The 20th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2025
Past Polls Index
New Albums Rara Avis Vocal Latin Debut
Critics
Abreu - BrownleeBuskirk - DrouotDryden - GrossHale - KaminsKanzler - MargasakMedrano - ParnellPerkins - SilvaSlim - WeissWest - Yokoi

2025 Totals: Rara Avis (Reissues/Archival)

This category is for new albums of older music, released in 2025 (or 2024 but discovered in 2025), consisting of reissues with any previously released music, or albums of previously unreleased music that has beeen recorded more than 10 years ago (on or before December 31, 2015). For new albums of newer music, see New Albums.

Critics were asked to list up to 5 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: 2.0; 2: 1.6; 3: 1.4; 4: 1.2, 5: 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. Charles Mingus, Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts (1977, Resonance) 38.8 (28) →
  2. Horace Silver, Silver in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (1965, Blue Note) 34 (27) →
  3. Freddie Hubbard, On Fire: Live From the Blue Morocco (1967, Resonance) 36.2 (25) →
  4. Anthony Braxton, Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance) 38.6 (23) →
  5. Kenny Dorham, Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live From the Blue Morocco (1957, Resonance) 29 (21) →
  6. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate (1963, Resonance) 26.2 (17) →
  7. Stanley Cowell, Musa: Ancestral Streams (1974, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 24.4 (17) →
  8. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse (1967, Resonance) 22 (16) →
  9. Cecil Taylor & Tony Oxley, Flashing Spirits (1988, Burning Ambulance) 19.8 (14) →
  10. Irène Schweizer - Rüdiger Carl - Johnny Dyani - Han Bennink, Irène's Hot Four (1981, Intakt) 18.4 (13) →
  11. Music Inc. [Charles Tolliver - Stanley Cowell - Cecil McBee - Jimmy Hopps], Live at Slugs' Volume I & II (1970, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 17 (13) →
  12. Roy Brooks, The Free Slave (1970, Muse/Time Traveler) 16.2 (12) →
  13. Pharoah Sanders, Love Is Here: The Complete Paris 1975 ORTF Recordings (Transcendence Sounds) 15 (10) →
  14. The Bottle Tapes (1996-2005, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 15.8 (9) →
  15. Thelonious Monk, Bremen 1965 (Sunnyside) 14.6 (9) →
  16. Dave Burrell & Sam Woodyard, The Lost Session: Paris 1979 (NoBusiness) 12.2 (8) →
  17. McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (1966, Blue Note '24) 10 (8) →
  18. James Moody, 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note March 26, 2005 (Origin) 11.4 (7) →
  19. Pharoah Sanders, The Complete Pharoah Sanders Theresa Recordings (1980-87, Mosaic) 10.4 (7) →
  20. Frank Kimbrough, The Call (2010, Sunnyside) 10 (7) →
  21. Masabumi Kikuchi, Hanamichi: The Final Studio Recording Vol. II (2013, Red Hook) 9 (7)  *[Includes 2 (2) from New Jazz] →
  22. Bill Evans, Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings (1959-61, Craft) 10.6 (6) →
  23. Charlie Parker, Bird in Kansas City (1941-51, Verve '24) 9.2 (6) →
  24. Sun Ra, Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (1970, Strut) 8.8 (6) →
  25. Ryan Truesdell Presents Gil Evans Project, Shades of Sound: Live at Jazz Standard, Vol. 2 (2014, Outside In Music) 8.8 (6)  *[Includes 2 (2) from New Jazz] →
  26. Pharoah Sanders, Izipho Zam (My Gifts) (1973, Strata East/Mack Avenue) 8.4 (6) →
  27. Marco Eneidi Quintet, Wheat Fields of Kleylehof (2004, Balance Point Acoustics) 7.4 (6) →
  28. John Surman, Flashpoints and Undercurrents (1969, Cuneiform) 7.2 (6) →
  29. Snakeoil, In Lieu Of (2012, Screwgun) 8.2 (5) →
  30. Keith Jarrett - Gary Peacock - Paul Motian, The Old Country: More From the Deer Head Inn (1992, ECM '24) 7.2 (5) →
  31. Sun Ra, Uncharted Passages: New York Piano Soliloquies 1977-79 (Modern Marmonic) 6.8 (5) →
  32. Michel Petrucciani Trio, Jazz Club Montmartre (1988, Storyville '24) 6.2 (5)  *[Includes 1 (1) from 2024] →
  33. The Charlie Rouse Band, Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition (1977, Resonance) 6.2 (5) →
  34. Jessica Williams, Blue Abstraction: Prepared Piano Project 1985-1987 (Pre-Echo Press) 6.8 (4) →
  35. Griot Galaxy, Live on WUOM 1979 (Two Rooms) 5.6 (4) →
  36. Charles Mingus, Mingus at Monterey (1964, Candid) 5.4 (4) →
  37. Ella Fitzgerald, The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum (1967, Verve) 5 (4) →
  38. Classic Vanguard Small Group Swing Sessions (1953-57, Mosaic '24) 4.6 (4) →
  39. Keith Jarrett, New Vienna (2016, ECM) 4.6 (4) →
  40. Joni Mitchell, Joni's Jazz (1968-2023, Rhino) 4.6 (4) →
  41. Khan Jamal, Give the Vibes Some (1974, Souffle Continu) 4.4 (4) →
  42. George Colligan, Live at the Jazz Standard (2014, Whirlwind) 5 (3) →
  43. Bill Evans, Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 (Elemental Music) 4.8 (3) →
  44. Thelonious Monk, Thelonious Himself (1957, Craft) 4.8 (3) →
  45. Miles Davis, Miles '55: The Prestige Recordings (Craft) 4.6 (3) →
  46. Larry Stabbins - Keith Tippett - Louis Moholo-Moholo, Live in Foggia (1985, Ogun) 4.6 (3) →
  47. Chick Corea, Piano Improvisations Vol. 1 (1971, ECM) 4.4 (3) →
  48. James Newton Quartet, Live in Willisau Switzerland 1983 (Rhythm 'n' Flow) 4.4 (3) →
  49. Snakeoil, Snakeoil OK (2013, Screwgun) 4.2 (3) →
  50. Chet Baker, Five From '65: The Quintet Summer Sessions (New Land) 4 (3) →
  51. Jimmy Lyons, Live From Studio Rivbea: 1974 & 1976 (NoBusiness) 4 (3) →
  52. Mujician, In Concerts (1993-2010, Jazz in Britain) 4 (3) →
  53. Cecil McBee, Mutima (1974, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 3.4 (3) →
  54. Phil Haynes & Free Country, Liberty Now! (1996-2025, Corner Store Jazz) 3 (3)  *[Includes 2 (2) from New Jazz] →
  55. Yusef Lateef, Golden Flower: Live in Sweden (1967-72, Elemental Music) 3.6 (2) →
  56. Kenny Barron, Sunset to Dawn (1973, Muse/Time Traveler) 3.4 (2) →
  57. Frank Zappa, Cheaper Than Cheep (1974, Zappa/UMe) 3.4 (2) →
  58. Peter Brötzmann - Jason Adasiewicz - Steve Noble - John Edwards, The Quartet: Cafe Oto, London, February, 10 & 11, 2023 (Otoroku) 3.2 (2) →
  59. Chick Corea - Christian McBride - Brian Blade, Trilogy 3 (2020, Candid) 3.2 (2) →
  60. Clifford Jordan, Glass Bead Games (1973, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 3.2 (2) →
  61. Don Cherry & Latif Khan, Music/Sangam (1978, Heavenly Sweetness) 3 (2) →
  62. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme [60th Anniversary Edition] (1964, Impulse!) 3 (2) →
  63. Miles Davis Quintet, Miles in France 1963 & 1964 [The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8] (Columbia/Legacy '24) 3 (2) →
  64. William Hooker, A Time Within: Live at the New York Jazz Museum, January 14, 1977 (Valley of Search) 3 (2) →
  65. Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra, Vol. 4: Jo Maka (1977, Souffle Continu) 3 (2) →
  66. Keith Jarrett - Gary Peacock - Paul Motian, At the Deer Head Inn: The Complete Recordings (1992, ECM) 3 (2) →
  67. Ike Quebec, The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions (1959-62, Blue Note) 3 (2) →
  68. Ray Russell Quartet, The Complete Spontaneous Event: Live 1967-1969 (Jazz in Britain '24) 3 (2) →
  69. Carlos Garnett, Cosmos Nucleus (1976, Muse/Time Traveler) 2.8 (2) →
  70. Roland Kirk Quartet, Domino: Live at Radio Bremen TV-Studios 1963 (1963, MIG) 2.8 (2) →
  71. Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain: Esoteric, Modal, and Progressive Jazz From Central and Eastern Europe (1962-1988) (Jazzman) 2.8 (2) →
  72. Classic Vanguard Jazz Piano Sessions (1953-58, Mosaic) 2.6 (2) →
  73. Ellery Eskelin, Trio New York About (or On) First Visit (2011-13, Ezz-Thetics) 2.6 (2) →
  74. Oliver Lake, Live From Studio Rivbea 1975 & 1976 (NoBusiness) 2.6 (2) →
  75. Hank Mobley, Roll Call (1960, Blue Note) 2.6 (2) →
  76. Kristen Noguès & John Surman, Diriaou (1998, Souffle Continu) 2.6 (2) →
  77. Tomasz Stanko Quartet, September Night (2004, ECM '24) 2.6 (2) →
  78. Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Live at Widney High December 26th, 1971 (The Village) 2.6 (2) →
  79. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme [Monophonic Edition] (1964, Impulse!) 2.4 (2) →
  80. Rashied Ali Quintet Featuring Frank Lowe, Sidewalks in Motion (2001, Survival) 2.4 (2) →
  81. Derek Bailey & John Stevens, The Duke of Wellington (1989, Confront) 2.4 (2) →
  82. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Strasbourg 82 (Gearbox) 2.2 (2) →
  83. A New Awakening: Adventures in British Jazz 1966-1971 (Strawberry) 2.2 (2) →
  84. Bill Evans, Moon Beams (1962, Craft) 2 (2) →
  85. Oscar Moore, The Enchanting Guitar of Oscar Moore: The 1945-1965 Years (Fresh Sound) 2 (2) →
  86. Charles Tolliver - Stanley Cowell - Cecil McBee - Jimmy Hopps, Music Inc. (1970, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 2 (2) →
  87. Ansamblul Hyperion, Conducerea Muzicală: Iancu Dumitrescu (1980, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 2 (1) →
  88. AMM & Sachiko M, Testing (2004 Matchless) 2 (1) →
  89. Derek Bailey - Paul Lovens - Jon Rose, Podewil (1992, The Jon Rose Archive) 2 (1) →
  90. Doug Beavers, Titanes Del Trombón [Remastered] (2015, Circle 9) 2 (1) →
  91. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise [IA11 Edition] (2019, International Anthem) 2 (1) →
  92. Peter Brötzmann Trio, Hurricane (2015, Old Heaven Books) 2 (1) →
  93. Miles Davis, The Musings of Miles (1955, Craft) 2 (1) →
  94. The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe, A Spirit Speaks (1974, Strata-East) 2 (1) →
  95. Bill Evans, In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert (1970, Elemental Music '24) 2 (1) →
  96. Fred Frith and the Gravity Band (2014, Klanggalerie) 2 (1) →
  97. Allen Ginsberg, The Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience (1970-71, Omnivore) 2 (1) →
  98. Tord Gustavsen Trio, Changing Places (2003, ECM) 2 (1) →
  99. Billy Harper, Trying to Make Heaven My Home (1979, MPS/Ultravybe) 2 (1) →
  100. Nancy Harrow, Wild Women Don't Have the Blues (1960, Candid) 2 (1) →
  101. Ibex Band, Stereo Instrumental Music (1976, Muzikawi) 2 (1) →
  102. Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra, Après La Marée Noire: Vers Une Musique Bretonne Nouvelle (1979, Souffle Continu) 2 (1) →
  103. Wes Montgomery, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960, Craft) 2 (1) →
  104. Emily Remler, Cookin' at the Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988 (Resonance '24) 2 (1) →
  105. Sam Rivers, A New Conception (1966, Blue Note) 2 (1) →
  106. Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia, Live at Leverkusen 1994 (Repertoire) 2 (1) →
  107. Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Centennial: The Music of Thad Jones: Live at the Village Vanguard (2024, BCM+D '24) 2 (1) →
  108. Amanda Whiting, The Liminality of Her [Deluxe Edition] (2024, First Word) 2 (1) →
  109. David Binney, Grains of Light (2009-13, Mythology) 1.6 (1) →
  110. Blackbyrds, City Life (1975, Craft/Jazz Dispensary) 1.6 (1) →
  111. Clifford Brown & Max Roach (1954-55, Verve) 1.6 (1) →
  112. Kenny Burrell With Art Blakey, On View at the Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters (1959, Blue Note) 1.6 (1) →
  113. Ray Barretto Y Su Orquesta, Celia · Ray · Adalberto: Tremendo Trio! (1983, Craft) 1.6 (1) →
  114. Miles Davis, Agharta (1975, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) 1.6 (1) →
  115. Miles Davis, Walkin' (1954, Craft) 1.6 (1) →
  116. Manu Dibango, Dibango 82 (1982, We Want Sounds) 1.6 (1) →
  117. Joe Henderson, Multiple (1973, Craft) 1.6 (1) →
  118. Noah Howard Quartet, Schizophrenic Blues: Live in Berlin (1977, Cien Fuegos) 1.6 (1) →
  119. Henry Kaiser, Domo Arigato Derek Sensei (1976-2006, Balance Point Acoustics) 1.6 (1) →
  120. Strata-East: The Legacy Begins (1968-75, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 1.6 (1) →
  121. Mal Waldron, Candy Girl (1975, Strut) 1.6 (1) →
  122. The Charlie Watts Orchestra, Live Fulham Town Hall (1986, BMG) 1.6 (1) →
  123. Mike Westbrook, The Cortège: Live at the BBC 1980 (Cadillac) 1.6 (1) →
  124. The Alien Territory Archives: A Collection of Experimental and Irrelevant Music From 1970s San Diego (1968-81, Nyahh) 1.4 (1) →
  125. Jean-Jacques Avenel & Daunik Lazro, Duo: Bibliothèque De Massy 13 Novembre 1980 (Fou '24) 1.4 (1) →
  126. Paul Bley Trio, Floater & Syndrome: The Upright Piano Sessions Revisited (1962-63, Ezz-Thetics) 1.4 (1) →
  127. Dexter Gordon, Landslide (1961-62, Blue Note) 1.4 (1) →
  128. Andrew Hill, Grass Roots (1968, Blue Note) 1.4 (1) →
  129. Bobby Hutcherson, Montara (1975, Blue Note) 1.4 (1) →
  130. Wes Montgomery With the Wynton Kelly Trio, Smokin' in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (1966, Resonance) 1.4 (1) →
  131. Joe Pass, Virtuoso (1973, Craft) 1.4 (1) →
  132. Art Pepper, Geneva 1980 (Omnivore) 1.4 (1) →
  133. Max Roach, We Insist: Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite (1960, Vinyl Me Please) 1.4 (1) →
  134. The Dave Robbins Big Band, Happy Faces (1963-65, Cellar Music) 1.4 (1) →
  135. Alan Silva and His Celestrial Communication Orchestra, Luna Surface (1969, BYG-Actuel) 1.4 (1) →
  136. Louis Stewart, I Thought About You (1977, Livia) 1.4 (1) →
  137. Sun Ra, Stray Voltage (1970s-80s, Modern Harmonic) 1.4 (1) →
  138. Hiroshi Yoshimura, Flora (1987, Temporal Drift) 1.4 (1) →
  139. Albert Ayler With Don Cherry, Europe 1964 (ORG Music) 1.2 (1) →
  140. Anthony Braxton, B-X0 N0-47A (1969, BYG) 1.2 (1) →
  141. Ted Brown, Just You, Just Me (2013, New Artists) 1.2 (1) →
  142. Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions (1943-49, Mosaic '24) 1.2 (1) →
  143. The John Coltrane Quartet Plays (1965, Verve) 1.2 (1) →
  144. Kenny Drew Trio, Kenny Drew Trio (1956, Craft) 1.2 (1) →
  145. Fred Frith & Shelley Burgon, The Life and Behavior (2002-05, Relative Pitch) 1.2 (1) →
  146. Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959 (Whaling City Sound '24) 1.2 (1) →
  147. Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Side Up (1957, Verve Vault Series) 1.2 (1) →
  148. Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris (1963, Blue Note) 1.2 (1) →
  149. Joseph Holbrooke, Last Live 2001: In Memoriam Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley (Tzadik) 1.2 (1) →
  150. Noah Howard Group, Berlin Concert (1975, Cien Fuegos) 1.2 (1) →
  151. Thelonious Monk, With Sonny Rollins 1953 to 1957 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics) 1.2 (1) →
  152. Charles Owens Quartet, The Last Late Nights (2003, La Reserve) 1.2 (1) →
  153. Evan Parker, The Heraclitean Two-Step, Etc. (1994-2024, False Walls '24) 1.2 (1) →
  154. The Piano Choir, Handscapes (1972, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 1.2 (1) →
  155. Charlie Rouse, Two Is One (1974, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 1.2 (1) →
  156. Nina Simone, Let It All Out: Selected Singles 1961-1978 (Ace) 1.2 (1) →
  157. Simon Spang-Hanssen, Afrolantic (2002, Spangster) 1.2 (1) →
  158. John Taylor, Close to Mars (2006, CAM Jazz) 1.2 (1) →
  159. Charles Tolliver's Music Inc, Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (1972, Strata-East) 1.2 (1) →
  160. Tony Allen & La Bogotá Orquesta Afrobeat, La BOA Meets Tony Allen (2011, Comet) 1 (1) →
  161. Alts 'N Outs: The Other Side of Blue Note (1958-64, Blue Note) 1 (1) →
  162. Jaki Byard, Blues for Smoke (1960, Candid) 1 (1) →
  163. John Coltrane, The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (Impulse!) 1 (1) →
  164. Jacques Coursil, Black Suite (1969, BYG) 1 (1) →
  165. Bob Crosby, Classic Decca Recordings of Bob Crosby and His Orchestra and Bob Cats (1933-1942) (Mosaic) 1 (1) →
  166. Miles Davis, Live at the Plugged Nickel: December 23, 1965: Second Set (Legacy) 1 (1) →
  167. Don Ellis, How Time Passes to Essence Revisited (1960-62, Ezz-Thetics '24) 1 (1) →
  168. Bill Evans, Portraits at the Penthouse: Live in Seattle (1966, Resonance) 1 (1) →
  169. Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith, The World of the Children (1976, Strata-East) 1 (1) →
  170. Shamek Farrah, First Impressions (1974, Strata-East) 1 (1) →
  171. Mickey Finn, Antiruggine (2012, Hora) 1 (1) →
  172. Green Cosmos, Abendmusiken (1981-82, Frederiksberg) 1 (1) →
  173. Jim Hall, Concierto [50th Anniversary Edition] (1975, Sony Music/Elemental Music) 1 (1) →
  174. Billy Harper, Capra Black (1973, Strata-East/Mack Avenue) 1 (1) →
  175. Joe Henderson, Our Thing to In 'n Out Revisited (1963-64, Ezz-Thetics) 1 (1) →
  176. Michael Gregory Jackson, Frequency Equilibrium Koan (1977, Moved-by-Sound) 1 (1) →
  177. Al Jarreau & NDR Big Band, Ellington (2016, ACT Music '24) 1 (1) →
  178. Russ Johnson - Christian Weber - Dieter Ulrich, To Walk on Eggshells (2009, Ezz-Thetics) 1 (1) →
  179. Roland Keijser Kvartett, Öppet 03/Tre (1968-69, Caprice) 1 (1) →
  180. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith (1967, Verve) 1 (1) →
  181. Steve Lacy Three, Live Lugano 1984 First Visit (Ezz-Thetics) 1 (1) →
  182. Daunik Lazro - Tristan Honsinger - Jean-Jacques Avenel, True & Whole Tones in Rhythms (Dunois · 9 Mai 1982) (Fou '24) 1 (1) →
  183. Agustin Pereyra Lucena, Puertos De Alternativa (1988, Far Out) 1 (1) →
  184. Edison Machado & Boa Nova (1978, Far Out) 1 (1) →
  185. Bobby Matos & the Combo Conquistadores, My Latin Soul (1968, Mr. Bongo) 1 (1) →
  186. Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus (1974, ECM) 1 (1) →
  187. Stephen McCraven, Wooley the Newt (1979, Moved-by-Sound) 1 (1) →
  188. Marian McPartland, At the Peninsula Library 1972 (Liberation Hall) 1 (1) →
  189. Misha Mengelberg & Sabu Toyozumi, The Analects of Confucius (2000, NoBusiness) 1 (1) →
  190. Lee Morgan, Here's Lee Morgan (1960, Craft) 1 (1) →
  191. Lee Morgan, The Procrastinator (1967, Blue Note) 1 (1) →
  192. Yusuf Mumin, Journey to the Ancient (We Want Sounds) 1 (1) →
  193. Bobby Naughton Trio, Housatonic Rumble: Live at Charlie's Tap (1985, NoBusiness) 1 (1) →
  194. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Centennial (1923, Archeophone '24) 1 (1) →
  195. William Parker, In Order to Survive (1993, Black Saint) 1 (1) →
  196. Oscar Peterson, Around the World (1969-81, Mack Avenue/Two Lions) 1 (1) →
  197. Doc Pomus, You Can't Hip a Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos (1947-90, Omnivore) 1 (1) →
  198. Andre Previn, Early Years 1945-53 (Acrobat '24) 1 (1) →
  199. Scandinavian Art Ensemble With Tomasz Stanko, The Copenhagen Session Vol. 2 (2016, April) 1 (1) →
  200. Toshiyuki Sekine Trio, Strode Road (1978, Craftman) 1 (1) →
  201. Wayne Shorter, Introducing Wayne Shorter (1960, Craft) 1 (1) →
  202. Wayne Shorter, Celebration, Volume 1 (2014, Blue Note '24) 1 (1) →
  203. Sun Ra, Hidden Fire (1988, Strut) 1 (1) →
  204. Masayuki Takayanagi, Holy Holy (1985, Jinya Disc) 1 (1) →
  205. Masayuki Takayanagi, Stardust (1979, Jinya Disc) 1 (1) →
  206. John Taylor, Tramonto (2002, ECM) 1 (1) →
  207. Charles Tyler Ensemble, Voyage From Jericho (1974, Frederiksberg) 1 (1) →
  208. Tony Williams, Civilization (1986, Blue Note) 1 (1) →

Total albums receiving votes: 208. Of these, 21 were initially released in 2024 (10.0%), and 187 in 2025. This up from 8.0% in 2024.

147 critics (88.0%) voted in this category; 20 (11.9%) did not vote. Of those who voted, 98 (66.6%) voted for the maximum 5 albums; 9 (6.1% voted for 4 albums; 19 (12.9%) voted for 3 albums (the pre-2024 limit); 10 (6.8%) voted for 2 albums; and 11 (7.4%) voted for only 1 album.

25 critics submitted unranked lists (17.0% of voters; 14.9% overall).

Notes:

Albums that belong in New Albums (not reissued, and all music recorded in or after 2016) but which received votes here:

Rara Avis albums awarded 1 point for each vote they erroneously received under New Albums:

Other albums that erroneously received votes under New Jazz Albums were not awarded extra points (votes) here, because they didn't receive any actual votes here:

If an album received one or more votes both in the previous year and this year, and if it received more votes (not just more points) this year, the two year totals are added together. This applies to::

Rara Avis albums that received votes in 2024 as well as 2025. These are numbered by their position in 2024:

  1. McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (1966, Blue Note '24) 91.6 (62) + 10 (8) = 101.6 (70)
  2. Miles Davis Quintet, Miles in France 1963 & 1964 [The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8] (Columbia/Legacy '24) 41.2 (28) + 3 (2) = 44.2 (30)
  3. Keith Jarrett - Gary Peacock - Paul Motian, The Old Country: More From the Deer Head Inn (1992, ECM '24) 31 (22) + 7.2 (5) = 38.2 (27)
  4. Wayne Shorter, Celebration, Volume 1 (2014, Blue Note '24) 29.8 (22) + 1 (1) = 30.8 (23)
  5. Emily Remler, Cookin' at the Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988 (Resonance '24) 29.2 (23) + 2 (1) = 31.2 (24)
  6. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Centennial (1923, Archeophone '24) 14.8 (10) + 1 (1) = 15.8 (11)
  7. Tomasz Stanko Quartet, September Night (2004, ECM '24) 12.4 (9) + 2.6 (2) = 15 (11)
  8. Charlie Parker, Bird in Kansas City (1941-51, Verve '24) 10 (7) + 9.2 (6) = 19.2 (13)
  9. Bill Evans, In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert (1970, Elemental Music '24) 8.6 (7) + 2 (1) = 10.6 (8)
  10. Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959 (Whaling City Sound '24) 8 (5) + 1.2 (1) = 9.2 (6)
  11. Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions (1943-49, Mosaic '24) 2.4 (2) + 1.2 (1) = 3.6 (3)
  12. Don Ellis, How Time Passes to Essence Revisited (1960-62, Ezz-Thetics '24) 1.4 (1) + 1 (1)

The other '24 releases only received votes in 2025.