Angelo Leonardi's Best Jazz Albums of 2024

What follows is the list of the albums, both Italian and international, that I most appreciated and, above all, loved in 2024. These are the ones that enriched and inspired me the most, the ones I found myself returning to repeatedly. They are listed in alphabetical order, not by order of preference. In preparing this list it was difficult for me to separate "professional" assessment from personal enjoyment, but I have tried to prioritize the latter wherever possible.

Patricia Brennan
Breaking Stretch
Pyroclastic

An album so colorful and brimming with ideas that it's simply exhilarating. The vibraphonist, who has collaborated with Mary Halvorson and Matt Mitchell, among others, delivers an impressive work rich in formal refinement and creative solutions. This achievement is made possible also thanks to a stellar front line featuring trumpeter Adam O'Farrill and saxophonists Jon Irabagon and Mark Shim.


Jamie Baum
What Times Are These
Sunnyside Records

Jamie Baum returns with her renewed ensemble in a project of rare beauty. Chamber-like subtleties, exuberant rhythms, and imaginative solos (from the leader, Jonathan Finlayson, Sam Sadigursky, Brad Shepik, and Luis Perdomo) blend into sophisticated arrangements that elevate the album to the top of 2024 jazz.


Franco D'Andrea Trio
Something Bluesy and More
Parco Della Musica

The inexhaustible creativity of Franco D'Andrea finds new modes of expression in this trio with Gabriele Evangelista and Roberto Gatto. A reflective musical journey that starts with the blues and branches out into an intense interplay of profound depth.



Andrea Grossi Blend 3 + Jim Black
Axes
We Insist! Records

The adventurous energy expressed in the early works of bassist Andrea Grossi's young trio (featuring Manuel Caliumi on alto sax and Michele Bonifati on guitar) reaches new creative heights in collaboration with drummer Jim Black. A blend that is both rigorously composed and thrilling in its solo passages.


Fred Hersch
Silent, Listening
ECM Records

A new solo gem from the pianist who, more than anyone else, has filled the void left by Bill Evans. Refinement and clarity blend seamlessly in this imaginative album, steeped in profound lyricism even in the freer and more abstract improvisational passages.



Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey
Compassion
ECM Records

Another remarkable entry from this piano trio, offering a masterful synthesis that oscillates between exploration and spontaneity.




Brian Landrus
Plays Ellington & Strayhorn
Palmetto Records

Ellington's songbook reinterpreted with a focus on the lower timbres, featuring Landrus's mastery of the baritone saxophone and bass clarinet. The allure extends beyond tonal color, with respect for melodic contours and rich orchestrations culminating in a sumptuous and deeply mysterious result.



Jihye Lee
Infinite Connections
Motéma Music

The Korean bandleader stands among the most significant talents to emerge on the orchestral jazz scene over the past decade. Her third album marks a notable step forward in synthesizing her musical roots with modern orchestral jazz. Lyrical passages and turbulent episodes intertwine to create a vibrant, colorful flow, highlighting the finest individual contributions by the likes of Ambrose Akinmusire, David Smith, Dave Pietro, Adam Birnbaum, and Ben Kono.

Roberto Magris Europlane for Jazz
Freedom Is Peace
JMood Records

It is a great pleasure to witness the return of Roberto Magris's Europlane project after twenty years. Founded by the pianist from Trieste in 1998 to bring together musicians from various European countries, it is now more relevant than ever in a continent marked by divisions and conflicts. Incisive and engaging straight-ahead jazz with fresh melodies, dynamic interplay, and inspired soloists.


Adam O'Farrill
HUESO
FOOD Records

A the helm of the quartet Stranger Days, the masterful young trumpeter presents another album of stunning richness. Mature compositions unfold with a strong sense of form and radiant timbres, perfectly aligned with the innovative edge of his style.



Tomeka Reid
3+3
Cuneiform Records

Here is another extraordinary album where experimentation embraces superb melodies and infectious rhythms. Tomeka Reid has brought the cello back to the forefront of Great Black Music, collaborating with the millennium's most innovative figures, from Nicole Mitchell to Makaya McCraven, Rob Mazurek, and Jaimie Branch. Her quartet's new release (featuring Mary Halvorson, Jason Roebke, and Tomas Fujiwara) builds on the resonance of the previous release, Old New, pushing innovation toward extended compositions and intense interplay (including electric passages) with Mary Halvorson.

Immanuel Wilkins
Blues Blood
Blue Note Records

The prodigious saxophonist's music takes on new hues, renewing its connection to tradition. The result is a majestic third album, produced by MeShell NdegeOcello and enriched by many female voices, including Cecile McLorin Salvant's. Inspired by an episode of racism, it unfolds as a nearly ecstatic reflection imbued with blues and gospel.

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