It's been a solid year for jazz. There's a lot of variety in this list. Since this is mainly a hip hop blog, I'll note that hip hop fans may be interested in The Heliocentrics. You may already be familiar with a few of their singles from the past couple years ("Before I Die" featuring Guilty Simpson, "Distant Star" featuring Percee P & MF Doom, and "Sirius B" featuring Vast Aire). Inspiration Information is a collaboration with Ethopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke.
- Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information
- Dr. Lonnie Smith - Rise Up!
- Allen Toussaint - The Bright Mississippi
- Medeski, Martin & Wood - Radiolarians II
- Paolo Fresu & Uri Caine - Think
- Matthew Shipp - Harmonic Disorder
- Giovanni Mirabassi - Out Of Track
- John Zorn - Alhambra Love Songs
- Flower-Corsano Duo - The Four Aims
- Enrico Pieranunzi with Marc Johnson & Joey Baron - Dream Dance
- Wynton Marsalis - He and She
- Philippe Saisse - At World's Edge
- Ravi Coltrane - Blending Times
- Branford Marsalis Quartet - Metamorphosen
- Bugge Wesseltoft - Playing
- Masada Quintet Featuring Joe Lovano - Stolas: Book Of Angels Vol. 12
- Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette - Yesterdays
- Pieces Of A Dream - Soul Intent
- Rosalia De Souza - D'Improvviso
- Sara K. - Made In The Shade
