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Chris May's Best Jazz Albums Of 2024
In case you missed the sad news, our dear friend and compatriot, Chris May, passed away in November (read our tribute). Below are the albums he considered extraordinary in 2024—a final testament to his discerning taste and love of sound. -mR
Rob Luft
Dahab Days
Edition Records
Kahil El'Zabar
Open Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit
Spiritmuse
Joel Ross
Nublues
Blue Note Records
Ruth Goller
Skyllumina
International Anthem Recording Company
Chris Potter
Eagle's Point
Edition Records
Lucien Johnson
Ancient Relics
Deluge Records
Cassie Kinoshi
Gratitude
International Anthem Recording Company
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird Revisited
Ezz-thetics
Charles Lloyd
The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
Blue Note Records
Kjetil Mulelid
Agoja
Odin Records
Amy Clark
Cadair Idris
New Soil
Lizz Wright
Shadow
Blues & Greens
Jake Long
City Swamp
New Soil
Shabaka Hutchings
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
Impulse! Records
Tomeka Reid
3+3
Cuneiform Records
Alina Bzhezhinska
Altera Vita
BBE Records
Hanna Paulsberg
Flukten
Odin Records
Tom Skinner
Voices Of Bishara Live
International Anthem Recording Company
Almost All Things Considered
Sail Cabin Records
Cecil Taylor
Live At Fat Tuesday's February 9,1980 First Visit
Ezz-thetics
Oded Tzur
My Prophet
ECM Records
Johanna Burnheart
Bär
Self Produced
Tomasz Stańko
September Night
ECM Records
Etienne Charles
Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie
Culture Shock Music
Vinicius Mendes
Macunaismo Tardio Vol. 1&2
Notes On A Journey
Jon De Lucia
The Brubeck Octet Project
Museum Clausum
Linda Sikhakhane
Iladi
Blue Note Records
Ndubisi Onyedieke
Orile To Berlin
Sonar Kollectiv
Larry Stabbins
Strangeness Oscillation
Noetic Records
Michael Wintsch
Live At Jazz Festival Willisau 2023
Ezz-thetics
Esperanza Spalding
Milton + esperanza
Concord Music Group
HarrisP
Spirits Of Mauronoros
Veego
Dorothy Ashby
Afro-Harping Deluxe Edition
Verve Music Group
Marcelo Frota
Gira
Batov Records
Seun Kuti
Heavier Yet Lays The Crownless Head
Record Kicks
Josephine Davies
Satori: Weatherwards
Whirlwind Recordings
Rob LuftDahab Days
Edition Records
Kahil El'ZabarOpen Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit
Spiritmuse
Joel RossNublues
Blue Note Records
Ruth GollerSkyllumina
International Anthem Recording Company
Chris PotterEagle's Point
Edition Records
Lucien JohnsonAncient Relics
Deluge Records
Cassie KinoshiGratitude
International Anthem Recording Company
Charles MingusCharles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird Revisited
Ezz-thetics
Charles LloydThe Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
Blue Note Records
Kjetil MulelidAgoja
Odin Records
Amy ClarkCadair Idris
New Soil
Lizz WrightShadow
Blues & Greens
Jake LongCity Swamp
New Soil
Shabaka HutchingsPerceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
Impulse! Records
Tomeka Reid3+3
Cuneiform Records
Alina BzhezhinskaAltera Vita
BBE Records
Hanna PaulsbergFlukten
Odin Records
Tom SkinnerVoices Of Bishara Live
International Anthem Recording Company
Almost All Things ConsideredSail Cabin Records
Cecil TaylorLive At Fat Tuesday's February 9,1980 First Visit
Ezz-thetics
Oded TzurMy Prophet
ECM Records
Johanna BurnheartBär
Self Produced
Tomasz StańkoSeptember Night
ECM Records
Etienne CharlesCreole Orchestra Featuring René Marie
Culture Shock Music
Vinicius MendesMacunaismo Tardio Vol. 1&2
Notes On A Journey
Jon De LuciaThe Brubeck Octet Project
Museum Clausum
Linda SikhakhaneIladi
Blue Note Records
Ndubisi OnyediekeOrile To Berlin
Sonar Kollectiv
Larry StabbinsStrangeness Oscillation
Noetic Records
Michael WintschLive At Jazz Festival Willisau 2023
Ezz-thetics
Esperanza SpaldingMilton + esperanza
Concord Music Group
HarrisPSpirits Of Mauronoros
Veego
Dorothy AshbyAfro-Harping Deluxe Edition
Verve Music Group
Marcelo FrotaGira
Batov Records
Seun KutiHeavier Yet Lays The Crownless Head
Record Kicks
Josephine DaviesSatori: Weatherwards
Whirlwind Recordings
Tags
Year in Review
Chris May
Edition Records
Dahab Days
Rob Luft
Spiritmuse
Open Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit
Kahil El'Zabar
Blue Note Records
Nublues
Joel Ross
International Anthem Recording Company
Skyllumina
Ruth Goller
Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Deluge Records
Ancient Relics
Lucien Johnson
Gratitude
Cassie Kinoshi
Ezz-Thetics
Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird Revisited
Charles Mingus
The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
charles lloyd
Odin Records
Agoja
Kjetil Mulelid
New Soil
Cadair Idris
Amy Clark
Blues & Greens
Shadow
Lizz Wright
City Swamp
Jake Long
Impulse! Records
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
shabaka hutchings
Cuneiform Records
3+3
tomeka reid
BBE Records
Altera Vita
Alina Bzhezhinska
Flukten
hanna paulsberg
Voices Of Bishara Live
Tom Skinner
Sail Cabin Records
Almost All Things Considered
Live At Fat Tuesday's February 9, 1980 First Visit
Cecil Taylor
ECM Records
My Prophet
Oded Tzur
Self Produced
Bär
Johanna Burnheart
September Night
tomasz stanko
Culture Shock Music
Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie
Etienne Charles
Notes On A Journey
Macunaismo Tardio Vol. 1&2
Vinicius Mendes
Museum Clausum
The Brubeck Octet Project
Jon De Lucia
Iladi
Linda Sikhakhane
Sonar Kollectiv
Orile To Berlin
Ndubisi Onyedieke
Noetic Records
Strangeness Oscillation
Larry Stabbins
Live At Jazz Festival Willisau 2023
Michael Wintsch
concord music group
Milton + esperanza
Esperanza Spalding
Veego
Spirits Of Mauronoros
HarrisP
Verve Music Group
Afro-Harping Deluxe Edition
Dorothy Ashby
Batov Records
Gira
Marcelo Frota
Record Kicks
Heavier Yet Lays The Crownless Head
Seun Kuti
Whirlwind Recordings
Satori: Weatherwards
Josephine Davies
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