Determining what is the best of any genre is subjective. You can ask professional musicians, archivists, and renowned music journalists what the best albums of any given year are and there’s not going to be a definitive list. Sure, there might be overlaps, but there’s always going to be variety, even within the same spaces of a genre. All that being said, we, as a society, love hearing the opinions of others. We love seeing what albums are crowned the best, and if those albums align with our own favorites.
Spotify is one of those resources that put together a list of jazz albums they consider the “top” of the year. This list came together in the Spotify Wrapped category. This blog isn’t intended to say that Spotify is a 100% reliable source of determining the best albums of any genre. However, data doesn’t lie. When putting this list together, it likely came from the most popularly streamed albums on the platform. Yet the list is not in top streaming order, so the arrangement reasoning is unclear. Still, it’s a very interesting spread. Let’s take a look at what Spotify has determined are the Top Jazz Albums of 2024.
Three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not – Walter Smith III
Released: September 27, 2024
Streams: 608.5K
With just under 500,000 streams on Spotify, Jazz fans were loving this album from Walter Smith III and his ensemble. The title describes the album literally and serves as a tribute to Smith’s hometown of Houston, Texas. Other reviews described the album being good as “inevitable” with a sound that will “satisfy any jazz lover.” Beyond being a great performer, Smith is also an impressive composer, which can be seen on this album. With a recording career as a leader of just about 20 years, the Jazz world has their eye on Smith and what he’ll do next.
Vibe Provider – Emmet Cohen
Released: August 23, 2024
Streams: 280.6K
With many accolades under his belt including the 2023 DownBeat Critics Poll’s #1 Rising Star Pianist, Emmet Cohen is considered one of the top modern jazz pianists. Fans love his energetic play style reminiscent of classic jazz musicians and for the innovative interpretations he brings to jazz standards. His latest album release Vibe Provider further cemented his popularity with fans and reviewers, with JazzTimes describing the album and Cohen as “hold[ing] to the truth that the music and those who make it never be forgotten or overlooked.” One thing Cohen does best is putting his own spin on classics, or as one reviewer describes it as “looking back on tradition with contemporary eyes.” Savage Content has worked with Cohen and can attest to his many talents.
No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin – Meshell Ndegeocello
Released: August 2, 2024
Streams: 1.38M
No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin is a tribute album to African American thinkers and writers, including (obviously) the namesake James Baldwin and activist Audre Lorde. Ndegeocello wanted to highlight Baldwin’s prophetic ideas “to help give some idea of the systematic racism that has been imposed on people of color since the beginning of this country.” Released in August 2024 under Blue Note, reviewers have described this album as “beyond just music and more like a sermon for those with ears to hear and hearts to feel” and “transcends boundaries and genres.”
Foreverland – Keyon Harrold
Released: January 19, 2024
Streams: 2.37M
Foreverland is a jazz hybrid that blends in styles of R&B and hip hop into the mix. Released by talented trumpeter-vocalist Keyon Harrold, the album is described by reviewers as “a perfect entry point for those looking to enter modern jazz and a riveting listen for the already initiated.” This album came in the wake of the loss of Harrold’s mother and the racially motivated assault of his teenage son, and that emotion shines through. Harrold is able to convey so much emotion and tell a story through his trumpeting that transfixes the listener to embrace the work completely.
Little Big III – Aaron Parks
Released: October 18, 2024
Streams: 925K
This is the third studio album by Aaron Park’s group Little Big which also consists of guitarist Greg Tuohey, bassist David Ginyard Jr., and drummer Jongkuk Kim. It has received positive reviews for its jazz and rock sound and its ability to feel like the vibes of their 2008 album. The album is described by All About Jazz as “simplif[ying] his compositions and arrangements.” This is accurate to how the album was marketed with Parks himself describing the artistic decision as "sidestepping any surplus of harmonic information."
Portrait – Samara Joy
Released: October 11, 2024
Streams: 2.44M
Samara Joy received a lot of much deserved buzz and a jump in listeners after clinching Grammys for both Best New Artist and Jazz Vocal Album at the 2023 awards as well as Improvised Jazz Solo at the 2024 awards. Joy has described her 2024 release Portrait, as a testament to her growth and connection to her band. Her band consists of her touring ensemble, trumpeter Jason Charos, alto saxophonist/flutist David Mason, tenor saxophonist Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donavan Austin, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm, and drummer Evan Sherman. While her first few albums felt reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, her latest release has echos of greats like Max Roach and Art Blakey. Reviewers call Portrait, “an astonishing display of a magnificent talent and the enduring power of jazz music” and “jaw-dropping in its sheer artistry.”
Fearless Movement – Kamasi Washington
Released: May 3, 2024
Streams: 7.27M
The fifth studio album released by Washington, Fearless Movement feels like a collection of the music scene with the album featuring Washington's collective West Coast Get Down and various contributions from people like DJ Battlecat and André 3000, among others. Washington views the album as his “dance album” in the sense of “movement and expression” as opposed to what one normally thinks of when we hear the phrase, “dance album.” His inspiration comes primarily from newly becoming a father. Kyle Kersey from Under the Radar describe the album as Washington, “demonstrat[ing] his commitment to innovation, cementing his place in the great jazz canon” while Joe Goggins of NME describes Washington as an artist who “makes music that's apparently limitless in scope and yet joyously immediate, even to the casual jazz listener."
Odyssey – Nubya Garcia
Released: September 20, 2024
Streams: 2.16M
British Jazz musician Nubya Garcia is no stranger to top album lists, with her debut studio album Source ending up on multiple 2020 top album lists and getting shortlisted for the 2021 Mercury Prize. Her latest release, Odyssey, is her third studio release, and it’s been well received by critics and fans. With its blend of orchestral arrangements with R&B, jazz, and dub influences, the album stands out as something unique within the Jazz space. Reviewers have called the album as an “orchestral journey of self-discovery" and “a mournful, imposing work made up of hundreds of moving parts.”
Milton+esperanza – Milton Nascinmento, Esperanza Spalding
Released: August 9, 2024
Streams: 4.77M
This is THE collaborative studio album of the year. Jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding had dreams of working with Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascinmento, and this album is bringing that dream to life. The album is a painting of the musician’s relationship, full of Spalding’s long-held admiration for Nascinmento and Nascinmento’s respect for Spalding’s craft. The album is a mixture of classics from Nascimento’s catalog, new songs from Spalding, and covers from other artists, including The Beatles and Michael Jackson (Source). The album’s story on their website describes the album listening experience as “the contrasting textures between their voices evokes exquisite poignancy; you can’t help but reflect on the passage of time, why art endures, and the indefatigable spirit of human creativity.” Other reviewers describe the album as one that will “please fans and newcomers alike” and “an utterly enchanting album which at times possesses something approaching a sacred vibe.”
UNomkhubulwane – Nduduzo Makhathini
Released: June 7, 2024
Streams: 519K
If this South African pianist isn’t on your radar, this is your sign to check his stuff out! Nduduzo Makhathini has earned widespread acclaim for the genuinely spiritual transcendence of his music. His album Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworld released by Blue Note was named one of the “Best Jazz Albums of 2020” by The New York Times. The spiritual transcendence he’s known for is a big facet of his latest album UNomkhubulwane. The album's title pays homage to the Zulu goddess uNomkhubulwane, and the music explores themes of freedom, balance, and the spiritual legacy of the goddess. Reviewers describe the album as an “immersive experience”, “beautifully ebullient” and “a celebration of tranquillity and transcendence.”
But Who’s Gonna Play the Melody? - Christian McBride, Edgar Meyer
Released: March 22, 2024
Streams: 413K
The collaborative album by Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer came about from a comment by a mutual friend on social media who wondered who would take the lead melodic role when two bassists were playing together. With McBride coming from a Jazz and R&B background and Meyer coming from a classical and bluegrass background, it makes for a unique dynamic. This album gives the answer that both musicians could potentially play the melody depending on the piece. Reviewers have called the album, “an hour plus of scintillating music” and “an exemplary, even indispensable album, serving both musicology students and lovers of beautiful music.”
Echoes of the Inner Prophet – Melissa Aldana
Released: April 5, 2024
Streams: 580K
Melissa Aldana’s 2024 album Echoes of an Inner Prophet is a must listen if you’re a fan of the late jazz pioneer Wayne Shorter as this album is inspired by him. Shorter was a mentor to Aldana, and that can be felt throughout the album as it explores the Chilean saxophone player’s growth of her love for Shorter’s music over time as well as themes of discovery. Reviewers describe the album as, “a refreshing antidote to the current penchant for stylised regurgitations of the mid-1960’s ‘cosmic’ period" and “blend[ing] subtle idiomatic combinations with personal emotions.”
Dance, No One’s Watching – Ezra Collective
Released: September 27, 2024
Streams: 28.5M
Dance, No One’s Watching is the third studio album from the British quintet Ezra Collective and the follow up to their 2022 release Where I’m Meant to Be. The album is inspired by the band's experiences on dance floors around the world that shaped them as well as the influential rhythms of their home city. Their love of the catharsis of dance has transcends the jazz label and goes into the listeners’ souls. Reviewers have called the album, “a joyful reminder of music’s ability to bring people together” and “worth every minute spent listening.”
MoonDial – Pat Metheny
Released: July 26, 2024
Streams: 3.8M
20-time Grammy winner Pat Metheny is back with a new album! With a career spanning 50 years, Metheny is a valuable icon in the Jazz world and his new album reflects that he isn’t done adding to the conversation yet. MoonDial is the third movement of work with variations from the albums One Quiet Night and What’s It All About. Metheny describes the album as a “dusk-to-sunrise record” meant to elicit deep contemplation. Reviewers describe the album as “designed to make ears smile” and “a wondrous second-half-of-summer listen, as our thoughts begin to turn to autumn.”
Twentyfour – Al Di Meola
Released: July 19, 2024
Streams: 626.5K
Starting out as an acoustic guitar project, Twentyfour became an album full of electric guitar and orchestral parts. The double LP/CD release includes 15 tracks, all composed and arranged by Di Meola. Guitarist Al Di Meola has been quoted saying this about his latest album Twentyfour “[it] mirrors my personal and artistic evolution, especially during the pandemic's challenging period. It encapsulates a journey of introspection, resilience, and unrelenting creative drive” (Source). Al Di Meola spent four years crafting his flamenco fusion album, and the hard work shows in every line. Reviewers have described the album as having “a little more grit and energy than the other acoustic pieces” and the album’s “the cinematic flow makes it a perfect setting to transport listeners to a world of romantic melodies and dynamic fusion rhythms.”
To reiterate, this list is not the end-all-be-all of best albums to come out of Jazz in 2024. These are just some of the top albums on Spotify when it comes to popularity/streaming numbers. It’s interesting to look at the array of artists list from a mix of up-and-coming artists and classic Jazz artists that have shaped the genre over their decades-long careers. Are there are albums on the list that surprised you that it had such high streaming numbers? What albums do you think got overlooked in 2024? Let us know in the comments! There was a lot of great Jazz in 2024, and I’m sure 2025 will hold just as many innovative new albums to bump this year.
Written by Kristen Petronio
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