Top 20 Jazz Recordings for 2025

Steve Braunginn, Host/Producer Strictly Jazz Sounds Podcast

I may be a little late with this, but it was a hard year medically speaking for me. One thing I can say about this music is that it saw me through some very tough nights in the hospital. Great jazz is the best medicine.

Linda May Han Oh-Strange Heavens, Biophilia Records

Sullivan Fortner-Southern Nights, Artwork Records

John Patitucci-Spirit Fall, Edition Records

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland -First Meeting, Five Passion

Mark Turner-Reflections On: An Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, Giant Step Arts

Yuhan Su-OVER the MOONs, Endectomorph Music

Patricia Brennan-Of the Near and Far, Pyroclastic Records

Chick Corea, Christian McBride, & Brian Blade- Trilogy Three, CANDID

Billy Hart-Just, ECM

Joshua Redman-Words Fall Short, Blue Note Records

Artemis-Arboresque, Blue Note

Branford Marsalis -Belonging, Blue Note

Simon Willson-Bet, Self-Released

Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Daschiel, We Insist 2025, CANDID Records

Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halverson-Bone Bells, Pyroclastic

Steve Lehman with Mark Turner-The Music of Anthony Braxton, Pi Recordings

Jaleel Shaw-Painter of the Invisible, Changu Records

Christian McBride Big Band-Without Further Ado Vol. 1, Mack Ave.

Keith Jarrett-The Old Country, ECM

Rodney Jordan-Memphis Blue, Baxter Music Enterprises

Kaisa’s Machine, Moving Parts, Greenleaf Records

Archival/Historical Releases

Charles Mingus-Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts, Resonance Records

Horace Silver-Silver in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse, Resonance Records

Rahsaan Roland Kirk-Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate, Resonance Records

Freddie Hubbard-Freddie Hubbard On Fire: Live from the Blue Morocco, Resonance Records

Rahsaan Roland Kirk-Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse, Resonance Records

Kenny Dorham-Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco, Resonance Records