THE BEST 30 JAZZ ALBUMS OF 2025
A SELECTION BY FILIPE FREITAS
james brandon lewis quartet
abstraction is deliverance
Intakt Records
“With this release, Lewis’s acclaimed quartet brushes against celestial perfection."
ches smith
clone row
Otherly Love Records
“Smith’s music grows increasingly adventurous and inventive, even when anchored in simplicity. Clone Row is a gem of modern creative music."
nels cline
consentrik quartet
Blue Note Records
"Consentrik Quartet is a truly collaborative ensemble, approaching music from unexpected angles and delivering an exhilarating listening experience."
thomas morgan
around you is a forest
Loveland Music
"Still absorbing its many layers, I have no doubt Around You is a Forest is the work of a visionary—distinct, immersive, and profoundly original."
fieldwork
thereupon
Pi Recordings
"Fieldwork’s advanced musical language continues to carve out a singular path of boundless creativity."
gard nilssen acoustic unity
great intentions
Action Jazz
"Great Intentions stands as yet another strong statement from one of today’s most imaginative and compelling drummers."
dan weiss quartet
unclassified affetions
Pi Recordings
"The closer you listen, the more exquisite detail emerges from the quartet’s interaction."
webber / morris big band
unseparate
Out of Your Head Records
"Unconventional, gripping, and consistently inspired, Unseparate surpasses the duo’s previous big band outing, pushing boundaries while deepening the success of their remarkable collaboration."
donny mccaslin
lullaby for the lost
Edition Records
“Invigorated by a distinctly modern sensibility, Lullaby For the Lost is a bold, exploratory, and deeply satisfying work—another testament to McCaslin’s restless creativity."
mats gustafsson / ken vandermark / tomeka reid / chad taylor
pivot
Silkheart Records
"Flexible pulses, melodic incisiveness, and distinctive timbral qualities - all blend beautifully at the hands of a reference quartet we can only hope records together more often."
frank carlberg
dream machine
Red Piano Records
"A testament to Carlberg’s prowess as a composer and arranger, Dream Machine brims with thrilling, virtuosic moments"
ivo perelman / matthew shipp string trio
armaggedon flower
Tao Forms
"Aiming high, Perelman and Shipp break new ground with this configuration."
jacob garchik
ye olde 2: at the end of time
Yestevere Records
"Forging experimental and transformative paths in modern music, Garchik takes risks and wins, achieving new heights of both virtuosity and imagination."
isaiah collier / william parker / william hooker
the ancients
Eremite Records
Not Reviewed
john scofield / dave holland
memories of home
ECM Records
"Scofield and Holland push each assertively into groovy territory. No matter what they play, they always find a way to pull focus and draw you in."
hanging hearts
where’s your head at
Ropeadope
“The trio’s progressive approach yields fascinating results, making Where’s Your Head At a memorable album…"
adam o’farrill
for these streets
Out of Your Head Records
"O’Farrill’s angular drive never forsakes melodic intent, making his music feel simultaneously exploratory, airy, disciplined, and often gently expressive."
mary halvorson
about ghosts
Nonesuch Records
"Halvorson and her constellation of superstars explore vast sonic territories without compromising accessibility, constructing intricate textures and bridging sections with both logic and audacity."
jaleel shaw
painter of the invisible
Changu Records
“Painter of the Invisible is where melody, harmony, and rhythm come alive with pure intention. A great album to enjoy without reservations.”
yuhan su
over the moons
Endectomorph Music
"Whether whispering or erupting, Su’s music remains consistently engrossing."
chad taylor quintet
smoke shifter
Otherly Love Records
"Smoke Shifter is packed with surprise, openness, and spirit—a cliché-free session that thrives on first-rate, forward-looking melodies hovering over admirable rhythmic tapestries."
linda may han oh
strange heavens
Biophilia Records
"… listeners are caught in an inescapable musical web, drawn by a creative triangulation rooted in raw, honest interplay."
amir elsaffar’s new quartet
live at Pierre Boulez saal
Maqam Records
Not Reviewed
charles lloyd
figure in blue
Blue Note Records
"Figure in Blue captures the soulfulness of Lloyd’s writing, both new and revisited, while showcasing the trio’s superb dynamics."
nils petter molvaer
khmer live in bergen
Edition Records
"Molvær continues to spin wondrous, multilayered soundscapes for a modern, creative nu-jazz."
anne mette iversen’s ternion q expanded
marbles
BJU Records
"…glistens with imagination and balance, bridging contemporary exploration with deep reverence for the past and a clear eye toward the future."
steve lehman trio + mark turner
the music of anthony braxton
Pi Recordings
"The music is infectious, fervent, and bouncy, and the enjoyment brimful of exciting places to discover."
rodrigo amado’s the bridge
further beyond
Trost Records
"The quartet’s telepathic rapport and the music’s fearless audacity are rewarding, confirming The Bridge as one of Amado’s most dynamic and cohesive projects."
michael dease
city life
Origin Records
"This is an undeniably strong record, a confident embrace of jazz tradition that finds Dease at the top of his game, joined by deeply seasoned musical partners."
craig taborn / nels cline / marcus gilmore
trio of bloom
Pyroclastic Records
"Thinking outside the box, Trio of Bloom binds grooves, atmospherics, and inventive improvisation into a vibrant new sonic whole."