The Best Jazz Albums of 2023

There are many jazz albums released this year with more complicated harmonies and more surprising performances than George Coleman’s Live at Smalls Jazz Club, but ultimately, I care about playability and Coleman delivers that in spades. This is the culmination of honing a craft for 3/4 of a century: fluidity, command, and pure joy from reed to bell.

P.S. If the James Brandon Lewis album were only For Mahalia, With Love I might have not ranked it so high. I would want you to buy any album you love here, but if you enjoy steaming For Mahalia you should definitely buy the 2CD bundle as its the only way to hear the even greater These are Soulful Days.

Without further ado...

1. George Coleman: Live at Smalls Jazz Club

2. Taj Mahal: Savoy

3. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz: Ex Machina

4. James Brandon Lewis/Red Lily Quartet: For Mahalia, With Love/These are Soulful Days

5. Isach Skeidsvoll: Dance to Summon

6. Emmet Cohen & Houston Person: Master Legacy Series, Volume 5: Houston Person

7. Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Spirit Gatherer • Tribute to Don Cherry

8. Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Continuing

9. Allen Lowe and the Constant Sorrow Orchestra: America: The Rough Cut

10. Irreversible Entanglements: Protect Your Light

11. Gard Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra: Family

12. Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo: El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2

13. Natural Information Society: Since Time Is Gravity

14. Chad McCullough: The Charm of Impossibilities

15. Daniel Bingert: Ariba

16. Christian McBride’s New Jawn: Prime

17. Yussef Dayes: Black Classical Music

18. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge: Beyond the Margins

19. Lakecia Benjamin: Phoenix

20. Benjamin Herman: Nostalgia Blitz