomer (Pathways to Jazz) - v bc(*)
Heirloom: Familiar Beginnings (Shifting Paradigm)
Tyler Henderson: Love Endures (Cellar Music)
Felix Henkelhausen Quintet: The Excruciating Pain of Boredom (self-released) - bc(*)
Yaron Herman: Radio Paradise (Naive)
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band: Live at Birdland (Turtle Bay)
Hilarious Disasters: Unnatural Root (Audio Cave)
Makiko Hirabayashi Weavers: Gifts (Enja) - bc(*)
Robin Holcomb/Peggy Lee: Reno (Songlines) - bc(*)
Hvalfugl: Bag Vore Øjne Strømmer Drømme Sagte Forbi (self-released) - bc(*)
HxH: Stark Phenomena (OFNOT)
Luis Ianes/Noël Akchoté: Seuil (self-released) - bc(*)
Zé Ibarra: Afim (Mr. Bongo)
Dieter Ilg Trio: Motherland (Jazzline)
Ineza: Ibuka (Ineza Music)
Jon Irabagon & Peter Brendler: Two-Part Inventions (Irabbagast)
Alfie Jackson Sextet: The Peacocks (JackoJazz)
Keefe Jackson - Jakob Heinemann - Adam Shead: Stinger (Irritable Mystic) - bc(4/8)
Kim Jung Jae: Shamanism (Relative Pitch) - bc(*)
Naissam Jalal: Souffles (Les Couleurs Du Son) - bc(*)
José James: 1978: Revenge of the Dragon (Rainbow Blonde) - v
Kazzrie Jaxen & Don Messina: The Dance (New Artists)
Sven-Åke Johansson - Pierre Borel - Seymour Wright - Joel Grip: Two Days at Café Oto (Otoroku)
Juno 3 [Han-earl Park/Lara Jones/Pat Thomas]: Proxemics (Buster and Friends) - bc(7/12)
Kristoff K.Roll: Les Ombres De La Nuit (Mazeto Square)
Henry Kaiser: Domo Arigato Derek Sensei (1976-2006, Balance Point Acoustics) - bc(*)
Ayako Kanda - Tatsuya Yoshida ATP: Kalpty Vol. 1 (Tapestmemory)
Prima Kanta: In a Purple Time (Linoleum) - bc(*)
Sylvain Kassap/Steve Swell/Benjamin Duboc/Chad Taylor: Edges (RogueArt)
Keelepeksjad: Kalev Tuli Koju (Ava Muusika)
Amirtha Kidambi's Elder Ones: Live in Vilnius (Fern Flower)
Carla Kihlstedt: 26 Little Deaths (Cantaloupe Music)
David Kikoski: Weekend at Smalls (Cellar Music)
Chloe Kim: Ratsnake (Kou) - bc(*)
Mark Kirschenmann: Tonics: 7 Melodies for Trumpet With Bamboo Mouthpipe (Infrequent Seams) - bc(*)
Guy Klucevsek/Volker Goetze: Little Big Top (Motéma '24) - bc(*)
Masayo Koketsu: Nyoinbo - Zenbu Nagareboshi no Sei (Somethin' Cool)
Vladimir Kostadinovic: Iris (Criss Cross)
Kovász: Fermentum (BMC) - d
Malakoff Kowalski: Songs With Words (Sony)
Alexey Kruglov: Transfiguration 100 Duos (Solyd)
L'Antidote: L'Antidote (Ponderosa Music)
Hélène Labarrière: Puzzle (Jazzdor) - bc(*)
Steve Lands: Rearranging the Planets (self-released) - bc(*)
Gwen Laster New Muse 4tet: Keepers of the Flame (Murrymarie Music)
Lava Quartet: Ethereal Chant (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(2/4)
Joëlle Léandre & Evan Parker: Long Bright Summer (RogueArt) - bc(3/8)
Ledisi: For Dinah (Candid)
Charmaine Lee: Tulpa (Kou) - bc(*)
Alice Leggett: Bird Song (Zennez)
Joe Locke/Phil Markowitz: Smoke and Mirrors (Wire Walker)
Gareth Lockrane Big Band: Box of Tricks (Whirlwind)
Longnon Big Band: Istanbounce (Continuo Jazz)
Brandon Lopez/DoYeon Kim: Syzygy Vol. 1 (577) - bc(3/5)
Tomás Martin López: Right Here (self-released) - l
Los Cinco Cardones: El Quinto Cardón (Some Other Planet)
Lovers: Lettres D\'Amour (Thanatosis)
Lucia: Lucia (La Reserve)
Sandra-Mae Lux: Seasons in Jazz (ECN Music) - v
K. Curtis Lyle & Alex Cunningham: Quantum Nursery Rhymes of the Divine Horseman (Storm Cellar)
Sara Magnúsdóttir: A Place to Bloom (self-released)
Evan Main - Walter Stinson - Steven Crammer: Prawntail (Endectomorph Music)
Georgia Mancio/Alan Broadbent: A Story Left Untold (Roomspin)
Fabia Mantwill Orchesrtra: In.Sight (GroupUP Music)
Gillian Margot/Geoffrey Keezer: Gillian Margot and Geoffrey Keezer (MarKeez)
The Pedrito Martinez Group: Ilusión Óptica (GroundUP Music)
Marcin Masecki Trio: Monk (BMC)
Janette Mason: ReWired (JMMusic)
Wojtek Mazolewski: Solo (WMQ)
Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet: Live Spirit 1 (WMQ)
Fergus McCreadie: The Shieling (Edition)
James McKain, Damon Smith & Weasel Walter: . . . Seeing the Way the Mole Tunnels . . . (Balance Point Acoustics/International School of Evidence)
Alex McLaughlin: A Brand New State (self-released)
Melodies: Melodies (Ammonite Musique)
Nate Mercereau/Josh Johnson/Carlos Niño: Openness Trio (Blue Note)
Camila Meza: Portal (GroundUP Music)
Matt Mitchell: Sacrosancticity (Obliquity)
Jason Moran/Trondheim Jazz Orchestra/Ole Morten Vagan: Go to Your North (Yes) - bc(6/10)
Morley: Follow the Sound (self-released '24)
Mu Quintet: Enos (Jazz Aggression) - bc(*)
Muddy Gurdy: Seven (Buda Musique '24)
Mukta: A Night at Pannonica (Cepazz)
Fabiano do Nascimento: Solstice Concert (Leaving)
Camila Nebbia/James Banner/Max Andrzejewski: Presencia (Ears & Eyes) - bc(2/9)
The Necks: Disquiet (Northern Spy)
Steve Nelson/Joris Teepe/Eric Ineke: A Common Language (Daybreak)
Jef Neve & Teus Nobel: Esho Funi (Blue Keys Productions)
New Origin: The Poet's Walk (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(3/6)
The New York Second: Room for Other People (self-released '24)
Alan Niblock/John Butcher/Mark Sanders: Tectonic Plates (577) - bc(3/5)
Michelle Nicolle: The Silent Wish (self-released)
Maggie Nichols & Geoff Eales: Beautiful Love (33 Jazz)
Martin Nodeland: Tributaries (Smeik)
Nordkraft Big Band/Remy Le Boeuf/Danielle Wertz: Silent Course (Gateway Music)
Nori: Walking Foot (Go Stop Music)
Not Normal: Modærn Qualitet (SauaJazz)
O.N.E.: Well, Actually . . . (April)
Oakland Reductionist Orchestra: West and East Baying (Queen Bee)
Iúri Oliveira: Manifesto (Respirar De Ouvido) - bc(*)
Leila Olivesi: African Rhapsody (Attention Fragile)
Ola Onabulé & Nicholas Meier: Proof of Life (Rugged Ram)
Petra Onderuf Quartet: An Odd Time of Day (Kaptati)
Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra: A Centennial Salute to Tito & Tito (Truth Revolution)
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills: That Wasn't a Dream (Impulse!)
Ed Palermo Big Band: Prog vs Fusion: A War of the Agea (Sky Cat) - bc(*)
Evan Parker/Jean-Marc Foussat: Insolence (Nashazphone)
Zeena Parkins: Modesty of the Magic Thing (Tzadik)
Alex Paxton: Delicious (New Amsterdam) - bc(*)
Richard Peña: The Latin Side of Jazz Guitar (Page 38) - l
Tommaso Perazzo/Marcello Cardillo/Buster Williams: Portrait of a Moment (Red)
Sabeth Perez: Searching for Beauty (Rogue Tone)
Kim Perlak/Francisco Mela: Spaces (Sacred Black)
Phantom Honeymoon: Interstellar Underpass (MechaBenzaiten) - bc(*)
Phi-Psonics: Expanding to One (Gondwana)
Zoe Pia & Mats Gustafsson: Rite (Parco Della Musica)
Memet Polat Quartet: Roots in Motion (Aftab) - bc(*)
Joe Policastro Trio: Mending Wall (JeruJazz)
Luz Prado/Wade Matthews/Abdul Moimême: Trust From Intimacy (ScatterArchive) - bc(*)
PRAED Orchestra: The Dictionary of Lost Meanings (Discrepant)
Nigel Price Organ Trio: It's On! (self-released)
Ester Quevedo: Garabato (UnderPool)
Ami Taf Ra: The Prophet and the Madman (Brainfeeder)
Ra Bishop [Avreeayl Ra & Jeb Bishop]: Of the Essence (Amalgam) - bc(1/3)
Shez Raja: Spellbound (Raja)
Marion Rampal: Song for Abbey (Les Rivières Souterraines)
Guthrie Ramsey: Race Music 21: Etudes/Grooves/Interludes (Musiqology)
Emma Rawicz: Inkyra (ACT Music)
Júlio Resende: Piano Português Namora Guitarra Portuguesa Feat. Bruno Chaveiro (self-released)
Nicolò Ricci: Schiacciasette (Dox)
Rafaëlle Rinaudo - Raphaël Quenehen - Simon Winsé: Spin & Spells (Gigantonium)
The Dave Robbins Big Band: Happy Faces (1963-65, Cellar Music)
Paul Rogers: Peace and Happiness (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(4/8)
Dan Rosenboom: Coordinates (Orenda)
Kurt Rosenwinkel & Jean-Paul Brodbeck: The Brahms Project (Heartcore) - bc(*)
Kurt Rosenwinkel + Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos: Our Secret World: Live at Cara (Bandit Digital Media Services)
Thom Rotella: Right Time Left (HighNote)
Kyle Roussel: Church of New Orleans (self-released)
Andreas Røysum Ensemble: With Marvin Tate (Motvind)
Mateusz Rybicki: Apokalypsis (Audio Cave)
Dabin Ryu: Trio! (Endectomorph Music)
Salin: Rammana (Salin)
Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Band: Live at the Belly Up Tavern (Regime Music Group)
Akira Sakata: Hyperentasis (Defkaz)
Akira Sakata SOS: In a Sentimental Mood (Daphnia)
Paula Sanchez & Katharina Weber: . . . And Discovering Fishes That Have Their Own Light (Cubus)
John Santos Sextet & Friends: Horizontes (Machete)
Sapocaya: Elementos (Wiseband)
Sara (.es) & Shoko Numao: Skywalker (Nomart)
Masahiko Satoh & Roger Turner: AOI (Chap Chap)
Masahiko Satoh & Yuji Takahashi: Open Cluster (BAJ)
Boz Scaggs: Detour (Concord)
Henry Scamurra: Urban Forum (self-released)
Andreas Schaerer: Anthem for No Man\'s Land (ACT Music)
Giancarlo Schiaffini & Daniel Studer: Breeze (Linae Occultae)
Samantha Schmutz & Adrian Younge: Samantha & Adrian (Linear Labs)
Stefan Schultze/Peter Ehwald/Tom Rainey: Public Radio (Jazzwerkstatt) - bc(*)
Louis Sclavis: India (Yolk)
Jacques Schwarz-Bart/Gregory Privat: 22 (Buddham)
Yukari Sekiya: Duets Till Now, From Here (Umishima)
Sessa: Perquena Vertigem de Amor (Mexican Summer)
Shakti: Mind Explosion: 50th Anniversary Tour Live (Abstract Logix)
Patrick Shiroishi & Piotr Kurek: Greyhound Days (Mondoj)
Shout Section Big Band + Tatum Langley: Tatum\'s Swingin\' Session!!! (self-released)
Ben Sidran: Are We There Yet (Bonsai/Nardis)
Sifters: Sifters (Obliquity)
Yotam Silberstein: Standards Vol. 2 (Jojo)
Edward Simon: Venezuela Latin American Songbook Vol. 2 (ArtistShare)
Harri Sjöström: SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 (Fundacja Słuchaj) - bc(10/18)
Skullcap: Snakes of Albuquerque (Cuneiform)
Chris Smith: Jazz Grunge (Cellar Live) - d
Emma Smith: Bitter Orange (La Reserve)
Tom Smith: A Year in the Life (Tom Smith)
David Sneider: Introducing (Cellar Music)
Claudia Solal & Benjamin Moussay: Punk Moon (Jazzdor) - bc(3/10)
Marianne Solivan: Break\'s Over (Imani)
Ben Solomon: Duet Etudes (Vireo Music Publishing)
Carmen Souza: Port'Inglês (Galilo MC) - bc(*)
Luciana Souza: Twenty-Four Short Musical Episodes (Sunnyside \'24)
Simon Spang-Hanssen: Turtle Talk (Spangster)
Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad (Ovation)
Alister Spence Trio: Gather (Alister Spence Music)
Vinnie Sperrazza/Jacob Sacks/Masa Kamaguchi: Play Elmo Hope (Fresh Sound) - bc(*)
Simon Spillett: Up in Town (Mister PC)
Eric St-Laurent: El Choclo (Kazenmuzik) - bc(*)
Moe Staiano: Away Towards the Light (Edgetone '24)
Stef.in: Icterus II (Barnyard)
Dayna Stephens: Monk\'D (Contagious Music)
John Sturino: Blow Globe (Outside In Music)
Talk Show: Miss America (We Jazz)
Claude Tchamitchian Quartet: Vortice (Emouvance)
Ternion Q Expanded [Anne Mette Iversen]: Marbles (Brooklyn Jazz Underground)
Rolf Thofte Quintet: Martha's Dance (April) - d
Steve Tibbetts: Close (ECM)
TL;DR & Peter Knight: Too Long; Didn't Read (d'Earshift Music) - bc(*)
Rafael Toral: Traveling Light (Drag City)
David Torn: Peace Upon You (self-released)
Olivia Trummer: Like Water (Warner Music Italy)
Saadet Türköz/Anaïs Tuerlinckx: Le Chant Des Noiseuses (Scatter Archive) - v
Stephan Thelen: Worlds in Collision (RareNoise)
Treverket: Et Bedre Sted (Eget Selskap)
Frances-Marie Uitti - Milana Zarić - Elisabeth Harnik: Unified Field (Strange Strings)
Manuel Valera New Cuban Express: Rise Again Vol. 2 (Mavo)
Ken Vandermark: Snapshots: Complete (Kilogram \'23)
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: Centennial: The Music of Thad Jones: Live at the Village Vanguard (2024, BCM+D \'24)
Voodoo Children Orchestra: Kindness Disarms (UnderPool)
The Waitiki 7: Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live at House Without a Key (Waitiki International)
Brad Walker: A Sliver of Catharsis (self-released)
Cassie Watson Francillon & Sasha Masakowski: Suite (self-released) - bc(*)
Tom Weeks: Paranoid II (Wolfsblood) - bc(*)
Matthew Welch/Dan Plonsey: Eudimorphodon (Kotekan)
Jerry Weldon: The Summit (Cellar Music)
The Westerlies: Paradise (Westerlies)
Joshua White: Flora and Fauna: 9 Preludes for Solo Piano (Orenda)
Andrew Wilcox: Dear Mr. Hill (Truth Revolution '24)
Tobias Wiklund: Inner Flight Music (Stunt)
Ben Williams: Between Church & State (Safe Space)
Spike Wilner Trio Contrafactus: The Children & the Warlock (Cellar Music)
Jim Witzel: Very Early: Remembering Bill Evans (Joplin & Sweeney)
Tal Yahalom: Mirror Image (Adhyâropa) - bc(*)
Katsura Yamauchi & Kohsetsu Imanishi: Fumine (Ftarri)
Lingyuan Yang: Cursed Month (Chaospace)
Raed Yassin: Phantom Orchestra (Morphine) - bc(*)
Yodok III: Nidarosdomen (Consouling Sounds)
Otomo Yoshihide: Plays Christian Marclay (Little Stone) - bc(0)
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Jazz Is Dead 24: Dom Salvador (Jazz Is Dead)
Denny Zeitlin: With a Song in My Heart (Sunnyside)
Meryl Zimmerman: Easy to Love (self-released) - bc(*)
Justin Zitt: Frigo (Unit)
John Zorn/Dave Lombardo: Memories, Dreams, and Reflections (Tzadik)
Shiri Zorn - George Muscatello - Mauricio Zottarelli: Looking for the Light (self-released)
Nicole Zuraitis: Live at Vic's (La Reserve)

Reissued/historical jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them:

Albert Ayler With Don Cherry: Europe 1964 (ORG Music)
Don Ellis: How Time Passes to Essence Revisited (1960-62, Ezz-Thetics '24)
Bobby Hutcherson: Classic Bobby Hutcherson Blue Note Sessions 1963-1970 (Mosaic '24)
Thelonious Monk: With Sonny Rollins 1953 to 1957 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)
Oscar Moore: The Enchanting Guitar of Oscar Moore: The 1945-1965 Years (Fresh Sound)
Evan Parker: The Heraclitean Two-Step, Etc. (1994-2024, False Walls '24)
Pharoah Sanders: The Complete Pharoah Sanders Theresa Recordings (1980-87, Mosaic)
Manfred Schoof Ochestra: European Echoes (1969, FMP) - bc(1/3)
Snakeoil [Tim Berne]: In Lieu Of (2012, Screwgun)
Snakeoil [Tim Berne]: Snakeoil OK (2013, Screwgun) - bc(1/6)
Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions (1943-49, Mosaic '24)
Classic Vanguard Small Group Swing Sessions (1953-57, Mosaic '24)

Reissued/historical jazz records that received votes in Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, but still don't meet my 2% expectation:

Tony Allen & La Bogotá Orquesta Afrobeat: La BOA Meets Tony Allen (2011, Comet) -- bc(*)
AMM & Sachiko M: Testing (2004 Matchless)
Jean-Jacques Avenel/Daunik Lazro: Duo: Bibliothèque De Massy 13 Novembre 1980 (Fou '24)
Derek Bailey/Paul Lovens/Jon Rose: Podewil (1992, The Jon Rose Archive)
Chet Baker: Five From '65: The Quintet Summer Sessions (New Land)
Doug Beavers: Titanes Del Trombón [Remastered] (2015, Circle 9)
David Binney: Grains of Light (2009-13, Mythology)
Jaimie Branch: Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise [IA11 Edition] (2019, International Anthem)
Ted Brown: Just You, Just Me (2013, New Artists)
Kenny Burrell With Art Blakey: On View at the Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters (1959, Blue Note)
Bob Crosby: Classic Decca Recordings of Bob Crosby and His Orchestra and Bob Cats (1933-1942) (Mosaic)
Celia Cruz & Willie Colón: Celia Y Willie (1981, Craft)
Miles Davis: Miles \'55: The Prestige Recordings (Craft)
Bill Evans: Portraits at the Penthouse: Live in Seattle (1966, Resonance)
Fred Frith/Shelley Burgon: The Life and Behavior (2002-05, Relative Pitch) - bc(*)
Allen Ginsberg: The Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience (1970-71, Omnivore)
Vince Guaraldi: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! (Lee Mendelson Film Productions)
Roy Haynes: Hip Ensemble (1971, We Want Sounds)
Joseph Holbrooke: Last Live 2001: In Memoriam Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley (Tzadik)
Noah Howard Group: Berlin Concert (1975, Cien Fuegos)
Noah Howard Quartet: Schizophrenic Blues (1977, Cien Fuegos)
Bobby Hutcherson: Montara (1975, Blue Note)
Al Jarreau & NDR Big Band: Ellington (2016, ACT Music \'24)
Keith Jarrett - Gary Peacock - Paul Motian: At the Deer Head Inn: The Complete Recordings (1992, ECM)
The Jazz Crusaders: Freedom Sound (1961, Blue Note)
Russ Johnson/Christian Weber/Dieter Ulrich: To Walk on Eggshells (2009, Ezz-Thetics)
Clifford Jordan Big Band: Play What You Feel (1990, Mapleshade/P-Vine) **
Roland Keijser Kvartett: Öppet 03/Tre (1968-69, Caprice)
Daunik Lazro/Tristan Honsinger/Jean-Jacques Avenel: True & Whole Rhythms au Danois 9 Mai 1982 (Fou)
Bobby Matos & the Combo Conquistadores: My Latin Soul (1968, Mr. Bongo)
Marian McPartland: At the Peninsula Library 1972 (Liberation Hall)
Joni Mitchell: Joni\'s Jazz (1968-2023, Rhino)
Lee Morgan: Here's Lee Morgan (1960, Craft)
Lee Morgan: The Procrastinator (1967, Blue Note)
James Newton Quartet: Live in Willisau Switzierland 1983 (Rhythm 'n' Flow)
Charles Owens Quartet: The Last Late Nights (2003, La Reserve)
Oscar Peterson: Around the World (1969-81, Mack Avenue/Two Lions)
Doc Pomus: You Can\'t Hip a Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos (1947-90, Omnivore)
Andre Previn: Early Years 1945-53 (Acrobat '24)
Red Norvo: World Broadcast Recordings (1944-45, Circle/Jazzology)
Toshiyuki Sekine Trio: Strode Rode (1978, Craftman)
Scandinavian Art Ensemble With Tomasz Stanko: The Compenhagen Session Vol. 2 (2016, April)
Nina Simone: Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978 (Ace)
Sloth Racket: Ten Years of Live Sloths (2015-24, Luminous Label)
Soft Machine: Floating World Live [Remastered] (1975, MoonJune)
Soft Machine: Drop [Remastered] (1971, MoonJune)
Simon Spang-Hanssen: Afrolantic (2002, Spangster)
Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: Strange Strings (1967, Cosmic Myth \'24)
Sun Ra: Hidden Fire (1988, Strut)
Masayuki Takayanagi: Stardust (1979, Jinya Disc)
Masayuki Takayanagi: Holy Holy (1985, Jinya Disc)
John Taylor: Close to Mars (2006, CAM Jazz)
The Charlie Watts Orchestra: Live Fulham Town Hall (1986, BMG)
Mike Westbrook: The Cortège: Live at the BBC 1980 (Cadillac)
Kenny Wheeler: The Kenny Wheeler Big Band & Friends, Vol. 2 (1973-74, British Progressive Jazz) - bc(*)
Jack Wilkins: Opal (1983, CTI/King Japan)
Tony Williams: Civilization (1986, Blue Note)
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep (1974, Zappa/UMe)
The Alien Territory Archives: A Collection of Experimental and Irrelevant Music From 1970s San Diego (1968-81, Nyahh)
To Live and Shave in L.A.: The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg (1995-2000, Palilia) - bc(*)