This just in

Best jazz of 2025 at the half way point

6 July 20251 Mins read
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis plays Manchester on Sunday with Julian Joseph. Julian's first album in years, Voyage of the Faithful, is released soon. Branford's Belonging - a tribute to the classic Keith Jarrett album - is one of 2025's top albums.

Drawn from a range of top UK, Irish, Eurojazz, vocals and US releases

10 From Bach To Ellington

Michael Arbenz meets Andy Sheppard: From Bach to Ellington – Live, No Label ****

9 El Roi

Top 5 UK jazz albums so far in 2025

8

Jasper Høiby, Fellow Creatures: We Must Fight, Edition **** recommended

7 Downhill From Here

Gilad Hekselman, Downhill from Here, La Reserve Records ****

6 Ebb and Flow

Michael Buckley, Ebb and Flow, Livia **** Recommended

5 Woven

Album of the Week: Jeremy Pelt, Woven, HighNote *****

4 La Femme Aux Yeux de Sel

Gabi Hartmann, La Femme Aux Yeux de Sel, Sony Masterworks ****

3 New Vienna

Keith Jarrett, New Vienna, ECM *****

2 Words Fall Short

Joshua Redman, Words Fall Short, Blue Note **** recommended

1 Belonging

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Branford Marsalis Quartet, Belonging, Blue Note *****

MORE FROM MARLBANK

Top jazz albums so far in 2026Top jazz albums so far in 202626 October 2026Stephen Graham
A look ahead to Dominic Miller's beautiful bandoneón flavoured latest album DianaA look ahead to Dominic Miller's beautiful bandoneón flavoured latest album Diana25 October 2026Stephen Graham
UK - 2026 - best of jazz... so farUK – 2026 – best of jazz… so far25 October 2026Stephen Graham
Previous post Dave Redmond single 'Windchill' streams drawn from All In Motion
Written by
Stephen Graham

Writing on marlbank.net since 2013 Stephen Graham was assistant editor of Jazz Forum International, Warsaw 1991-2, assistant editor of Jazz on CD, London, from 1993-5 and founding editor of Jazzwise, also London, in 1997

Welcome

Monty Alexander leads today's Renewal themed playlist with his Threesome (Soulnote, 1986) number. The playlist also includes music by Artie Shaw, Gil Scott-Heron, Julie Dexter, Chris Minh Doky and more

His latest album the puntastic and rather fantastic A Jamarican in Paris is a gem. There's a review of it below

Today's playlist is about renewal

'Jazz Hotel' is Track of the Week


And popular over the last few days

Related Articles

This just inTrack choice

This week’s podcast + track of the week

The latest marlbank podcast reflects on Gary Crosby and Cherise at the...

By13 October 2026
This just in

What’s new

A busy time for new releases. Here's our guide

By12 September 2026
FeaturedPreviewedThis just in

Finding A New Voice + Great Vibes

Laura Lawton emerges plus Gig of the Month coming up is Steve...

By1 September 2026
This just in

What’s on

Highlights on the live club and small venue scene coming up

By28 August 2026

Discover more from marlbank

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Discover more from marlbank

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading