Russell Perry’s Favorite Jazz of 2025
By Russell Perry
Artemis: Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller, Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover
Each week throughout the year, I publish a preview of the new jazz releases that have arrived at WTJU. Of the 625 (or so) releases that we received (from 12/2024 – 11/2025), 125 stood out as being Highly Recommended and here I’d like to spotlight 50 of these.
In order of release date, here are 25 of my favorite releases this year. Whether they are truly the best or most important of the year, only time will tell. For the moment, these are the ones that appealed to me most and I commend them to your attention.
Carl Allen – Tippin’ (Cellar Music, released 01/10/2025). Chris Potter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet, Christian McBride – bass, Carl Allen – drums with John Lee – piano.
Joe Farnsworth – The Big Room (Smoke Sessions, release 01/25/2025). Jeremy Pelt – trumpet, Sarah Hanahan – alto saxophone, Emmet Cohen – piano, Joel Ross – vibraphone, Yasushi Nakamura – bass, Joe Farnsworth – drums.
Noah Preminger – Ballads (Chill Tone Records, release 02/21/2025). Noah Preminger – tenor saxophone, Julian Shore – piano, Kim Cass – bass, Allan Mednard – drums.
Billy Hart – Just (ECM, release 02/28/2025). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Ethan Iverson – piano, Ben Street – double bass, Billy Hart – drums.
Artemis – Arboresque (Blue Note, release 02/28/2025. Ingrid Jensen – trumpet, Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone, Renee Rosnes – piano, Noriko Ueda – bass, Allison Miller – drums.
Shuffle Demons – Are You Real? (Alma / Universal, release 03/07/2025). Richard Underhill – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone / vocals, Kelly Jefferson – tenor saxophone, Matt Lagan – tenor saxophone, Mike Downes – acoustic bass / electric bass, Stich Wynston – drums / vocals.
Nels Cline – Consentrik Quartet (Blue Note Records, release 03/14/2025). Ingrid Laubrock – saxophones, Nels Cline – guitar, Chris Lightcap – bass, Tom Rainey – drums.
Branford Marsalis Quartet – Belonging (Blue Note, release 03/28/2025). Branford Marsalis – saxophone, Joey Calderazzo – piano, Eric Revis – bass, Justin Faulkner – drums.
Charlie Ballentine – East by Midwest (Origin Records, release 04/18/2025). Charlie Ballentine – guitar, Quinn Sternberg – bass, Dan Weiss – drums.
Cosmic Ear – Traces (We Jazz Records, release 05/23/2025). Goran Kajfeš – trumpet / pocket trumpet / synth / electronics / percussion, Mats Gustafsson – tenor saxophone / flute / slide flute / Ab clarinet / live electronics / organ / harmonica, Christer Bothén – donso n’goni / bass clarinet / contra bass clarinet / piano, Kansan Zetterberg – bass / donso n’goni, Juan Romero – congas / berimbau / percussion, with Marianne N´Lemwo – karignan.
Brandee Younger – Gadabout Season (Impulse Records, release 06/13/2025). Brandee Younger – harp, Rashaan Carter – bass, Allan Mednard – drums, with Shabaka – flute / clarinet, Joel Ross – vibraphone, Makaya McCraven – percussion, Niia – vocals, Courtney Bryan – piano, Josh Johnson – saxophone.
James Brandon Lewis – Abstraction Is Deliverance (Intact Records, release 05/30/2025). James Brandon Lewis – tenor saxophone, Aruán Ortiz – piano, Brad Jones – bass, Chad Taylor – drums.
Denny Zeitlin – Falling In Love With Love: Exploring Richard Rodgers (Sunnyside Records, release 06/06/2025). Denny Zeitlin – piano.
Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell – We Insist 2025 (Candid Records, release 06/13/2025). Milena Casado – trumpet / electronics, Julian Priester – trombone, Simon Moullier – vibraphone, Matthew Stevens – guitar, Morgan Guerin – bass / woodwinds / saxophone, Devon Gates – bass / vocals; Terri Lyne Carrington – drums, Weedie Braima – percussion / congas, Lizz Wright – tambourine, Ayodele Casel – tap dance, Christie Dashiell – vocals, April May Webb – vocals, Christiana Hunte – spoken word / vocals / dance, Tamia Elliott – spoken word / vocals, Ian Michael – spoken word / vocals, Zacchaeus Paul – spoken word / vocals.
Michael Dease – City Life: Music of Gregg Hill (Origin Records, release 06/20/2025). Disc One – Michael Dease – trombone, Linda May Han Oh – bass, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums. Disc Two – Michael Dease – trombone, Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone, Geoffrey Keezer – piano, Jared Beckstead-Craan – bass, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums with Brooklyn Dease – voice.
Joshua Redman – Words Fall Short (Blue Note Records, release 06/20/2025). Joshua Redman – tenor saxophone, Paul Cornish – piano, Philip Norris – bass, Nazir Ebo – drums with Melissa Aldana – tenor saxophone, Skylar Tang – trumpet, Gabrielle Cavassa – vocals.
Etienne Charles – Gullah Roots (Culture Shock Music, release 06/20/2025). Etienne Charles – trumpet / cajon / djembe / tambourine / congas, Godwin Louis – alto sax, Christian Sands – piano, Alex Wintz – guitar, Russell Hall – bass, Harvel Nakundi – drums with Axel Tosca – piano, Damien Sneed – organ, Ben Williams – bass, Quentin E. Baxter – big drum / tambourine / washboard, John Davis – drums, Samir Langus – guembri & castanets, Chris Anthony – vocals, Chenee Campbell – vocals, Charles Carter – vocals, Olanna Goodeau – vocals, Chelsea Green – vocals, Mykal Kilgore – vocals, Quiana Parler – vocals, Shay Rollerson – vocals.
Fred Hersch – The Surrounding Green (ECM, release 06/27/2025). Fred Hersch – piano, Drew Gress – bass, Joey Baron – drums.
Sam Dillon – My Ideal (Cellar Music, release 07/25/2025). Sam Dillon – tenor saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, Alexander Claffy – bass, Rodney Green- drums.
Baltimore Jazz Collective – Baltimore Jazz Collective (Blue House Productions, release 09/12/2025). Sean Jones – trumpet, Todd Marcus – bass clarinet, Alex Brown – piano, Kris Funn – bass, Quincy Phillips – drums, Brinae Ali – tap dancing / vocals.
Charles Lloyd – Figure In Blue (Blue Note Records, release10/10/2025). Charles Lloyd – tenor saxophone / tárogató, Jason Moran – piano, Marvin Sewell – guitar.
Fergus McCreadie – The Shieling (Edition Records, release 10/24/2025). Fergus McCreadie – piano, David Bowden – double bass, Stephen Henderson – drums.
Brandon Sanders – Lasting Impression (Savant Records, release 11/07/2025). Stacy Dillard – tenor saxophone, Eric Scott Reed – piano, Warren Wolf – vibraphone, Eric Wheeler – bass, Brandon Sanders – drums with Tyler Bullock – piano, Ameen Saleem – bass, Jazzmeia Horn – vocal.
Billy Hart – Multidimensional (Smoke Sessions Records, release 11/21/2025). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Ethan Iverson – piano, Ben Street – bass, Billy Hart – drums.
Roberto Magris – Freedom Is Peace (J Mood Records, released 12/01/2024). Lukas Oravec – trumpet / flugelhorn, Tony Lakatos – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Florian Brambock – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone, Roberto Magris – piano, Rudi Engel – acoustic bass, Gasper Bertoncelj – drums.
Here are an additional 25 releases that moved me, from Local Jazz and Debut Recordings to Big Band Jazz, Vocal Jazz and Historical Releases.
LOCAL JAZZ
Among the best recordings I heard this year are these four by artists who live (or have lived, in the case of Pureum Jin) in the Charlottesville area.
Michelle Montserrat Oliva – Vanishing Point (Self Produced, released 01/01/2025). John D’earth – trumpet / flutes, M. Montserrat Oliva – bass clarinet, M. Brett Jones – electric guitar, Jono Stewart – bass, Daniel Richardson – drums.
The Empress – Square One (Cellar Music, release 03/21/2025). Pureum Jin – soprano saxophone / alto saxophone, Erena Terakubo – alto saxophone, Chelsea Baratz – tenor saxophone, Lauren Sevian – baritone saxophone, Steve Ash – piano, Joey Ranieri – bass, and Pete Van Nostrand – drums.
Sharel Cassity – Gratitude (Sunnyside Records, release 03/28/2025). Terell Stafford – trumpet, Michael Dease – trombone, Sharel Cassity – alto saxophone / clarinet, Cyrus Chestnut – piano, Christian McBride – acoustic bass, Lewis Nash – drums.
Royce Campbell and the Vosbein Magee Big Band – Vagabond (Max Frank Music, release 04/21/2025). Chris Magee, Alec Moser, Brian Quackenbush, Kerry Moffit – trumpets, Matt Niess, Tom Lundberg, Tom McKensie, Tyler Bare – trombones, Bill Schnepper, Greg Moody, James Cotton, Kelli Birchfield, Kyle Greaney – saxophones, Matthew Billings – paino, Royce Campbell – guitar, Bob Bowen – bass, DeWayne Peters – drums.
DEBUT RECORDINGS
Look out for these artists in the coming years. Their debuts show immense promise.
Kannaste4 – Out of Self and Into Others (We Jazz, 04/25/2025). Tomi Nikku – trumpet, Jussi Kannaste – tenor saxophone, Petter Eldh – double bass, Joonas Riippa – drum.
Paul Cornish – You’re Exaggerating (Blue Note Records, release 08/22/2025). Paul Cornish – piano, Joshua Crumbly – bass, Jonathan Pinson – drums with Jeff Parker – guitar.
Jason Charos – Opening Statement (Hollistic MusicWorks, release 08/22/2025). Jason Charos – trumpet, David Mason – alto saxophone, Melvin Butler – tenor saxophone, Kendric McCallister – tenor saxophone, Connor Rohrer – piano, Carlo De Rosa – bass, Ludwig Afonso – drums with Brian Lynch – trumpet, Dafnis Prieto – drums.
David Sneider – Introducing (Cellar Music, release 10/24/2025). David Sneider – trumpet, Erena Terakubo – alto saxophone, Jacob Chung – tenor saxophone, Tyler Henderson – piano, Joey Ranieri – bass, Willie Bowman – drums.
BIG BANDS
It sure seems like there is a renaissance in large ensemble jazz releases going on and this year brought us some great ones.
Brad Goode & Polytonal Big Band – The Snake Charmer (Origin Records, released (01/17/2025). Brad Goode, John Lake, Sean Applebee, Emily Hartrampf, Hugh Ragin – trumpets, Sam Griffith, Grayson Stewart, Jack Bendure, Joanna Griffith – trombones, John Gunther,. Camden Johnson – alto saxophone, Carl Shultz, Jonas Shofler – tenor saxophone, Alexandra Loran – baritone saxophone, Victor Mestas-Perez – piano, Tim Wendel – guitar, Eddie Ness – bass, Paul Romaine – drums.
Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Billy Harper – Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! (Capri Records, release 06/06/2025). Dan Fornero, Jamie Hovorka, Aaron Janik, Tim Hagens – trumpet / flugelhorn, Francisco Torres, Ido Meshulam, Lemar Guillary – trombone, Jullian Gralle – bass trombone, Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, Jerry Pinter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto flute, Kirsten Edkins – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Adam Schroeder – baritone saxophone, Brian Walsh – bass clarinet, Francesca – piano, Chris Colangelo – bass, Kendall Kay – drums.
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra – Mad Scientist Music (Origin Records, release 02/18/2025). Brian MacDonald, Kevin Burns, Luke Brandon, Alec Alfred – trumpets, Ben Patterson, Kevin Cerovich, Dave Perkel – trombones, Ben Polk – bass trombone, Antonio Orta – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Mike Cemprola – alto saxophone / flute / clarinet, Tedd Baker – tenor saxophone, Xavier Perez – tenor saxophone, Doug Morgan – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Bill Mulligan – flute / clarinet, Chris Ziemba – piano, Shawn Purcell – guitar, Paul Henry – bass, Todd Harrison – drums / percussion, Fran Vielma – congas / tamboras de fulía / percussion, Emily Davies – vocals.
Christian McBride Big Band – Without Further Ado Vol. 1 (Mack Avenue, release 08/29/2025). Frank Greene, Freddie Hendrix, Brandon Lee, Nabate Isles – trumpets, Michael Dease, Steve Davis, James Burton – trombones, Doug Purviance, Max Seigel – bass trombones, Justin Mullen- French horn, Steve Wilson – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Todd Bashore – alto saxophone / flute, Ron Blake, Dan Pratt – tenor saxophone, Carl Maraghi – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Janet Axelrod – flute, Alan Kay – clarinet, Xavier Davis – piano / electric piano / clarinet, Rodney Jones – guitar, Christian McBride – acoustic bass /electric bass. McClenty Hunter – drums with Sting – vocals, Andy Summers – guitar, Jeffrey Osborne – vocals, Samara Joy – vocals, José James – vocals, Cecile McLorin Salvant – vocals, Dianne Reeves- vocals, Antoinette Henry – vocals.
LATIN JAZZ
You know I have a soft spot for polyrhythmic latin jazz and this year we saw a lot of variety.
Victoria Cardona – Que Paso (Self Released, release 06/27/2025). Nick Lane – trombone, Francisco Torres – trombone / backing vocals, Justo Almario – flute / saxophone / clarinet / background vocals, Bill Bergman – saxophone, Bill Payne – piano / organ, Victoria Cardona – vocals / lead guitar / rhythm guitar / bass / drums / percussion / piano / organ / steel drums, Tim Goodman – guitar / mandolin / marimba / organ / synthesizer / background vocals, San Miguel Perez – Cuban tres guitar, Rene Camacho – baby bass, Jimmy Haslip – electric bass, Jimmy Branley – drums / background vocals, Kevin Ricard – percussion.
Socrates Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra – Shadows Of Tomorrow (release 08/22/2025). Brad Goode, Miles Roth, Shawn Williams, Jeff Jarvis, Clay Jenkins – trumpets, Jonathan Bumpus, Zach Rich, Tom Call – trombones, Gary Mayne – bass trombone, Wil Swindler – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Andrew Janak – alto saxophone, Don Aliquo, David Bernot – tenor saxophone, Eduardo Moncada – baritone saxophone / clarinet, Drew Zaremba – flutes, Javier Vinasco Guzman – clarinets, Dana Landry, Manuel Tejada – piano, Alfredo Balcacer – guitar, Erik Applegate – bass, Wanna Cuesta – trap drums, Pablito ‘drums’ Peña, Felix ‘Abuelo’ Garcia, Daniel Berroa, Miguel Montas – percussion.
Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra – A Centennial Salute To Tito & Tito, Live at Dizzy’s (Truth Revolution, release 08/29/2025). Steven Oquendo, Chris Thompson, Pete Nater, Julie Acosta – trumpets, Hommy Ramos, Michael Pallas, Juanga Lagunza – trombones, Alberto Toro, Evan Francis – alto saxophone, Patience Higgins, Carl Corwin – tenor saxophone, Pete Miranda – baritone saxophone, Antoine Alvear – piano, Jerry Madera – bass, Carlos “Carly” Maldonado – congas, Nelson Matthew Gonzalez – timbales, Jose Claussell – bongos, Leo Gruber – lead vocals, Alberto Toro, Julie Acosta, Pete Nater, Sergio “Chino” Ramos – vocals.
Miguel Zenón – Vanguardia Subterránea (Miel Music, release 08/29/2025). Miguel Zenón – alto saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano, Hans Glawischnig – bass, Henry Cole – drums.
VOCAL JAZZ
In a category dominated by women vocalists, it was good to hear male singers rise to the top.
Tyreek McDole – Open Up Your Senses (Artwork Records, release 06/06/2025). Dylan Band – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Caelan Cardello – piano / Fender Rhodes, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Justin Faulkner – drums, Tyreek McDole – vocals with Kenny Barron – piano, Sullivan Fortner – Hammond B3 organ / Fender Rhodes, Logan Butler – guitar, Emmanuel Michael – guitar, Michael Cruse – trumpet, Tomoki Sanders – tenor saxophone / percussion, Weedie Braimah – djembe.
Tessa Souter – Shadows and Silence: The Erik Satie Project (Noanara, release 06/27/2025). Nadje Noordhuis – trumpet / flugelhorn, Steve Wilson – soprano saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano / percussion, Yasushi Nakamura – bass, Billy Drummond – drums / cymbals, Tessa Souter – vocals, Pascal Borderies – spoken word.
Sinne Eeg / Jacob Christofferson – Shikiori (Stunt Records, release 06/27/2025). Jacob Christoffersen – piano / Fender Rhodes / vocals, Sinne Eeg – vocals.
Lauren Scales – Mike Flanagan – Chris Grasso – Many Rivers (Truth Revolution Recording Collective, release 07/25/2025). Mike Flanagan – alto saxophone, Chris Grasso – piano, Luques Curtis – bass, Richie Barshay – drums, Charles Haynes – drums, Lauren Scales – vocals with Steve Davis – trombone.
HISTORICAL RELEASES
This year saw a torrent of historical unreleased live recordings and reissues of old releases, some of which were interesting mostly to completists. Among the pile were some very good representations of the work of important players.
Freddie Hubbard – On Fire: Live From The Blue Morocco (Resonance Records, release 04/18/2025). Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, Benny Maupin – tenor saxophone, Kenny Barron – piano, Herbie Lewis – bass, Freddie Watts – drums.
Stanley Cowell – MUSA * Ancestral Streams (reissue) (Strata-East, release 04/25/2025). Stanley Cowell – piano.
Art Pepper – An Afternoon In Norway, The Kongsberg Concert (Elemental Records, release 05/09/2025). Art Pepper – alto saxophone, Milcho Leviev – piano, Tony Dumas – bass, Carl Burnett – drums.
Roy Brooks – The Free Slave (reissue) (Time Traveler Recordings / Muse Records, release10/17/2025). Woody Shaw – trumpet, George Coleman – tenor saxophone, Hugh Lawson – piano, Cecil McBee – bass, Roy Brooks – drums.
Horace Silver – Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse (Blue Note, release 10/24/2025). Woody Shaw – trumpet, Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone, Horace Silver – piano, Teddy Smith – bass, Roger Humphreys – drums.
