A few months in, and certain albums have already settled in as records you return to without really thinking about it. This selection of the Best Jazz Albums of 2026 (so far) is simply about choosing what is certainly worth sitting with. Of course, time will tell. But for now, these albums have made a real impression; they have stayed with us, finding their way back onto our stereos again and again.

You will find a mix of directions and styles here. But each of these records, in its own way, is already making 2026 feel like a great year for jazz. We will be adding new releases as the months go by, and will share the final selection, as always, in early December.

---

This is exceptional music. Through its impeccable compositions and layered orchestration, it provokes complete submission, and even the subtle movements happening in the background will mesmerize you. Beauty lies in every detail and in the way each element connects, so naturally and majestically enhancing the whole. Amazing, gorgeous two tracks!

Founded in 2003, ArtistShare is a music crowdfunding platform and independent label. It allows musicians to finance recordings through fan support. Supporters often gain access to the creative process, including behind-the-scenes updates, exclusive content, and special editions.

In practical terms, buying music on ArtistShare means creating a free account, choosing a project, and selecting a support level (from a simple digital download to deluxe physical packages or limited collector editions). Once purchased, the music and any exclusive content are accessible through your account.

It functions as a label, but with a different philosophy: artists typically retain ownership of their work, and the relationship with listeners is direct, transparent, and collaborative rather than industry-driven.

Visit their website at https://www.artistshare.com/

Maria Schneider: composer, conductor; Steve Wilson: alto, soprano, alto flute, flute; Dave Pietro: alto clarinet, piccolo; Rich Perry, John Ellis: tenor; Scott Robinson: baritone, bass & contrabass clarinets; Mike Rodriguez, Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis: trumpet; Keith O’Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes: trombone; George Flynn: bass & contrabass trombones; Julien Labro: accordion; Jeff Miles: guitar; Gary Versace: piano; Jay Anderson: bass; Johnathan Blake: drums
Released February 3, 2026

---

Is “éclats” here fragments suddenly ejected from a breaking body, sharp and sudden sounds, or simply something that commands admiration? Probably a bit of all at once.

What you hear is a wide spectrum, touching on all forms of jazz, from the more grounded to the more exploratory, yet in a way that seems to reconcile everything and make sense of the whole burst of pieces. And in the end, what remains is exactly that, an éclat of jazz and an éclat of admiration.

Sylvie Courvoisier: piano; Drew Gress: bass; Kenny Wollesen: drums, wollesonics
Released March 27, 2026

---

Fabulous album. As the title suggests, it’s danceable, it moves, and it swings, but in completely unexpected ways. The groove is there, the swing is there, yet something feels subtly displaced. It seems they are producing square shapes, expressing round effects, or an abruptly angular approach that, in their hands, becomes smooth and round, or groove and swing. Anyway, these new shapes, comfortably unsettling or perhaps unsettlingly pleasant, make the music exceptionally addictive.

“[2026] the Year of Tomeka Reid.”
–Nate Chinen

Tomeka Reid is an American cellist, composer, and improviser known for expanding the role of the cello in contemporary jazz and creative music. Blending chamber precision with free improvisation, her work moves fluidly between composition and spontaneous interplay. As a bandleader and collaborator, she has become a key voice in Chicago’s experimental jazz scene, combining structural clarity with exploratory energy.

Tomeka Reid: cello; Jason Roebke: bass, cassette; Mary Halvorson: guitar; Tomas Fujiwara: drums
Released February 13, 2026

---

Angelika Niescier clearly came to Chicago to listen, respond, and advance ideas. The music, shaped as much by the personalities around her as by her writing, is tense and grooving, constantly shifting, yet always guided by a clear intention that creates a strong sense of collective presence.

It also fits seamlessly into her run of releases on Intakt Records (Beyond Dragons, New York Trio, The Berlin Concert, or NYC Five), which has been remarkably consistent in both quality and ambition.

“Through such artistic exchanges, Niescier has built a fascinating career by continually forming new partnerships and nonchalantly adapting her own language to the needs of each new context, without ever compromising or dampening her voice. Chicago Tapes captures a new chapter in this journey, and judging by what we hear here, we can only hope that her connection to Chicago is just beginning.”
—Peter Margasak, liner notes

Angelika Niescier: alto saxophone; Jason Adasiewicz: vibes; Nicole Mitchell: flute; Mike Reed: drums; Dave Rempis: alto, tenor saxophone; Luke Stewart: bass
Released January 23, 2026

---

In For The Space You Left, Marta Sánchez turns the piano into a space of solitude. Through preparation, the instrument expands into a network of textures and inner voices, allowing the music to vibrate in a unique way, as if it were resonating within rather than outward. Each piece feels contained, almost self-sufficient, shaped by a careful balance between fragility and precision. And in that space, something magnificent takes shape.

Marta Sánchez: prepared piano
Released April 17, 2026

---

Six new compositions by Mark Turner, with one foot anchored in the classic bebop era and the other reaching toward tomorrow. This quartet is shaping a unique sound of astonishing quality: it feels deep, precise, and fully mastered without ever sounding rigid. You can already sense how profound this record is, and how many times we will return to it.

Mark Turner: tenor saxophone; Jason Palmer: trumpet; Joe Martin: double bass; Jonathan Pinson: drums
Released March 13, 2026

---

For Scenes From Above, Julian Lage formed a new quartet, inviting John Medeski on organ and piano. Medeski’s touch adds depth and color, widening the harmonic space while reinforcing Lage’s usual quiet intensity. What is striking is how majestic the music feels without grand gestures, a mastery that lends it considerable weight.

Julian Lage: guitar; John Medeski: organ, piano; Jorge Roeder: bass; Kenny Wollesen: drums
Released January 23, 2026

---

BaRcoDe brings together a quartet of vibraphonists (Joel Ross, Simon Moullier, Patricia Brennan, and Juan Diego Villalobos) alongside saxophonist Ben Wendel. But maybe “alongside” isn’t quite right. Wendel is clearly present throughout, but the music doesn’t revolve around him. It feels more that, as a group, they are all five focused on finding the sweet balance in texture, resonance, and interaction that this unusual setup has to offer. And somehow, it holds together as something that simply works, with a beautiful sound and a beautiful experience for us.

“This is just me continuing to be me. I just can’t seem to do normal projects.”
–Ben Wendel

Ben Wendel: tenor saxophone, EFX; Joel Ross: vibraphone, marimba; Simon Moullier: vibraphone, chromatic balafon, EFX; Patricia Brennan: vibraphone, EFX; Juan Diego Villalobos: Vibraphone, mallet station, percussion, EFX
Released March 13, 2026

---

Only two tracks, or rather one long improvisation followed by an encore, where what you hear is essentially free, overblown saxophone intertwined with abrasive cello bowing and scraping.

Yes, this might sound extreme, but Live Bahdu speaks directly to your gut, to what is most archaic, buried deep within you. And this kind of ferocious improvisation, sustained at constant intensity and raw pressure, is surprisingly relaxing. It seems to activate a forgotten part of us that rarely receives attention, yet when it does, it brings a deep sense of release. This is an astonishing performance.

Dietrichs is a father–daughter duo formed by Don Dietrich on tenor saxophone and Camille Dietrich on cello. This performance, recorded live on February 6, 2025, at the Ear We Are festival in Biel, Switzerland, follows two previous releases by Relative Pitch Records: Catch the Leaves (2023) and No Bahdu (2025).

Camille Dietrich: cello; Don Dietrich: tenor saxophone
Released March 27, 2026

---

Best Jazz Albums 2026 (so far)

• Maria Schneider – American Crow (ArtistShare)
• Sylvie Courvoisier Trio – Éclats – Live in Europe (Intakt)
• The Tomeka Reid Quartet – Dance! Skip! Hop! (Out Of Your Head)
• Angelika Niescier – Chicago Tapes (Intakt)
• Marta Sanchez – For The Space You Left (Out Of Your Head)
• Mark Turner – Patternmaster (ECM)
• Julian Lage – Scenes From Above (Blue Note)
• Ben Wendel – BaRcoDe (Edition)
• Dietrichs – Live Bahdu (Relative Pitch)

---

2026: New Releases Month by Month

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December 2026

…and the Playlist “Best Jazz 2026.”
Listen to our “Best Jazz Albums 2026” playlist (link to Spotify) with all the monthly new-release selections and excerpts of the above albums (when available) for a total of (soon) 120 breathtaking tracks.

---

This is where we stand, for now

Some of these albums will stay. Others might fade. That is part of it. Listening evolves, and so will this selection in the months ahead.

But what about you?

What have you been listening to this year? Which albums have stayed with you, the ones you keep coming back to without really planning to?

Feel free to share your favorite jazz releases of 2026 so far; we are always curious to discover what has been resonating beyond our own listening.

---