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Article: Year in Review

Best Jazz Albums of 2026: All-Star Break Edition

by AAJ Staff
July 13, 2026

As we reach the halfway point of 2026, All About Jazz once again borrows a page from Major League Baseball's All-Star break, replacing home runs with jazz albums. This year, 78 staffers submitted their picks, surpassing 2025's participation by 23 contributors--an incredible turnout. Our album reviewers and radio & podcast hosts bring big ...

Article: Year in Review

2025 Year in Review by the Numbers: The Magnificent Seven and the Pluralism of Taste

by Marek J. Śmietański
February 17, 2026

My Journey From Sports Analytics to Counting Jazz I've always had a soft spot for statistics and rankings--especially those that try to say something more than just “what people like." This is probably a result of my rigorous mathematical-informatics education and the scientific research I conducted over a dozen years ago on classification and ranking methods ...

Article: Year in Review

Marek Śmietański's Favorite Polish Jazz Albums Of 2025

by Marek J. Śmietański
February 3, 2026

As part of Year in Review series, I've already highlighted my favorite albums of 2025 (you can view the list here). While I included artists from around the world, intentionally leaving out my own Poland. And yet Polish jazz has a remarkably strong and distinctive identity. It emerged from a deep craving for freedom and a ...

Article: Year in Review

I dischi del 2025 secondo Neri Pollastri

by Neri Pollastri
January 20, 2026

Eccoci come tutti gli anni a stilare la lista dei migliori dischi dell'anno... Vana, inutile, sterile, pretenziosa, discriminatoria, eppure a suo modo anche necessaria, non tanto perché tutti ne fanno una, o partecipano a concorsi che ne stilano di collettive, quanto perché alla fine di ogni anno ha una sua utilità, personale e pubblica, reimmergersi nei ...

Article: Year in Review

Frank Housh's Favorite Jazz Albums Of 2025

by Frank Housh
January 19, 2026

2025 was a great year for jazz. Below are my reviews for the year, from established artists like Brad Mehldau, John Scofield, and Celine McLorin Salvant to rising talents like Christian Pabst and Jo-Yu Chen. The first two album reviews are of artists that did more than simply demonstrate superior artistry, they spoke powerfully about the ...

Article: Year in Review

Kerilie McDowall Favorite Jazz Albums of 2025

by Kerilie McDowall
January 14, 2026

It's a long list of inspiring artists this year on the Canadian Best Of 2025 roster. Jazz spirit is in the air. An 11th release from the kaleidoscopic-robed, comedic powerhouse ensemble, saxophone groove favorites the Shuffle Demons, enhanced the year with their beyond-fab 2025 writing. Funky sax lines interspersed with laughs, fun, and hipster-king attitude make ...

Article: Year in Review

Marek Śmietański's Favorite Jazz Albums Of 2025

by Marek J. Śmietański
January 13, 2026

Here's a list of albums released in 2025 that left more than just a mark on my memory. For many years now, I've stopped ranking albums as “the best." Such lists usually end up being either personal favorites or, in the case of vote-based rankings, simply the most popular ones--which aren't necessarily the best. I also ...

Article: Year in Review

Pierre Giroux's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2025

by Pierre Giroux
January 12, 2026

The story of my selection of the top jazz albums of 2025, is, fittingly a conversation between past and present. New recordings by working bands and veteran leaders proved that the language of swing, blues and modern harmony is still being spoken with conviction, while carefully curated reissues reminded us just how deep the tradition runs. ...

Article: Year in Review

Glenn Astarita's Best Jazz Albums Of 2025

by Glenn Astarita
January 11, 2026

Another year, another reminder that jazz refuses to stay in its lane. The ten albums that grabbed me most in 2025 don't follow any neat narrative or trend--they're just the records I kept coming back to, the ones that made me hit repeat or sit up and pay closer attention. Some are from veterans who still ...

Article: Year in Review

David Bruggink's Best Jazz Albums of 2025

by David Bruggink
January 10, 2026

In a tumultuous year, these albums provided a shelter in the storm, with no shortage of intriguing stylistic directions and cross-pollinations. New directions in post-minimalism mingled with reimaginings of folk songs; chamber music crossed paths with modern classical and cool jazz. Stories Of life Triosence Sony Music