Best JAZZ ALBUMS of 2024 - with Needle Drops! (Vinyl Community)

[@XjunkieNL]

What is your favorite jazz album of 2024? Comment here, and let's build together the ultimate jazz vinyl list.

[@harsshsingh]

Thank you so much. I had only heard Jasmine Myra in this list. Now i have weeks of great music to explore. Keep sharing your love for music, it's so wonderful.

[@richardthurston2171]

New to me. I enjoy the Jasmine Myra record very much indeed.

[@XjunkieNL]

Nice to see you stopping by again. I promised you more great music last week. I hope it didn't disappoint. Thanks for the kind words. It's great to be able to share this music with you. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Richard. There is an amazing vibe on the album. The songs are really well crafted. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@goldenmantis]

Thanks Paul ❤

[@XjunkieNL]

Great to see you stopping by, Greg. Just discovered that you made a library edit of The Glass Frog. Makes me curious, the album has already library feel. Happy holidays. Talk to you soon. Cheers. /Paul

[@CJ-vh2hf]

Great reviews for 2024 you put together superb video and left us with many many hours of enjoyable listening! Thank you and many blessings to you and your family !!

[@XjunkieNL]

Thank you for the kind words. Appreciate it! The video took some effort, so you enjoying it makes me happy. Have a peaceful Christmas. Cheers. /Paul

[@jazzcatjohn]

Wow! These are great picks. I had only heard of two of them. So glad I clicked on your video. All of these are right up my alley. Thanks!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi John! I'm also glad you clicked on the video :) Always nice to connect with like minded music lovers. Welcome abroad. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@themahoneychops]

Thanks for all the great videos over the years. Your passion for this kinda music always shines through and inspires me to seek out new sounds. Cheers 🥂

[@XjunkieNL]

Thank you so much for the kind words. A wise man ones suggested to me, only make videos of music you love. Everyone has his own taste in music with what he likes and not. Happy to hear you enjoy my kinda music :) Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@empty1966]

Great choices yet again thank you have a great new year🎉🎉

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Mark! Thanks for stopping by. All the best for 2025! Cheers. /Paul

[@Seafishing-f1t]

I have just discovered your channel as a lover of good music I have subscribed and hope to hear more from you in 2025. Respect from Northern Spain

[@XjunkieNL]

Welcome aboard! Always nice to connect with other music lovers and talk about records. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@andreurban9966]

Jasmine Myra is my discovery of the year. Both her albums are great 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing the other albums!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Andre! Thanks for stopping by. I also discoverd the music of Jasmine Myra this year. There is so much music to discover. Happy to share and put these albums on your radar. Happy Holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@stevecarlsonvinylcommunity9147]

Europe seems to be putting out a lot more new jazz than the US. I bought no new jazz this year and the reason why is my #1 Jazz channel for new jazz didn’t put out many videos- Paul. You always find some of the grooviest albums. I did not know Foat even put out an album, let alone 4. I will be checking all of these out as I really like the grooves. Paul, I hope to hear more from you next year, you cost me a lot of money but I love your ear for cool music

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Steve! I take full responsibility for the lack in spending. Although I'm pretty sure you found some nice alternatives ;) I hope the music gave you some new directions to explore. Happy holidays. And see you next year! Cheers. /Paul

[@CJ-vh2hf]

Great commentary you are so accurate about Europe versus the US. I think it has a lot to do with in the US many artists are still put under the pressure to sell records and not just let their creative freedom take place! But there is so much wonderful music out, let’s continue to enjoy and everyone be safe for the rest of the year and have a wonderful new year!!

[@XjunkieNL]

Surprising to hear the US is putting out less jazz. Overhere the UK jazz scene gave jazz in general a big boost. This was definitely a catalyst and gave many artist the posibility to follow their creative path. /Paul

[@johnthebiker300]

I am not an aficionado but all the segments played seemed to sound like supermarket music to my ears.

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Your local supermarket plays some amazing jazz through the speakers. I would go shopping there every time :) /Paul

[@thevinylrant]

I believe Greg Foat was the resident musician for The Playboy Club in Mayfair. I discovered him last year and have two of his records… Live At The Playboy Club, London - 2014 Dark Is The Sun - 2011. Both on Jazzman records and both good. Great video!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! That are two cool records by Greg Foat. I have them also in the collection. Groovy jazz! Have a nice Sunday. Cheers. /Paul

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Thanks Paul, love your selection, anything that Halsall is involved with is beautiful (I wish I could make YT videos as good as yours!) All the best from UK, thanks

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks for the kind words, Mark. I just discovered you also make videos. Gonna check them out later. Just keep doing them, they will get better every time. /Paul

[@cedricfeschotte835]

Great picks -- discovered your channel with this - thanks! Most of those I had not heard. Listening This is Water now and loving it. I haven't made a list but if I did Parker would definitely be in my top 5. My other standouts: Mary Halvorson, Anna Butterss, Ezra Collective, Shabaka and Nala Sinephro. Quite a year!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Cedric! Nice to see the algorithm made the connection. It's great to connect with other music lovers that enjoy these records. Welcome aboard! Cheers. /Paul

[@alvaroperez1787]

Thank you , I loved the ranking

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Thanks! Appreciate the comment. Hope 2025 will be just as good :) All the best. Cheers. /Paul

[@alvaroperez1787]

@@XjunkieNLOverall I love to discover new artists/labels in this kind of jazz (Scandinavian, spiritual jazz). I know very well Gondwana records and also G.Foat that I have been in his concerts, butb all the rests, was new for me, great add for my collection.

[@XjunkieNL]

Always nice to share new discoveries with other music lovers. Happy to hear the music is right up your alley. More to come in 2025 :) Have a nice weekend! /Paul

[@DefenestrateYourself]

Excellent list 🔥

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks! And the good news is...all is available on vinyl :) Cheers. /Paul

[@johnsmusicpassions9740]

as an occasional jazz listener i am pleased to check out your choices - nice presentation

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi John! Thanks for the kind words. I'm definitely biased toward groove based jazz. All the albums are very accessible for anyone who loves music. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@carryin_on]

My vote goes for the fifth and last Greg Foat release of the year, The Rituals of Infinity. Brilliant stuff, he is a wonderful talent.

[@XjunkieNL]

Great to see another Greg Foat fan :) I didn't want to put two records from one artist in the list. Most probably Rituals Of Infinity would have made the list also. Happy Holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@L.E.55472]

Wow! Awesome listing here Paul👏🏻not to give anything away .... for me the stand outs you showed are 2,3 and 9! Nine I truly was feeling a groove I need to delve further into....cheers and again happy Christmas and happy New year 🎊

[@XjunkieNL]

Hey Lis! Thanks for not giving away the titles :) Always great to see your taste in music. We definitely like our music groovy (and I hear immediately Let's Groove by EWF in my ears :) Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@mikeblack622]

Lovely to see Jasmine Myra on there, saw her last year absolutely fantastic!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Mike! Cool to hear you had the opportunity to she Jasmine Myra live. Out of curiousity, does she preform with the same band that is playing on the album? Happy Holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@mikeblack622]

@@XjunkieNL I'm not so familiar with the line-up but I think most were the same people, it may have been a different bass player. It was the Gondwana night in Brussels with Matthew Halsall, Svaneborg Kardyb and Hania Rani, so there was a lot to take in and enjoy.

[@XjunkieNL]

What a great line-up. That sounds as a very special musical evening! /Paul

[@wtcwtc9861]

Thanks for posting this. I'm enjoying these selections. ..Subscribed,

[@XjunkieNL]

Welcome abroad! More fresh jazzy sounds following in 2025. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@romuloromano]

Thanks a lot, great - and very informative - video!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Happy to hear you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@juliesaint-pierre7588]

Vers Nice thanks beautiful discoveries❤

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Julie! Thanks for watching. Happy to share these records. The year 2024 was amazing, so many records released on vinyl. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Love Jeff Parker! Very special artist, both his previous projects dedicated to his mother and his father are lovely

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Mark! 100% Jeff Parker is a very special artist. He is involved and cooperates in many project. Always adding some extra to the mix. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@ludwigvantrikt9274]

Sorry I neglected him in my acidic remarks

[@carryin_on]

Many thanks for the Tommaso Cappellato recommendation. He was a new one for me, and he has a very interesting and varied ten album discography on Spotify.

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi again. For me this was also the first album I discovered in his catalogue. Always fun to dig a little deeper in the rabbit hole :) /Paul

[@NicoOoNico]

Big thanks! My top three albums right now? Jeff Parker, Svaneborg Kardyb, and Walter Smith III. Each one brings something special-innovative, soulful, and deeply inspiring. Highly recommend diving into their music!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Nico. Thank you for the recommendations. I've put them on the list to check out. A quick look, showed the album by the duo Svaneborg Kardyb is released on Gondwana. Missed that one, it's now on the radar :) Happy holiday. Cheers. /Paul

[@rodneywyatt9441]

Greg Foat is a genius! I love his previous gems, "Sapphire Dreams", "Electric Dreams 1" and "Unconditional Love".😊😊😊😊

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Rodney. For sure Greg Foat is the man! He has created so many fantastic albums the last ten years. But are you sure the titles you mention are by Greg Foat? They don't ring a bell with me. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@rodneywyatt9441]

Off the Blue Lotus Album released in 2022. A sure fire banger!😊😊😊

[@XjunkieNL]

Stupid me :) I even played the test pressing in the Fresh Jazzy Sounds video. Definitely need to spin that album again this week. /Paul

[@rodneywyatt9441]

@XjunkieNL It's all good Paul! Take care, brother man!

[@carryin_on]

@@rodneywyatt9441yes, a great album!

[@HoneyWindbutton]

You should list the albums in your description

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks for watching and the suggestion. Cheers. /Paul

[@drope-wx5ho]

thanks Holy Paul

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! And thank you for watching. Happy Holiday. Cheers. /Paul

[@gorancabrajic3240]

Great list, here is the top 50 list of my favorite jazz albums in 2024. 1. The Choir Invisible - Town of Two Faces 2. Lux Quartet, Myra Melford & Allison Miller - Tomorrowland 3. Janel Leppin - Ensemble Volcanic Ash: To March Is To Love 4. Tomeka Reid Quartet - 3+3 5. Mary Halvorson - Cloudward 6. Quartet Diminished - Deerand 7. Chui - Do Zvijezda 8. Kjetil Mulelid - Agoja 9. The Bad Plus - Complex Emotions 10. Svetlost (Светлост) - Everything Was as It Had Been a Minute Ago 11. Goran Kajfeš Tropiques - Tell us 12. Micah Thomas - Mountains 13. Steve Lehman - Ex Machina 14. David Murray - Francesca 15. Circles 44 - In the grip 16. Amalie Dahl's Dafnie - Står op med solen 17. Kasper Rietkerk - The Island 18. Federico Calcagno Octet - Mundus Inversus 19. SOL SOL - Almost All Things Considered 20. Joe Fonda - Eyes On The Horizon 21. Nala Sinephro - Endlessness 22. Vijay Iyer - Compassion 23. Amirtha Kidambi's Elder Ones - New Monuments 24. Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows - Heartland Radio 25. Joel Ross - Nublues 26. Empirical - Wonder is the Beginning 27. Collin Sherman - String Planes 28. Liberosis - Re-mind 29. Gianluca Vigliar - Eclipse 30. Karen Willems - Juju 31. Jasmine Myra - Rising 32. Baldo Martínez Sextet - Música Imaginaria 33. Avishai Cohen - Brightlight 34. Maj Kavšek - Galaterna 35. Ezra Collective - Dance, No One's Watching 36. Kobe Gregoir Group - Co-Motion 37. Roberto Magris - Love Is Passing Thru 38. Jihye Lee Orchestra - Infinite Connections 39. Christopher Zuar Orchestra - Exuberance 40. Kris Davis - Run the Gauntlet 41. Daniel Casimir - Balance 42. Nicole McCabe - Mosaic 43. Møster - Springs 44. Dave Douglas - Gifts 45. Nubya Garcia - Odyssey 46. Miguel Zenón - Golden City 47. AVA Trio - The Great Green 48. Sergio Pamies - Time to Say 49. Kinga Glyk - Real Life 50. Wadada Leo Smith & Amina Claudine Myers - Central Park's Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Goran! You have given me some homework :) That's an extensive list of jazz albums. Many of the names are new to me. Isn't it amazing how much great jazz music is released. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@gorancabrajic3240]

@XjunkieNL Happy holidays, all the best from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[@XjunkieNL]

Much happiness and peace for you and family. /Paul

[@milemladenovic5688]

hvala Gorane! bice lepo zaviriti u tudje dvoriste 😁 po imenima koja prepoznajem iz prve, a tek po prilicnom broju nepoznatih, pretrazivanje tvoje ce biti prilicno uzbudljivo

[@ludwigvantrikt9274]

Now that is a list with some gravity and grits/gravy

[@relefunt]

Jeff Parker - nothing else came close this past year.

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Ricard! Jeff Parker was definitely on a roll :) Curious what he is working on for 2025. Cheers. /Paul

[@mathiaslegros-z9g]

Hello Do you have list of your sélection? Thanks

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Mathias. Last year someone was kind enough to make a playlist of the albums on spotify. Maybe it will happen also this year. Happy hoiidays. /Paul

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

cool!!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Udo! Thanks for watching. Happy holidays. /Paul

[@harsshsingh]

So strangely enough, i totally loved the Misha Paniflov live album. These were my favourites this year 1. Misha Paniflov - Live in Stockholm 2. Bill Laurance and Michael League - Where You Wish You Were. 3. Corto Alto 30/108 4. Finn Rees - Dawn Is A Melody.

[@XjunkieNL]

Nothing strange about it :) Thanks for adding your favorites to the list. My list of albums to check is getting longer and longer. /Paul

[@kayou1907]

For me it's : Misha Panfilov "Atlântico" JJ Whitefield and Forced Meditation " The infinty of nothingness ". Greetings from Lille.

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Thanks for adding two more records to the list. I didn't want to show more than one from one musician, otherwise "Atlântico" would be in the top nine. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Would be better if you had listed these titles in the description.

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks for the suggestion. The video shows a title overlay with the complete name of the artist and the album shown. Happy Holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@MaterLacrymarum]

@@XjunkieNL I saw that, but it comes and goes, especially when they are previous unknown artists, they're easy to miss. Plus, cut and paste is much easier. IMO

[@XjunkieNL]

Last year someone was so kind to make a playlist on spotify with all the albums. That was a nice touch. Made thing even more easier :) /Paul

[@MaterLacrymarum]

@@XjunkieNL I think that would be good. I don't have Spotify, and use KZbin usually.

[@HoneyWindbutton]

Did you say the saxophone is a wooden instrument ?

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! I made this a little more difficult for myself as wanted. Its a woodwind instrument made of brass. Have nice weekend. Cheers. /Paul

[@vtertezedre2621]

t would have been practical, nice, and better done if you put in links the albums in links for listening and purchase! as other channels like yours do.

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks for watching and the suggestion. /Paul

[@tooftoof3000]

As much as I enjoyed Misha Panfilov's live albums this year...I enjoyed Frutaria Electronica the most. But for jazz album of the year...that goes to Alan Braufman Infinite Love Infinite Tears!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Misha is a trick of all trades. I don't know any artist that has such a wide playing field. It seems he can switch from one to the other with no effort needed. Thanks for the Alan Braufman tip. Don't know the album and I'm gonna check it out. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@tooftoof3000]

@XjunkieNL Its a great album...the vibe player is Patricia Brennan...check out her album Breaking Stretch that came out this year too...she's the best!

[@XjunkieNL]

My list of albums to check out is growing and growing. So much fantastic jazz music is being released these days. It's great to be a music lover :) /Paul

[@kayou1907]

Misha Panfilov is maybe my favourite artist, i try to collect all his albums.

[@XjunkieNL]

Me too! Although that is no secret :) But my wallet is hurting a little bit with so many outstanding releases. /Paul

[@gianpietrodangelo3844]

The Journey by Matteo Mancuso. Fusion Jazz. Top. Moonlight by Drift Lab. Top.

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Gianpetro! Thanks for the tip. I'm not familiar with Matteo Mancuso. I'm going to check The Journey. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@REX4340]

Where's the list? 😅

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! It's a do-it-yourself list. You have to cut and paste from the different comments :) Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@jeremysalter7112]

Nala Ezra

[@XjunkieNL]

Not sure where you're going. Nala Sinephro?

[@__AF___]

I have some staff for you SMALL MEDIUM LARGE by SML ENDLESSNESS by NALA SINEPHRO ODISSEY by NUBYA GARCIA Enjoy!!

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi! Great to see more titles to add to the list. Familiar names. For some reason I never came to checking out Nubya Garcia latest album. Thank you for the recommendations. Happy new year. Cheers. /Paul

[@cardboardmusic]

I'm not sure if I heard you correctly, but you said the saxophone is one of the last wooden instruments to be invented? I think you mean last instrument of the woodwind family, which is slightly different. BTW, if you enjoy the Jeff Parker, you'll certainly enjoy the Anna Butterss album (Jeff Parker's bassist).

[@XjunkieNL]

Yeah, my mistake. In my head I was mixing up brass, wood and wind instruments. It came out not exactly as it was intended. Love the sound of the saxophone. I do enjoy Anna Butters bass playing. First discovered her on the Daniel Villarreal album released last year. Thanks for watching. Happy holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@juanant8951]

except for jeff parker it is all smooth jazz........ not very helpfull

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Juan. Sorry to hear the video wasn't very helpful. For 2025 I hope we stop putting everything we don't agree or like in box, and put it at the other end of the spectrum. Happy new year. Cheers. /Paul

[@juanant8951]

@@XjunkieNL ok here is an alternative list ,we don't have to wait for 2025 maybe you find out something that brings your attention....... Peter Evans, Extra (We Jazz) Wadada Leo Smith & AMINA CLAUDINE MYERS, Central Park’s Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens (Red Hook) Vijay Iyer, Compassion JAMES Brandon LEWIS Qyartet, transfiguration Matt Mitchell, Zealous Angle Borderlands trio - rewildered Mathew Shipp trio new conceptions in piano jazz Miha Gantar- New York city Stephen Crump-Slow Water Kim Cass - Lev The Messthetics w/ James Brandon Lewis Gordon Grina - duo work Zorn New masada Quartet vol III Thiago Franca-Canohoto de pe Camila nebbia Leo Genovese,Alfred Vogel - Eyes To The Sun The Kris Davis trio - Run The Gauntlet

[@juanant8951]

@@XjunkieNL An Alternative list maybe you can find something itntersting from it ... Peter Evans, Extra Wadada Leo Smith & AminaClaudinMyers- Central Park’s Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens Vijay Iyer, Compassion JAMES Brandon Lewis quartet- Transfiguration Matt Mitchell, Zealous Angle Borderlands trio - rewildersd Mathew Shipp trio new conceptions in piano jazz Miha gantar- New York city Stephen Crump-Slow Water Kim Cass - Lev The Messthetics w/ James Brandon Lewis Gordon Grina - duo work Zorn New masada Quartet -vol III Thiago Franca-Canohoto de pe Camila nebbie Leo Genovese,Alfred Vogel - Eyes To The Sun The Kris Davis trio - Run The Gauntlet

[@XjunkieNL]

Great to see so many suggestions. You make me curious. Many names I'm not familiar with. This will be fun to check out. Thanks! /Paul

[@ludwigvantrikt9274]

Jazz is a music rooted in the African American experience yet judging from your selections the black roots are completely ignored and we have literal white bread bland artist playing commercial junk. Lo and behold not one black artist. Banal congeniality

[@XjunkieNL]

Hi Ludwig. Thank you for the comment. Part of the blame is me, I prefer to have a groove in my jazz. The selection clearly shows my personal preference. Maybe what you call commercial junk started when Ramsey Lewis and Cannonball Adderley added soul to the mix. That opened the door or some say closed the door ;) Still I feel it is too easy to discard this music. As it is more accessible, especially for those who listen occasionally to jazz. It certainly helps to bridge the gap and introduce the beauty of jazz to a wider audience. Happy Holidays. Cheers. /Paul

[@goldenmantis]

What an ignorant comment… on the Glass Frog album the musicians are predominately black and mixed race. Not that it makes any difference to someone with such a closed mind and narrow view of the world. there will always be someone wanting to find something to complain about!

[@ludwigvantrikt9274]

@@goldenmantis Obviously I had no way of knowing that "Glass Frog" was a predominately black and mixed race band; and I apologized for the fact that Jeff Parker was mentioned and I neglected him in my criticism. But name calling and designating someone "ignorant" is totally inappropriate especially since my central point still stands: Jazz is a music rooted in the Black American experience to the genre's credit it is now world embracing; no inference was made from my end that only black people can play jazz. Sadly enough jazz no longer resonates with most blacks in America and the artform is now largely performed by non black folk. That said the gentleman's poll is to me some of the lamest commercial jazz that I have ever hear and not a reflection of the art form except in Finland.

[@ludwigvantrikt9274]

@@XjunkieNL thanks for being a complete gentleman.

[@XjunkieNL]

Thanks, your comment, as you wrote is bit of an acidic remark.