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Angelo Leonardi's Best Jazz Albums of 2024

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Courtesy Frank Heath

By Angelo Leonardi
December 28, 2024
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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

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">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

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson and

Matt Mitchell

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O'Farrill and saxophonists

Jon Irabagon

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Irabagon and

Mark Shim

saxophone, tenor
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Shim.

Jamie Baum

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Finlayson,

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Sadigursky,

Brad Shepik

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Shepik, and

Luis Perdomo

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Luis Perdomo) blend into sophisticated arrangements that elevate the album to the top of 2024 jazz.

Franco D'Andrea

piano
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">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

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Gabriele Evangelista and

Roberto Gatto

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Roberto Gatto. A reflective musical journey that starts with the blues and branches out into an intense interplay of profound depth.

Andrea Grossi

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrea Grossi Blend 3 +

Jim Black

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Black
Axes
We Insist! Records

The adventurous energy expressed in the early works of bassist Andrea Grossi's young trio (featuring

Manuel Caliumi

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Manuel Caliumi on alto sax and

Michele Bonifati

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">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

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">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

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">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

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Vijay Iyer,

Linda May Han Oh

bass, acoustic
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Linda May Han Oh,

Tyshawn Sorey

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyshawn Sorey
Compassion
ECM Records

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

Brian Landrus

saxophone, baritone
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">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

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ambrose Akinmusire,

David Smith

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">David Smith,

Dave Pietro

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Pietro,

Adam Birnbaum

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Birnbaum, and

Ben Kono

saxophone, tenor
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Kono.

Roberto Magris

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">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

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">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

flute
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Mitchell to

Makaya McCraven

drums
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Makaya McCraven,

Rob Mazurek

trumpet
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Mazurek, and

Jaimie Branch

trumpet
1983 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaimie Branch. Her quartet's new release (featuring

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson,

Jason Roebke

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Roebke, and

Tomas Fujiwara

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">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

saxophone, alto
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">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

bass, electric
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">MeShell NdegeOcello and enriched by many female voices, including

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">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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