2026 Mid-Year Totals: New Jazz Albums

This category is for new albums of new music, released in 2026 (or 2025 but discovered in 2026), consisting of music that is less than 10 years old (recorded in or since January 1, 2017). For reissues and new albums of older music, see Rara Avis.

Critics were asked to list up to 10 albums in descending order, or they could submit an unranked list (preferably alphabetized by artist). Albums in unranked lists are accorded 1 point each. Albums in ranked lists are accorded points according to rank: 1: 3.0; 2: 2.4; 3: 2.0; 4: 1.8; 5: 1.6; 6: 1.4; 7: 1.3; 8: 1.2; 9: 1.1; 10: 1.0.

The listings are sorted by votes (in parentheses at the end of the line), with points (the preceding number) used as a tiebreaker. The arrow at the end of the line will route you to a page listing all of the critics who voted for the album. Some entries may have footnotes, which follow the list. There is also a Notes section at the bottom of the page.

1. Tyshawn Sorey, Members . . . Don't! (Pi) 78.8 (45) →
2. The Tomeka Reid Quartet, Dance! Skip! Hop! (Out of Your Head) 75.1 (44) →
3. Adam O'Farrill, Elephant (Out of Your Head) 45.2 (30) →
4. أحمد [Ahmed], Play Monk (Otoroku) 40.9 (20) →
5. Ambrose Akinmusire & Mary Halvorson, Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings (Nonesuch) 32 (18) →
6. Bill Frisell, In My Dreams (Blue Note) 27 (18) →
7. Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note) 30.5 (17) →
8. Angelika Niescier, Chicago Tapes (Intakt) 25.3 (16) →
9. Jeff Parker ETA IVtet, Happy Today (International Anthem/Nonesuch) 24.6 (15) →
10. Mark Turner, Patternmaster (ECM) 20.8 (14) →
Marta Sanchez, For the Space You Left (Out of Your Head) 20.7 (14) →
12. James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Omni (Intakt) 23.2 (13) →
13. Craig Taborn, Dream Archives (ECM) 22.5 (13) →
14. Joe Lovano, Paramount Quartet (ECM) 18.5 (13) →
15. The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis, Deface the Currency (Impulse!) 17.5 (13) →
16. Dave Douglas, Transcend (Greenleaf Music) 15.9 (13) →
17. Melissa Aldana, Filin (Blue Note) 22.5 (12) →
18. Harriet Tubman & Georgia Muldrow, Electrical Field of Love (Pi) 21.9 (12) →
19. Miles Okazaki, Boomtown (Pi) 18.3 (12) →
20. Ben Wendel, Barcode (Edition) 17.6 (12) →
Jason Moran, Plays Duke Ellington (Yes) 22.3 (11) →
22. Michael Formanek, New Digs (Intakt) 18.1 (11) →
23. Rodrigo Amado This Is Our Language Quartet, Wailers (European Echoes) 16.9 (11) →
24. Irreversible Entanglements, Future Present Past (Impulse!) 15.9 (11) →
25. Julian Lage, Scenes From Above (Blue Note) 14.9 (11) →
26. Chris Potter, Alive With Ghosts Today (Edition) 15.4 (10) →
27. Alexander Hawkins, No Nation but Imagination (Intakt) 13.8 (10) →
28. Columbia Icefield [Nate Wooley], A Silence Opens (Out of Your Head) 15.2 (9) →
29. Virginia MacDonald, In Search Of . . . (Cellar) 11.4 (9) →
30. Cécile McLorin Salvant, With Every Breath I Take (Nonesuch) 16 (8) →
Maria Schneider Orchestra, American Crow (ArtistShare) 14.5 (8) →
32. DoYeon Kim, Wellspring (TAO Forms) 12.1 (8) →
33. Gregory Hutchinson, Kind of Now: The Pulse of Miles Davis (Warner) 10.7 (8) →
34. Steven Bernstein/Scotty Hard, ResoNation Trio/Ultra Resonance (Royal Potato Family) 10.2 (8) →
35. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Éclats - Live in Europe (Intakt) 12.2 (7) →
36. Lakecia Benjamin, We Dream (Artwork) 12 (7) →
37. Meg Okura & Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, Isaiah (Adhyâropa) 11 (7) →
38. Martin Wind, Stars (Newvelle) 10.9 (7) →
39. Jon Irabagon, Focus Out (Irrabagast) 10.8 (7) →
40. Myra Melford & Satoko Fujii, Katarahi (RogueArt) 9.4 (7) →
Caroline Davis, Fallows (Ropeadope) 8.8 (7) →
42. Jason Moran - BlankFor.ms - Marcus Gilmore, Shards (Red Hook) 7.9 (7) →
43. Joel Ross, Gospel Music (Blue Note) 10 (6) →
44. Yvonne Rogers, The Button Jar (Pyroclastic) 9 (6) →
45. Phillip Golub, Partisan Ship (Berthold) 8.6 (6) →
46. Walter Smith III, Twio Vol. 2 (Blue Note) 7.9 (6) →
47. James Brandon Lewis & Lutosławski Quartet, These Are Soulful Days (2021, TAO Forms) 9.9 (5)  *[Includes 1 (1) from Rara Avis] →
48. Marilyn Crispell & Anders Jormin, Memento (ECM) 8.4 (5) →
49. Ivo Perelman - Matthew Shipp - William Parker - Bobby Kapp, Synesthesia (Defkaz) 8.2 (5) →
50. Helen Sung Big Band, Oracles (Sunnyside) 8.1 (5) →
Charles Downs Quartet, Inner (ESP-Disk') 8 (5) →
51. Alden Hellmuth, Tether (Leiter) 8 (5) →
53. Brian Lynch, Torch Bearers (Holistic MusicWorks) 7.9 (5) →
54. Nduduzo Makhathini, The Myth We Choose (Blue Note) 7.6 (5) →
55. Emmet Cohen, Universal Truth (Mack Avenue) 7.1 (5) →
56. Brandon Seabrook, Hellbent Daydream (Pyroclastic) 7.1 (5) →
57. Dave Stryker, Blue Fire: The Van Gelder Session (Strikezone) 6.4 (5) →
58. Alan Braufman, Anthem for Peace (The Control Group/Valley of Search) 5.4 (5) →
59. Work Money Death, A Portal to Here (ATA) 8.8 (4) →
60. Amalie Dahl's Dafnie Extended, Live at Moldejazz (Sonic Transmissions) 7.6 (4) →
Micah Thomas, Lucid (Birdwatcher) 7.6 (4) →
62. Patricia Brennan & Sylvie Courvoisier, Talamanti (Antlia) 7.4 (4) →
63. Simon Moullier, Ceiba (Simon Moullier Music) 6.8 (4) →
64. The Phoenix Trio, Tomorrow Is Today (Giant Step Arts) 6.4 (4) →
65. Steve Swallow, Winter Songs (ECM) 6.2 (4) →
66. Joel Futterman & William Parker, Transcendent Universe (Burning Ambulance) 6 (4) →
67. Ran Blake & Dominique Eade, Roots & Byways (Sunnyside) 5.8 (4) →
68. Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Ritual (Chill Tone) 5.8 (4) →
69. Kaja Draksler Octet, Bare, Unfolding (Zavod Sploh/Clean Feed) 5.6 (4) →
70. Simon Hanes, Gargantua (Pyroclastic) 5.6 (4) →
Chuck Bergeron, Bass & Face: Duets With Ten Premier Vocalists (Summit) 5.4 (4) →
72. Marta Warelis, Still Life With Lemons (Relative Pitch) 4.9 (4) →
73. SML, Spontaneous Music Live (International Anthem) 7 (3) →
74. Ingrid Jensen, Landings (Newvelle) 6.8 (3) →
75. Nicolas Leirtrø's Action Now!, Entrance (Sauajazz) 6.8 (3) →
76. Dave Adewumi, The Flame Beneath the Silence (Giant Step Arts) 6.1 (3) →
77. Shabaka, Of the Earth (Shabaka) 5.8 (3) →
78. Gabrielle Cavassa, Diavola (Blue Note) 5.6 (3) →
79. Josh Berman Trio, Everybody Else's Life Too (Corbett vs. Dempsey) 5.4 (3) →
80. Terry Waldo & the Gotham City Band, Treasury Volume 3 (Turtle Bay) 5.4 (3) →
Pat Metheny, Side-Eye III+ (Uniquity Music) 5.3 (3) →
82. Ben Allison - Steve Cardenas - Ted Nash, Triological (Sunnyside) 5.2 (3) →
83. Florian Arbenz - Bill Frisell - Greg Osby, Quiet Lights (Conversation Lab) 5 (3) →
84. Harry Skoler, Echoes (Red Brick Hill) 5 (3) →
85. Anthony Joseph, The Ark (Heavenly Sweetness) 4.9 (3) →
86. Ben Wolfe, Any Time After Now (Resident Arts) 4.9 (3) →
87. John Beasley & SWR Big Band, Invisible Piano (O-Tone Music) 4.8 (3) →
88. Carlos Henríquez, Monk Con Clave (self-released) 4.7 (3) →
89. Mark Lomax II & the Urban Art Ensemble, The Unity Suite (CFG Multimedia) 4.5 (3) →
90. Catherine Russell, Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Dot Time) 4.4 (3) →
Zu, Ferrum Sidereum (House of Mythology) 4.4 (3) →
92. Kris Davis and the Lutoslawski Quartet, The Solastalgia Suite (Pyroclastic) 4 (3) →
93. Asher Gamedze, A Semblance: Of Return (Northern Spy) 4 (3) →
94. Christian Lillinger, Open Form for Society II (Plaist) 4 (3) →
95. Vera Morais, Eupnea (Porta Jazz) 3.8 (3) →
96. Pat Thomas & XT, Strata, Act (Joy Contemporary) (We Jazz) 3.7 (3) →
97. John Butcher, Away, I Was (Relative Pitch) 3.4 (3) →
98. The Outskirts, Orbital (Aerophonic) 3.3 (3) →
99. Kalia Vandever, Mana (International Anthem) 3.1 (3) →
100. Julia Hülsmann Octet, While I Was Away (ECM) 3 (3) →
Lao Dan Chicago Quartet, Klotski (Trost) 5 (2) →
102. Barcelona Art Orchestra & Miguel Zenón, Expressions: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (Miel Music) 4.8 (2) →
103. Jean-Luc Thomas Quartet, Sillons (Hirustica) 4.6 (2) →
104. Jesse Davis Quartet, Reflections (Cellar) 4.3 (2) →
105. John Clayton, The Two-o Duo Project (ArtistShare) 4.2 (2) →
106. Catherine Delaunay, L'Homme Des Damps (Nato) 4.2 (2) →
107. Omar Sosa - Joo Kraus - Diego Pinera, Vibe Factor (Music Hub) 4.2 (2) →
108. Thommy Andersson, Shimmering Blue (SteepleChase) 4.1 (2) →
109. Aaron Shaw, And So It Is (Leaving) 4.1 (2) →
110. Aymeric Avice - Luke Stewart - Chad Taylor, Deep in the Earth High in the Sky (RogueArt) 4 (2) →
Keyvan Chemirani, Tales of Nar (PeeWee!) 4 (2) →
111. Alexis Marcelo, Solo Piano (Intakt) 4 (2) →
113. Pedrito Martínez - Antonio Sánchez - Michael League, Elipsis (GroundUP Music) 3.8 (2) →
114. Django Festival Allstars, Evolution (Motéma) 3.6 (2) →
115. Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (Exit) Knarr, Fly (Sauajazz) 3.6 (2) →
116. Steve Wilson, Enduring Sonance (Smoke Sessions) 3.6 (2) →
117. Christine Abdelnour - Frantz Loriot - David Meier - Pascal Niggenkemper, Et Il Y Aura . . . (Veto) 3.4 (2) →
118. Colin Hancock's Joymakers, A Texas-Sized Band (Turtle Bay) 3.4 (2) →
119. David Janeway Trio, Live at Blue LLama (SteepleChase) 3.4 (2) →
120. Camila Nebbia & Chris Corsano, Six or Seven Ways Towards Becoming Undone (Relative Pitch) 3.4 (2) →
Ivo Perelman & Wadada Leo Smith, Duologues 5 (Ibeji) 3.4 (2) →
121. Fie Schouten - Vincent Courtois - Sofia Borges - Pierre Baux, Open Space (Relative Pitch) 3.4 (2) →
123. Ron Carter & Yotam Silberstein, Duets (Jojo) 3.3 (2) →
124. Dominique Cravic Et Les Primitifs Du Futur, Les Crimes Du Musette (Buda Musique) 3.3 (2) →
125. Jon Irabagon, Raw Dog (Corbett vs. Dempsey) 3.3 (2) →
126. Art Edmaiston & Chad Fowler, Memphis Mandala (Mahakala Music) 3.2 (2) →
127. Kenny Barron, Songbook (Artwork '25) 3.1 (2) →
128. Hannah Gill, I Like the Sunrise (Turtle Bay) 3.1 (2) →
129. Vinny Golia Quintet, Angular Momentum (Nine Winds) 3.1 (2) →
130. Edward Simon, Venezuela: Latin American Songbook Vol. 2 (ArtistShare) 3.1 (2) →
Tyrone Allen II, Upward (Dreams and Fears) 3 (2) →
131. Goal Weight [Maggie Cox & Jennifer Gersten], Keep Telling Yourself That (Relative Pitch) 3 (2) →
133. Duchess, A Marvelous Party (Anzic) 2.8 (2) →
134. Dave Holland - Norma Winstone - London Vocal Project, Vital Spark (Music of Kenny Wheeler) (Edition) 2.8 (2) →
135. Bill Orcutt, Music in Continuous Motion (Palilalia) 2.8 (2) →
136. Quagmire & Christer Bothén, Rörane (Relative Pitch) 2.8 (2) →
137. Tom Raworth & Giancarlo Nino Locatelli, A Decent Run (We Insist!) 2.8 (2) →
138. Jonathan Suazo, Ricano Vol. 2: Fruto De Mi Corazón (Miel Music) 2.8 (2) →
139. Tia Fuller & Shamie Fuller-Royston, Fuller Sound Vol. 2: Dynasty (Cellar) 2.6 (2) →
140. Kiri Ra!, Nen (We Jazz) 2.6 (2) →
Magda Mayas, Chant (Unsounds) 2.6 (2) →
141. Camila Nebbia - Marilyn Crispell - Lesley Mok, A Reflection Distorts Over Water (Relative Pitch '25) 2.6 (2) →
143. Miho Hazama, Frames (Edition) 2.5 (2) →
144. Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere, Theta Seven (Discus Music) 2.5 (2) →
145. Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, The Longest Way Round (One Trick Dog) 2.5 (2) →
146. Billy Childs, Triumvirate (Mack Avenue) 2.4 (2) →
147. Sei Miguel, Viva! (Clean Feed) 2.4 (2) →
148. Nolatet, Somethin' to Relax With (Royal Potato Family) 2.4 (2) →
149. Ballister + Luke Stewart, Clocking the Wheel (Aerophonic) 2.3 (2) →
150. Sam Barsh - Mark Guiliana - Keyon Harold, Straight08 (La Reserve) 2.3 (2) →
Dietrichs, Live Bahdu (Relative Pitch) 2.3 (2) →
151. Tigran Hamasyan, Manifeste (Naïve) 2.3 (2) →
152. Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, Arsenio and Beyond: Live at the Bronx Music Hall (Jazzheads) 2.3 (2) →
154. Gerry Hemingway, Live at Bau 4 (Hat Hut) 2.2 (2) →
155. Ava Mendoza, Alive Alone, Alive Together (Burning Ambulance) 2.2 (2) →
156. Andrew Oliver & Hal Smith Incomparables, Stomp Your Stuff (Turtle Bay '25) 2.2 (2) →
157. Reverso, Between Two Silences (Alternate Side) 2.2 (2) →
158. Willy Rodriguez, In the Unknown (I Will Find You) (Sunnyside) 2.2 (2) →
159. These Things Happen, A Gentle Reminder (Corbett vs. Dempsey) 2.2 (2) →
160. Thundercat, Distracted (Brainfeeder) 2.2 (2) →
Yelena Eckemoff, Rosendals Garden (L+H Production) 2.1 (2) →
161. Kurt Elling & WDR Big Band, In the Brass Palace (Big Shoulders) 2.1 (2) →
162. Maria Grand, Both Sides (Lilaila) 2.1 (2) →
163. Emilio Solla & La Inestable De Brooklyn, Handmade (Club Del Disco) 2.1 (2) →
164. Matthew Stevens, Matthew Stevens (Candid) 2.1 (2) →
165. Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, Non Sonett (Aspen Edities) 2.1 (2) →
167. Michael Blake, Piccolos Before Rifles (Baby Tank) 2 (2) →
168. Marty Ehrlich, Cartographies of Flight: Lines Set Afloat Towards Hope (Corbett vs. Dempsey) 2 (2) →
169. Colin Hinton, Three Suites (Endectomorph Music) 2 (2) →
170. Pascal Niggenkemper Ensemble Tuvalu, D'Une Rive à L'Autre (Subran) 2 (2) →
Lo Steele, Only a Drop (Side Hustle/Little Village) 2 (2) →
172. Bobby Bradford - Mark Dresser - Hafez Modirzadeh, Sonic House Reunion (NoBusiness) 3 (1) →
173. Flea, Honora (Nonesuch) 3 (1) →
174. Henry Now, Then Again (Dark Companion '25) 3 (1) →
175. Shelley Hirsch - Christian Weber - Alfred Vogel, Vanish (Boomslang) 3 (1) →
176. Nikita Korzoun, A Pot of Gold: Live at Philly Joe's Volume 1 (self-released) 3 (1) →
177. LEIDA, Mythological Portraits (Artway) 3 (1) →
178. Ben Markley Big Band, Tuesday Morning Feeling (OA2) 3 (1) →
179. Nicole McCabe, Color Theory (Birdwatcher) 3 (1) →
180. Mikiko Nagatake, Live at Nardis: Tribute to Cecil Taylor (RINDO) 3 (1) →
Sweet Megg, Massive Negroni (self-released) 3 (1) →
181. TOC + Jean-Luc Guionnet, Quelques Idées D'Un Vert Incolore Dorment Furieusement (Circum-Disc '25) 3 (1) →
182. Mariam Wallentin & Vestnorsk Jazzensemble, Spring Flood (Hubro) 3 (1) →
183. What You May Call It, Da Qi (MechaBenzaiten) 3 (1) →
184. Jack Wright and Ben Bennett, Tourne (self-released) 3 (1) →
186. Yazz Ahmed, Shinrin-Yoku (Night Time Stories) 2.4 (1) →
187. Richard Baratta, Another Kind of Bird (Savant) 2.4 (1) →
188. The BLCK Madonna, Between the Lines (Downtown Music) 2.4 (1) →
189. Alabaster DePlume, Dear Children of Our Children, I Knew: Epilogue (International Anthem) 2.4 (1) →
190. Paul Dunmall Quartet, Afghan Women (RogueArt) 2.4 (1) →
Peter Evans & Mike Pride, A Window, Basically (Relative Pitch '25) 2.4 (1) →
191. Satoko Fujii's Bunker Ulmenwall Orchestra (2014, Libra) 2.4 (1)  *[Also in Rara Avis] →
192. Gaudi, Jazz Gone Dub (Dubmission '25) 2.4 (1) →
193. José Lencastre - João Hasselberg - Kresten Osgood, This Anger Is a Liar (Fundacja Słuchaj) 2.4 (1) →
194. Hannah Marks, Feed the Fire (Endectomorph Music) 2.4 (1) →
195. Louis Matute, Dolce Vita (Naive) 2.4 (1) →
196. Kaori Nishijima & Yasuhito Mori, Conversations at Vilja (Apparat Studios) 2.4 (1) →
197. Mariam Rezaei - Sakina Abdou - Kobe Van Cauwenberghe, 1984 [I IX VIII IV]: The Forward Process (Dropa Disc) 2.4 (1) →
198. Jeremy Sassoon, Older and Wiser (ECN Music) 2.4 (1) →
200. Ricky Alexander, Ragology (Turtle Bay) 2 (1) →
Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, Mystic Suite (Marlow) 2 (1) →
201. Magnus Carlson & the Moon Ray Quintet, Shadows (We Jazz '25) 2 (1) →
202. Chrome Hill & Dōjō, Free Rangers (Clean Feed) 2 (1) →
203. Corima, Hunab Ku (Soleil Zeuhl) 2 (1) →
204. Marquis Hill, (Beautifulism) Sweet Surrender (Black Unlimited) 2 (1) →
205. Ramona Horvath Trio, Absinthe (Fresh Sound '25) 2 (1) →
206. Javon Jackson, Jackson Plays Dylan (Solid Jackson/Palmetto) 2 (1) →
207. Daunik Lazro - Joëlle Léandre - Paul Lovens, For Baritone Sax, Double Bass & Drumset (2013, Relative Pitch) 2 (1)  *[Also in Rara Avis] →
208. Chris Morrissey, Infinite Source of Heat (GroundUP Music) 2 (1) →
209. Odense Jazz Orchestra, Meets Loren Stillman (AMM) 2 (1) →
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Corbett vs. Dempsey '25) 2 (1) →
210. Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest, Somni (GroundUP Music '25) 2 (1) →
211. Soft Machine, Thirteen (MoonJune) 2 (1) →
212. Henry Threadgill - Vijay Iyer - Dafnis Prieto, Fifteen (Nonesuch) 2 (1) →
213. Álvaro Torres Trio, Mairena (Fresh Sound New Talent) 2 (1) →
216. Circular Arcs, Conventicle (Castor & Pollux Music '25) 1.8 (1) →
217. Braxton Cook, Not Everyone Can Go (Nettwerk '25) 1.8 (1) →
218. Kieran Daly and Sam Weinberg, Live Unison and Unison Continued (Stern) 1.8 (1) →
219. Eliane Elias, Ao Vivo (Candid) 1.8 (1) →
220. Kristian Enkerud Lien's Krise, Apt Opt Kroma (Catalytic Sound/Sonic Transmission '25) 1.8 (1) →
Last Dream of the Morning [John Butcher - John Edwards - Mark Sanders], Sharp Illusion (Fundacja Słuchaj '25) 1.8 (1) →
221. Mary Lattimore & Julianna Barwick, Tragic Magic (InFiné) 1.8 (1) →
222. Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash, Pluto in Aquarius (Cuneiform) 1.8 (1) →
223. Brian Marsella & Sae Hashimoto, Tunnel Vision (Red Palace) 1.8 (1) →
224. Onilu, Jakuta's Dance (577) 1.8 (1) →
225. Eivind Opsvik - Elias Stemeseder - Will Graefe, The Setting (Loyal) 1.8 (1) →
226. Philipp Schiepek & Lorenz Widauer, Bangers & Ballads (Wooden Waggon/Galileo) 1.8 (1) →
227. Loren Schoenberg and His Jazz Orchestra, So Many Memories (Turtle Bay '25) 1.8 (1) →
228. Stephan Thelen, Fractal Guitar 4 (MoonJune) 1.8 (1) →
229. Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra & Sean Irvine, Forgotten Stories Suite (Chronograph) 1.8 (1) →
Zanja All Stars, Cuban Jam Session Volume 2 (Zanja '25) 1.8 (1) →
232. BITOI, Sirkulu (Supertraditional '25) 1.6 (1) →
233. Betty Bryant, Nothin' Better to Do (Bry-Mar Music) 1.6 (1) →
234. Entropic Hop, The Quest for the Normal Is the Death of the Self (ESP-Disk') 1.6 (1) →
235. Hugo Fernandez, Rivermind (self-released) 1.6 (1) →
236. James Fernando, Philly 3 (Spring Garden) 1.6 (1) →
237. Christopher Hoffman, REX (Out of Your Head) 1.6 (1) →
238. New Jazz Underground, Hoodies (Artwork) 1.6 (1) →
239. Michael Jenner, Sparkle On! (self-released) 1.6 (1) →
240. Shawn Lovato, Biotic (Endectomorph Music) 1.6 (1) →
Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns, Bitches Blues (Rune Grammofon) 1.6 (1) →
241. Aja Monet, The Color of Rain (Drink Sum Wtr) 1.6 (1) →
242. Paal Nilssen-Love & Terrie Ex, What?! (Terp) 1.6 (1) →
243. Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble, The Kármán Line (ATA) 1.6 (1) →
244. Jeremy Pelt, Our Community Will Not Be Erased (HighNote) 1.6 (1) →
245. Remergency, Wave Benders (Squid Note) 1.6 (1) →
246. Tyler "Twerk" Thomson, Plays in Bands (self-released) 1.6 (1) →
247. Samuel Torres, Trio Libre (Blue Conga) 1.6 (1) →
248. Triple Blind, Cold Walk (self-released) 1.6 (1) →
249. The Westerlies, Have You Heard? The Music of Bill Frisell, Vol. 1 (Westerlies) 1.6 (1) →
Rich Willey, Laid Back Vol. 1 (Boptism) 1.6 (1) →
250. Michael Winograd, Plays Tanz! Live in New York City (Borscht Beat '25) 1.6 (1) →
253. Meredith Bates, The Observer Effect (Phonometrograph) 1.4 (1) →
254. Dave Burrell & David Liebman, Reservoir (Bespoke Jazz) 1.4 (1) →
255. Andrés Coll Cosmic Trio, Ride to Heaven (XJAZZ Music) 1.4 (1) →
256. Kris Davis Quartet, John Zorn: The Bagatelles Vol. 5 (Tzadik) 1.4 (1) →
257. Entre Amigos, Joyful Foundation: The Music of Justin Copeland (Entre Amigos) 1.4 (1) →
258. Mané Fernandes, sQuigg: playground_etiQuette (Porta Jazz) 1.4 (1) →
259. Joy Harjo, Insomnia & Seven Steps to Grace (Smithsonian Folkways) 1.4 (1) →
260. Alex Hitchcock & Ant Law, House of Light (ZenneZ) 1.4 (1) →
Corcoran Holt, Freedom of Art (Holt House Music) 1.4 (1) →
261. House of the Black Gardenia, Mazurka in Jazz (HOTGB) 1.4 (1) →
262. Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, Incarnadine (self-released) 1.4 (1) →
263. Knats, A Great Day in Newcastle (Gearbox) 1.4 (1) →
264. Kirk Knuffke, Brother (SteepleChase) 1.4 (1) →
265. La La Lars, Lilla Lars (Gothborgen) 1.4 (1) →
266. Fred Lonberg-Holm - João Madeira - Bruno Pedroso - Carlos Zinagaro, Convergência Do Vôo (4DaRecord) 1.4 (1) →
267. Joe Morris & Elliott Sharp, Realism (ESP-Disk '25) 1.4 (1) →
268. John Scofield & Dave Holland, Memories of Home (ECM '25) 1.4 (1) →
269. Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Ellington Masterworks (MCG Jazz) 1.4 (1) →
Elias Stemeseder & Thomas Morgan, Io Pur Respiro (Squama) 1.4 (1) →
270. Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet, A Blue Time (Circle 9) 1.4 (1) →
273. Judith Berkson, Thee They Thy (ECM) 1.3 (1) →
274. Luciano Biondini - Michel Godard - Lucas Niggli, Fables of Time (Intakt) 1.3 (1) →
275. Stefano Bollani All Stars, Tutta Vita Live (Ponderosa) 1.3 (1) →
276. Paul Cosentino's Boilermaker Jazz Band, Everything Is Jumpin' (self-released '25) 1.3 (1) →
277. Cassie Watson Francillon, Bardo (self-released) 1.3 (1) →
278. Leo Genovese, Solo Brooklyn (577) 1.3 (1) →
279. Stella Heath, For Billie (Matterhorn) 1.3 (1) →
280. Hyper Elastic Jinx, We Vote Force Majeure (Barefoot) 1.3 (1) →
Guus Janssen, Live at the Pletterij (Geestgronden) 1.3 (1) →
281. Mike Khoury - Jason Kao Hwang - Ben Hall - Andrew Drury, Spite of Darkness (Entropy Stereo) 1.3 (1) →
282. Anna Kolchina, Reach for Tomorrow (OA2) 1.3 (1) →
283. Noa Levy & Paul Edis Trio, Portrait in Evans (Dot Time) 1.3 (1) →
284. Mike McGinnis - Carmen Staaf - Gui Duvignau - Hamir Atwal, ContraPunctus (Adhyâropa) 1.3 (1) →
285. Dave McMurray, I Love Life Even When I'm Hurting (Blue Note '25) 1.3 (1) →
286. NOHMI, Brightness & Darkness (ZenneZ) 1.3 (1) →
287. Nikolett Pankovits, Red Dress (self-released) 1.3 (1) →
288. Ivo Perelman, Trifecta (Mahakala Music) 1.3 (1) →
289. Mariá Portugal - Emilio Gordoa - Burkhard Beins, Erosão Percussion Trio (Kassiani/Fun in the Church) 1.3 (1) →
Noah Preminger, Dark Days (Criss Cross Jazz '25) 1.3 (1) →
290. Adrian Quesada, Trio Asesino (ATO) 1.3 (1) →
291. Skerik, Skerik 061725 (Loosegroove) 1.3 (1) →
292. Tommaso Starace Organ Trio, Live at the Beaver Inn (Dodicilune) 1.3 (1) →
293. Craig Taborn - Nels Cline - Marcus Gilmore, Trio of Bloom (Pyroclastic '25) 1.3 (1) →
294. Udeigwe, Four Lemmas (LU Factors) 1.3 (1) →
295. Peter Van Huffel - Rieko Okuda - Sofia Borges, Lagrangian Points (4DaRecord) 1.3 (1) →
296. Karsten Vogel, Late Night Ballads (Storyville) 1.3 (1) →
299. Anthony Branker & Other Ways of Knowing, Manifestations of a Diasporic Groove & Spirit (Origin) 1.2 (1) →
300. Jonas Cambien - Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard - Dag Erik Knedal Andersen, The Ear Behind the Airport (Motvind) 1.2 (1) →
The Paul Carlon Trio, Between Us Three (TRRcollective) 1.2 (1) →
301. Marleen Dahms' Alloy, Running and Belonging (XJAZZ Music '25) 1.2 (1) →
302. Matt Dwonszyk, Live at the Sidedoor (self-released) 1.2 (1) →
303. Flöjter, Brest Blow (Utech/Gigantonium) 1.2 (1) →
304. Nick Fraser, Areas (Elastic) 1.2 (1) →
305. Satoko Fujii Quartet, Burning Wick (Libra '25) 1.2 (1) →
306. Devin Gray - Andrea Parkins - Frank Gratkowski, Hz of Gold (Rataplan) 1.2 (1) →
307. Almut Kühne - João Pedro Brandão - Marcos Cavaleiro, Stones and Seeds (Carimbo Porta-Jazz) 1.2 (1) →
308. Joe Magnarelli, Decidedly So (Cellar) 1.2 (1) →
309. Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano, The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong (2012, Blue Engine) 1.2 (1) →
Pete Mills, This Is Now (Mighty Ernie) 1.2 (1) →
310. Quinsin Nachoff, Patterns From Nature (Whirlwind) 1.2 (1) →
311. John Pizzarelli, Dear Mr. Bennett (Green Hill Music) 1.2 (1) →
312. Ragini Trio, 3 (W.E.R.F.) 1.2 (1) →
313. Lisa Rich, I Still Rise (Tritone) 1.2 (1) →
314. David Sanchez, Tambó (Ropeadope) 1.2 (1) →
315. Adam Schatz, Civil Engineering Vol. 1 (Jealous Butcher) 1.2 (1) →
316. Dave Schumacher & Cubeye, Agua Con Gas (Cubeye Music) 1.2 (1) →
317. Susana Santos Silva & Vasco Trilla, Mushin (Defkaz) 1.2 (1) →
318. Simon Spang-Hanssen, Afrolantic (Spangster/Alisio Music) 1.2 (1) →
Colin Stetson - Greg Fox - Trevor Dunn, Nethering (Envision) 1.2 (1) →
319. Soojin Suh, Prism of Existence (Endectomorph Music) 1.2 (1) →
320. Joshua White, Flora and Fauna: 9 Preludes for Solo Piano (Orenda '25) 1.2 (1) →
321. @xcrswx, Moodboard (Feedback Moves '25) 1.2 (1) →
325. Samir Aouad, Casablanca (Les Luths Du Monde) 1.1 (1) →
326. Nat Birchall Quartet, Path of Enlightenment (Ancient Archive of Sound) 1.1 (1) →
327. Alexander Claffy, Alive in Philadelphia Vol. 1: At Chris' Jazz Cafe (Cellar) 1.1 (1) →
328. E'Joung-Ju - Simon Mary - Anne-Laure Bourget, Samin Dong Rak (Label Ouest) 1.1 (1) →
329. Frankfurt Radio Big Band - Nils Wogram - Jim McNeely, Trilogue + 15: A Tribute to Albert Mangelsdorff (ACT Music) 1.1 (1) →
330. Monika Herzig, Transparent (Key of B) 1.1 (1) →
Insufficient Funs, Chunk (Diatribe) 1.1 (1) →
331. Clément Janinet - Arve Henriksen - Ambre Vuillermoz - Robert Lucaciu, Garden of Silences (BMC) 1.1 (1) →
332. Caroline Kraabel - Pat Thomas - John Edwards - Steve Noble, Transgressive Coastlines (Shrike) 1.1 (1) →
333. Finola Merivale & Catherine Sikora, Abhaile (Fort Evil Fruit) 1.1 (1) →
334. Humberto Ramírez, Catalino: Canciones De Tite Curet Alonso (Nilpo Music '25) 1.1 (1) →
335. Jim Robitaille Trio, Sonic (Whaling City Sound) 1.1 (1) →
336. Kemuel Roig, 3Discovery (Life in Music) 1.1 (1) →
337. Adam Rudolph - Alexis Marcelo - Kaoru Watanabe, Sunrise (Meta) 1.1 (1) →
338. Arturo Sandoval, Sangú (TM) 1.1 (1) →
339. Shake Stew, Ten One Two (Traumton) 1.1 (1) →
Henry Threadgill Zooid, Cut You Where You Was (Pi) 1.1 (1) →
340. Juanma Trujillo - Kenneth Jiménez - Vasco Trilla, Nada Es Nada (Ramble) 1.1 (1) →
341. Miroslav Vitous, Mountain Call (2003-10, ECM) 1.1 (1)  *[Also in Rara Avis] →
342. Håvard Wiik - Antonio Borghini - Tim Daisy, One Brief Cure (Relay) 1.1 (1) →
343. Wrens, Live @ NUBLU (Out of Your Head) 1.1 (1) →
346. Joshua Achiron, Climbing (Calligram) 1 (1) →
347. Nat Adderley Jr., Took So Long (NAJ '25) 1 (1) →
348. Eric Alexander, Like Sugar (Cellar '25) 1 (1) →
349. Ishmael Ali, Burn the Plastic, Sell the Copper (Amalgam) 1 (1) →
350. Lina Allemano Four, The Diptychs (Lumo '25) 1 (1) →
Marshall Allen, New Dawn (Mexican Summer '25) 1 (1) →
351. Paulo Almeida, Love in Motion (Dox) 1 (1) →
352. Julian Argüelles, Echo Fields (Escapade) 1 (1) →
353. Marc Benham, Tricératops (Pégazz & L'Helicon) 1 (1) →
354. Louis Billette, Lux II (Jazz Family) 1 (1) →
355. David Binney, History:Memory (Mythology) 1 (1) →
356. Black Nile, Indigo Garden (Hen House Studios) 1 (1) →
357. Joseph Branciforte & Jozef Dumoulin, ITERAE (Greyfade) 1 (1) →
358. Federico Calcagno & the Dolphians, Face the Music (Da Vinci Jazz '25) 1 (1) →
359. Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Dawn (Stretch/Ropeadope '25) 1 (1) →
Josh Collazo's Jazzboree, Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That (Maximum Future '25) 1 (1) →
360. Marc Copland, String Theory (Inner Voice Jazz) 1 (1) →
361. Gustavo Cortinas, The Drum Also Sings (Desafio Candente) 1 (1) →
362. Douglas J. Cuomo, A Raft, the Sky, the Wild Sea (Blue Cloud Music) 1 (1) →
363. Daggerboard, The Skipper and Mike Clark (Wide Hive) 1 (1) →
364. Christopher Dammann, Dead Words (Shifting Paradigm) 1 (1) →
365. Danalogue, Teleportations (Castles in Space) 1 (1) →
366. Franco D'Andrea Trio, Live (Parco Della Musica '25) 1 (1) →
367. Eddie Daniels, To Milton With Love (Resonance '25) 1 (1) →
368. Jean Derome & Somebody Special, Le Sourire (Ambiances Magnétiques) 1 (1) →
Maria Pia De Vito, Buarqueana (Parco Della Musica '25) 1 (1) →
369. Brian Dickinson & Penderecki String Quartet, October Songs (Cellar) 1 (1) →
370. Philipp Eden - Frantz Loriot - Marina Tantanozi, And Raw, Lift My Eyes (Inexhaustible Editions '25) 1 (1) →
371. Henriette Eilertsen Trio, Moder (Motvind) 1 (1) →
372. Andy Emler - Claude Tchamitchian - Eric Echampard, There Is Another Way (La Buisonne) 1 (1) →
373. Christoph Erb - Magda Mayas - Gerry Hemingway, Phyla Music (Veto '25) 1 (1) →
374. Daniel Erdmann's Thérapie De Couple, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, François (Budapest Music Center) 1 (1) →
375. Experiments in Opera, Anthony Braxton Theater Improvisations (EiO) 1 (1) →
376. Giovanni Falzone, Suite for Miles (Tǔk Music) 1 (1) →
377. Jimmy Farace, Big Shoulders, Big Sounds (Shifting Paradigm) 1 (1) →
Joe Farnsworth, The Big Room (Smoke Sessions '25) 1 (1) →
378. Fathers, Fathers (Blue Note) 1 (1) →
379. Rob Garcia, Sizzle Works (Connection Works) 1 (1) →
380. Gianni Gebbia, Petrichor (Objet-A) 1 (1) →
381. George, Looking for Consonance (Out of Your Head) 1 (1) →
382. Arkady Gotesman, Music for an Imaginary Ballet (NoBusiness '25) 1 (1) →
383. Gordon Grdina's Nomad Trio, Ash (Attaboygirl) 1 (1) →
384. Michael Hampton, Into the Public Domain (SMN/So '25) 1 (1) →
385. Asaf Harris, I Thought I Was Ready (self-released) 1 (1) →
386. Paul Hecht, Pyrography II (Ears & Eyes) 1 (1) →
Conrad Herwig, The Latin Side of Chick Corea (Savant) 1 (1) →
387. The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band, Live at Birdland (Turtle Bay '25) 1 (1) →
388. Eric Hofbauer & EHX, Tongues/Hope Language (Creative Nation Music) 1 (1) →
389. Honoring Pat Martino, Volume 2 (HighNote) 1 (1) →
390. Ize Trio, Global Prayer (self-released) 1 (1) →
391. Hilary Jeffrey, Green Prism: Music by Keith Tippett (Discus Music) 1 (1) →
392. Ernesto Jodos & Rocio Giménez López, Una Casa Con Dos Pianos (Blue Art) 1 (1) →
393. Per Texas Johansson, Orkester Omnitonal På Musikaliska Kvarteret (Moserobie) 1 (1) →
394. Seu Jorge, The Other Side (Amor in Sound) 1 (1) →
395. Sylvain Kassap - Steve Swell - Benjamin Duboc - Chad Taylor, Edges (RogueArt '25) 1 (1) →
KIND [Jan Klare], Count (Umland '25) 1 (1) →
396. Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore, They Came Like Swallows: Seven Requiems for the Children of Gaza (Silver Current) 1 (1) →
397. Roberto Magris & Denis Razz Quartet, In Action (JMood '25) 1 (1) →
398. Magda Mayas' Filamental, Murmur (Relative Pitch) 1 (1) →
399. Elan Mehler, Renee Said (Newvelle) 1 (1) →
400. Neal Miner, Invisibility (Cellar '25) 1 (1) →
401. Billy Mohler, Live in Europe (Dox) 1 (1) →
402. Luis Nacht & Camila Nebbia, Noche Y Niebla (Ears & Eyes) 1 (1) →
403. Giovanni Nardiello, Perspectives (Aut) 1 (1) →
404. Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos E Orquestra, Vila (Far Out) 1 (1) →
Camila Nebbia - James Banner - Max Andrzejewski, Presencia (Ears & Eyes '25) 1 (1) →
405. Vadim Neselovskyi, Perseverantia (Tzadik) 1 (1) →
406. Nite Bjuti, Minwi (Intakt) 1 (1) →
407. Sylvie Noble & Ursula Harrison, New Eve (Flaming Sword) 1 (1) →
408. Nomad War Machine and Susan Alcorn, Contra Madre (VG+) 1 (1) →
409. North Sea String Quartet, Zonar (Happy Seal) 1 (1) →
410. Northwoods Improvisers, Unified View (Entropy Stereo '25) 1 (1) →
411. Shoko Numao, The Siwnin Sails (Elsewhere '25) 1 (1) →
412. Ray Obiedo, Slight Accent (Rhythmus) 1 (1) →
413. John O'Gallagher, Ancestral (Whirlwind '25) 1 (1) →
Linda May Han Oh & Melissa Aldana, Beneath Lifted Skies (Biophilia) 1 (1) →
414. Orchestre National De Jazz, With Carla (ONJ) 1 (1) →
415. Out Of/Into [Joel Ross - Gerald Clayton - Kendrick Scott - Matt Brewer - Immanuel Wilkins], Motion II (Blue Note '25) 1 (1) →
416. Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, Around the World With U (Cellar) 1 (1) →
417. Keith Oxman, Home (Capri '25) 1 (1) →
418. Parlor Greens, Emeralds (Colemine) 1 (1) →
419. Rebecca Patterson & Ron Wilkins, The Vigil and the Sleeping Giant (Adhyâropa) 1 (1) →
420. Alex Paxton, Candyfolk Space Drum (Jonah) 1 (1) →
421. Leigh Pilzer, Keep Holding On (Strange Woman) 1 (1) →
422. Chris Pitsiokos Ensemble, Doing Something, Doing Nothing (Eleatic) 1 (1) →
Brooks Prumo Orchestra, Good Bait (self-released) 1 (1) →
423. Nat Reeves, Now in Time (The Side Door) 1 (1) →
424. Ted Rosenthal Trio, The Good Old Days (TMR Music) 1 (1) →
425. Jorge Rossy & Michael Kanan, Red on Maroon (UnderPool) 1 (1) →
426. Olaf Rupp, Berlin Eiskeller (Scatter Archive) 1 (1) →
427. The Ali Ryerson Quartet (ARC Music) 1 (1) →
428. Jamie Saft, Rhodes Scholar (Veal/Team Love) 1 (1) →
429. Brandon Sanders, Lasting Impression (Savant '25) 1 (1) →
430. Udo Schindler & Paul Rogers, Ephemeral Essences of LowTone Studies (for Duo) (FMR '25) 1 (1) →
431. Sharada Shashidhar, A Foot on the Ground (Colorfield) 1 (1) →
Bria Skonberg, Brass (Cellar) 1 (1) →
432. Claudia Solal & Benoît Delbecq, Honour Oxygen! (Jazzdor) 1 (1) →
433. Tyshawn Sorey, Monochromatic Life (Afterlife) (Dacamera) 1 (1) →
434. Lisa Stick, Live at Loft (Unit) 1 (1) →
435. Skúli Sverrisson & Bill Frisell, For All Your Flowers (Newvelle) 1 (1) →
436. Alexa Tarantino, The Roar and the Whisper (Blue Engine '25) 1 (1) →
437. Hound Dog Taylor's Hand and Joe Paradiso, The Structure and Dynamics of Disordered Systems (HDTH) 1 (1) →
438. Teiku, Klang (Ginkgo) 1 (1) →
439. Håkon Thelin, Echoes and Traces, Together (Peninsula Audio) 1 (1) →
440. Vance Thompson, Lost and Found (Moondo) 1 (1) →
Tino Tracanna, Panorchestra (Flying Robert Music '25) 1 (1) →
441. Kalia Vandever, Another View (Northern View '25) 1 (1) →
442. April Varner, Ella (Cellar) 1 (1) →
443. Angela Verbrugge & Ray Gallon, In the Wonder of the Night (G2 '25) 1 (1) →
444. Mark Wade Trio, New Stages (Dot Time) 1 (1) →
445. Brad Walker, A Sliver of Catharsis (self-released '25) 1 (1) →
446. Alicia Waller, Louder, Then (Frente) 1 (1) →
447. Trevor Watts - Barry Guy - Ramon Lopez, The First Touch (Fundacja Słuchaj) 1 (1) →
448. WDR Big Band & John Goldsby, Big Band Bass (Bass Lion '25) 1 (1) →
449. Joe Webb, Neath Beat (Edition) 1 (1) →
Lis Wessberg Featuring Veronika Rud, In the Wake of Blue (April) 1 (1) →
450. Your Brother's Keeper & Gary Bartz, Where Rivers Meet (Brownswood) 1 (1) →

Total albums receiving votes: 462. Of these, 64 were initially released in 2025 (13.85%), and 398 in 2026.

161 albums (34.8%) received only 1 vote. Other low vote totals: 2 votes (71, 15.3%); 3 votes (28, 6.0%); 4 votes (14, 3.0%).

All 127 critics voted in this category. 17 critics (13.3%) voted for fewer than the maximum 10 albums. The shortest ballot was for 3 albums. Other short ballots were for 4 albums (1), 5 (4), 6 (4), 7 (1), 8 (3), and 9 (3).

17 critics (13.3%) submitted unranked lists.

Notes:

Albums which also received votes in Rara Avis. The "proper" category was determined by which one received the most votes, with ties decided by the reissue/recording date rule (anything recorded before Jan. 1, 2017, or anything reissued, belongs in Rara Avis). One extra vote was awarded to the proper category for each vote in the improper one:

• James Brandon Lewis & Lutosławski Quartet, These Are Soulful Days (2021, TAO Forms) 8.9 (4) + 1 (1) :: awarded + 1 (1) in New Jazz
• Daunik Lazro - Joëlle Léandre - Paul Lovens, For Baritone Sax, Double Bass & Drumset (2013, Relative Pitch) 2 (1) + 2.2 (2) :: awarded + 1 (1) in Rara Avis
• Miroslav Vitous, Mountain Call (2003-10, ECM) 1.1 (1) + 7 (5) :: awarded +1 (1) in Rara Avis
• Satoko Fujii, Satoko Fujii's Bunker Ulmenwall Orchestra (2014, Libra) 2.4 (1) + 1 (1) :: awarded 1 (1) in Rara Avis