Here's the edge of Jazz Top Ten albums of the year as chosen by the presenter after long hours of listening, thinking, self-debating with a soupcon of panic thrown in. It claims nothing, isn't based on any known sales pattern or anyone elses playlist, but is here for you to enjoy, perhaps marvel over and most of all disagree with!

5. Southern Nights - Sullivan Fortner.

I got this is February after having had it recommended by a friend. It's a magnificent piece of piano trio recording. Noy only is Fortner a brilliant improviser and performer with his own personal developing style but he's joined by two amazing sidesmen. Marcus Gilmore is certainly a go-to drummer for this kind of rrecording but Peter Washington is equally empathetic on bass. However what stand out, apart from the tunes and the virtuosity is the fact that the album exudes togetherness and enjoyment, something quite often missing in a lot of contemporary jazz.

4. El Viejo Caminante: Dino Saluzzi.

About as left field as it could get, this wonderfully produced ECM record was recorded in Buenos Aires by Father and Son Dino and Jose Maria Saluzzi together with Jacob Young. Dino plays bandoneon, Jose maria classical guitar and Young electric and accoustic guitar. . Of the twelve tracks 5 are written by Dino, 1 by Jose Maria and 2 by Young. The resyt are from a wide variety of other writers. The overall ambience is a totally relaxed, well constructed and well executed by of ensemble pieces, with everyone able to stretch out at times. It's mainly fairly low tempo, but a delicious fusion of different styles and eras of jazz. 

3. Woven: Jeremy Pelt.

Trumpeter Pelt has assembled a frontline with a difference with Jalen Baker on vibraphone and Misha mendelenko on guitar. Backed by a solid rythm section that at time is extended by the judicious use of synthsiser and with one vocal track from Marie-Ann Hedonia. Everybody is given space to stretch out with Pelt not always taking the led in improvisations. Pelt has been appearing on albums by several other artist recently, but this is a rather special headliner album. If I'd had to write a half year Top Ten this album would have been number one. It really is a very splendid album.

2. Lisane Bahir: Kibrom Bihane.

  It was billed as "A new dimension in Ethiopian music". It's certainly all that but also an amazing example of what can be done with an analogue modular synthsiser together with a patient label owner, a unique concept and some amazing compositions. There's secular, religious, regional and soulful music on this album which I readily identified as being jazz. Actually trying to describe it fully is intimidating and not really very useful as its an album that deserves repeated playing. Find it if you can on the tiny Flying Carpet records label.

1. After the last sky: Anouar Brahem.

    A wondeful synthesis of styles. In addition to Brahem on oud, two very respected jazz musicians Django Bates on Piano and Dave Holland on double bass are joined by the wonderfully sonorous tone of Anja Lechner on cello. Given the subject matter, which is clearly rooted in arabic traditions the music is respendent in its gravity, tone and joyous celebration of creating some in some very very ethereal undertones. It's beautifully recorded and clearly laid out - an album to sit down and listen to in its entireityThis is another one where words can barely describe how good I think this is.

Another one that nearly made it:

Inkyra: Emma Rawicz.

A wonderful player on Tenor and alto saxes, Rawicz leads a sextet that plays an entire album of self written compositions recorded over 3 seperate but consecutive days this is a fusion of a working British jazz tradition fused with a band following a very British forward thinking fusion. The next album should be even more outstanding.

Thanks for all the support this year. The Edge of Jazz returns January 6th 2026 - the start of its 18th year on - air.

 It just sort of creeps up on you....having spent most of October thinking what a wonderful summer we'd had, November arrives, the clocks change and suddenly it's December. So here is the first part of my Top ten albums of 2025. I'll preface the selection by saying that it's been a pretty thin year as far as really good new releases are concerned. Some spectacular re-releases, especially the extensive Blue Note releases, here on vinyl and from Japan on CD. 

I always want to reiterate that my choice has nothing at all to do with the expressed preferences of others, but does reflect my own tastes, after all there's not much point in having a show on a radio station that doesn't have playlists or adverts, and where presenters make choice without being able to select what I've enjoyed during the course of the year. So here's ten to six, and one that nearly made the cut, but eventually didn't. Please savour (and comment if you want to!)

10. 'Solidarity' - Zak Rich:

Oddly, one that I found grew on me after extensive playing. There aren't too may trombone led bands' and this one is a recording funded by the American Pathways to Jazz fund. A basic quintet is filled out on various tracks by trumpet, tenor sax and oboe and one vocal track. Zak Rich wrote and arranged all the self written tracks. he explains in the sleeve notes that he sees the album as 'exploring and bridging the gap between classical, jazz and other branches of American music. It fills the gap well. Find it if you can!

9. 'By all means' - Aaron Park:

Moving away from a trio format to embrace a saxophoist has enabled Park to extend the texture of the music he writes - this album is all self written. ben Solomon on sax brings another dimesion to the compositions though truth to say, Rarks' writing has proved equal to the new format. It's held together by Ben Street on Bass and especially Billy Hart on drums who turns in a really empathetic performance. Start with 'Parks lope' and then listen to 'Anywhere together'. . Probably my favourite Blue Note album of the year.

8. 'Taking turns' - Jakob Bro:

       Bro has been recording for ECM records since 2015, but I rate this as one of his best to date. It helps to have first class support, so here is Bill Frisell on guitar, Jason Moran on piano. the laste lee Konitz on sax  Thomas Morgan on drums and Andrew Cyrille on drums. It's a mainly laid back session in which all the soloists are given time to stretch out across the whole album. This is (mainly) late night stuff but done in a supremely confident and satisfying way. I stand by everything I said in my review earlier in the year.

7. 'Where in the World' - Tom Olendorff:

    A late-ish arrival. Olendorff is a guitarist aand this is his fourth album. (his 2024 album 'Solo volume' is worth checkingout ,too) This is a quartet album and in addition to the UK based James Maddern on drums and Conor Chaplin on bass he has recruited Blue Note pianist Aaron Parks ( see 9 above ) on an album that embraces a plethora of styles all written by Olendorff, whose guitar playing is sinewy and technically excellent. I'd recommend 'Three Bridges' as an introduction, whilst the single released 'past Lives' came out in shotened version earlier in the year. Well worth seeking out.

6. 'The Big Room' Joe Farnsworth:

   I would describe Farnsworth as a veteran drummer. His ability, shown in spades on this album, is to choose support players who contribute to a group based effort. That he has managed to attract luminaries from other labels to play on this album speaks volumes about both taste and his reputation. There are two Farnsworth written track, ut all the other musicials contribute at least one tune (Joel Ross the vibes player has two) and there;s one 'standard' The whole album is very strong but I'd start with Jeremy Pelt (Trumpet - but see also 5 to 1 - spoiler alert! ) 'All said and done' and a vigorous reworking of Emmet Cohen's 'You already know'  Another belting album from Smoke Session Records.

One that nearly made it:

'You're exaggerating' - Paul Cornish.

The ability by the Blue Note gang to turn up new talent continues to amaze. Cornish has been around for quite a long period, but this album is the first for Blue Note and it marks him out as a remarkable talent. The trio album ( extended on track 7 by Jeff Parker on guitar) is a confident opening for his new label. Recommended to get into the album are 'Queen Geri' and the aformentioned 'Palindrome' I look forward to the next outing.

 The next instalment will be here next week!