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John Chacona's Favorite Jazz Albums of 2024

By John Chacona
December 6, 2024
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First the bad news: There are too many recordings being released these days. In the past 12 months, I have received or purchased 769. That's insane.

Now the good news: There are a great many very good recordings being released these days. The following 10 are a snapshot, on one day, of my favorites released during the past year. They're not the best or the most important, because who am I to say what's best and only history can judge what's important. But I liked these a lot and will return to them often—or at least until I'm deluged by the new releases that are sure to come in 2025.

Breaking Stretch

Patricia Brennan

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Patricia Brennan
Pyroclastic Records

PolyTropos / Of Many Turns

Steve Coleman

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Coleman
Pi Recordings

Blues Blood

Immanuel Wilkins

saxophone, alto
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Immanuel Wilkins
Blue Note Records

Central Park's Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith
Red Hook Records

Good Trouble

Matt Wilson

drums
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Wilson
Palmetto Records

Cloudward

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson
Nonesuch Records

Beyond This Place

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron
Artwork Records

simpletrio2000

Anna Webber

saxophone, tenor
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Anna Webber
Intakt Records

Enhlizweni -Song Stories From My Heartland

Steve Dyer

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Dyer
Ropeadope

HUESO

Adam O'Farrill

trumpet
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O'Farrill
FOOD Records

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