And the best jazz album of 2025 is……?

My favorite new jazz album released this year is Anthony Wilson Nonet “House of the Singing Blossoms” on Sam First Records.  Recorded live at Sam First club in LA it sounds great too.  I have the two disc LP but in comes in other formats as well.  Includes the brilliant pianist Gerald Clayton.

My favorite this year was Amaro Freitas!

Still catching up on missed records, but John Pattitucci's record Spirit Fall is Awesome if you love group interplay.

Couple of others beside's the Halvorson records, would be Marshall Allen and Chicago Undergound Duo.

Loved the Fred Hersch and Greg Foat!

I’ll nominate Arboresque by Artemis.  They are a female super group.  They have 3 albums out.  All are good.

I’ve been finding a lot to like on the Smoke Sessions label.  Great Jazz, well known musicians, great sound.

Not sure about best, but I just heard Caelan Cardello’s Chapter One and really enjoyed it.  It’s a mix of composers with a lot of his own stuff, and I found his originals to be very interesting and compelling, and although I’ve only listened to it through my earbuds at this point it also sounds well recorded.  It’s on Qobuz. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/arts/music/best-jazz-albums.html

https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/best-jazz-2025-albums-music-songs-youtube.html

a couple takes on the subject