The 10 best jazz albums of 2025

Essential listening for saxophonists and jazz lovers 🎷

Jazz, saxophones, and the sound of 2025

Jazz in 2025 has once again proven itself to be a vibrant, ever evolving art form. This year’s releases show how jazz continues to push boundaries while honoring its roots, especially through the expressive power of the saxophone and other acoustic instruments. From bold improvisation to narrative driven compositions, these albums are a testament to how modern jazz is as inventive as ever.

At Odisei Music, we’ve curated a list of the best jazz albums of 2025, perfect for attentive listeners, curious newcomers, and saxophonists seeking fresh inspiration. It’s a musical journey through tradition, experimentation, and sheer joy ideal for closing out the year or starting 2026 with your ears wide open.

1. Necessary fictions, GoGo penguin

Expansive contemporary jazz with a cinematic edge

GoGo Penguin deliver one of the most talked about releases of the year. Necessary Fictions expands their sonic universe with subtle electronics and shimmering synth layers, while keeping the rhythmic precision and melodic elegance that define their sound. Even without featured sax solos, the album is a masterclass in how acoustic jazz can coexist with modern textures. For anyone curious about where contemporary European jazz is headed.

2. Words fall short, Joshua Redman

Tenor saxophone at the heart of modern jazz

Saxophonist Joshua Redman returns with an album that feels alive in every note. Words Fall Short places the tenor sax at the center of a nimble quartet, propelled by crisp compositions and a playful yet focused energy. Redman balances tradition with a modern voice, delivering phrasing that’s instantly recognizable and a tone that’s both full bodied and expressive.

3. Hopium, Dayna Stephens

Introspective saxophone and emotional clarity

Hopium is a deeply reflective album where Dayna Stephens lets the music breathe. Post-bop structures meet intimate storytelling, with the tenor sax guiding melodic journeys and creating space for silence and tension. It’s music that rewards patience and deep listening.

4. Apple Cores – James Brandon Lewis

Raw energy, free jazz, and deep roots

James Brandon Lewis delivers one of the most intense statements of the year. Recorded as a trio, Apple Cores puts the tenor sax at the forefront of a fiery, free-form dialogue rooted in jazz, blues, and gospel traditions. A visceral, uncompromising experience for those who love jazz that burns from the inside out.

5. Without further Ado, Vol. 1 – Christian McBride

Groove, swing, and collective brilliance

Christian McBride assembles multiple ensembles in a record celebrating jazz as a communal language. Swing, groove, and modern creativity intertwine, with wind instruments appearing in perfect balance alongside rhythm and harmony.

6. About ghosts – Mary Halvorson

Creative textures and spacious improvisation

Mary Halvorson ventures into abstract, concept-driven jazz. While guitar leads, the album explores silence, texture, and ensemble interplay. Wind instruments appear as color and tension rather than just solos, creating a rich sonic tapestry.

7. Out there, Hiromi

Boundless energy and fearless virtuosity

Hiromi’s Out There blends jazz, progressive rock, funk, and classical influences into a dazzling display of skill and imagination. Though piano-led, the album is a lesson in dynamics, collective energy, and daring risk-taking.

8. Oh Snap, Cécile McLorin Salvant

Vocal jazz with instrumental sophistication

Cécile McLorin Salvant treats her voice like a fully-fledged instrument on Oh Snap. Sophisticated arrangements feature wind instruments in storytelling roles, creating a nuanced and imaginative listening experience.

9. Monk, Marcin Masecki

Reimagining tradition through minimalism

Pianist Marcin Masecki takes Thelonious Monk’s music on a personal, minimalist journey. Monk may be piano-focused, but it’s essential for understanding how contemporary jazz engages with its history subtle, thoughtful, and often surprising. Ideal for conceptual jazz enthusiasts and those who enjoy seeing tradition through a fresh lens.

10. Figure in blue, Charles Lloyd

Saxophone maturity, spirituality, and warmth
Charles Lloyd closes the list with a serene, deeply human statement. Figure In Blue showcases the saxophone’s expressive potential, moving with patience, warmth, and spiritual depth. A perfect ending note for jazz in 2025: reflective, soulful, and timeless!

Jazz in 2025 and beyond

These albums define much of contemporary jazz in 2025 and will remain essential listening in 2026. For saxophonists, jazz enthusiasts, and curious ears alike, they offer inspiration, musical insight, and a reminder of why jazz is endlessly exciting. At Odisei Music, we believe that listening well is the first step to playing well, and this year, there’s plenty of music to spark your creativity. 🎷

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Odisei Musik Team