In this post, we are shining a spotlight on the Best Jazz Albums of 2010—each one offering a distinct and memorable experience that has contributed to shaping jazz. From innovative sounds to masterful performances, these albums highlight the diverse range of jazz and its continued evolution. We’re excited to share this collection with you, and we encourage you to dive in and explore.

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Best Jazz Albums of 2010

Ten celebrates the tenth anniversary of his trio with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits. The album blends traditional jazz with a modern twist, mixing laid-back, intimate moments with some more experimental, boundary-pushing sounds. Moran’s ability to shift between these styles fills up Ten with all the depth, emotion, and creativity you’d expect from him.

Jason Moran: piano; Tarus Mateen: bass; Nasheet Waits: drums

Released June 22, 2010

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Goran Kajfeš’s X/Y is a bold double album: it features a large ensemble, The Subtropic Arkestra, on X, which mixes global sounds like Indian, African, and Balkan influences with jazz, funk, and psychedelic tones; on Y, Kajfeš explores a more intimate, experimental sound using trumpet and electronics. But overall, another masterpiece from Sweden.

Goran Kajfes: trumpet, percussion, synthesizer bass; Suranjana Ghosh: tablas; Jonas Kullhammar: tenor saxophone, flute, bass saxophone; Per Johansson: baritone saxophone, flute, bass drum; Jesper Nordenström: organ, Fender Rhodes, logan string melody; Robert Östlund: Moog, electric guitar; Johan Berthling: acoustic and electric bass; Johan Holmegard, Fredrik Björling, Lars Skoglund: drums; Andreas Söderström: acoustic and electric guitar, key harp; Hanna Ekström: violin; Johan Lindström: electric guitar, guzen; Majid Bekkas: vocals, oud

Released 2010

Discover next: Jazz in Sweden

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“even more compelling than its predecessor… Iyer dives deep to find new twists and turns and harmonic surprises; all of them, however radical, sounding ineffably right, all of them glistening with a sense of revealed mystery… magic, from start to finish.”
–All About Jazz

Vijay Iyer: piano

Released August 23, 2010

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“…The third Bindu, dedicated to a rapprochement between “jazz” and “reggae” – neither a recording of “jazz” nor a recording of “reggae”, but a recording from the “Great Tradition” – continues to create open environments…”
–Alexandre Pierrepont, excerpt from the liner notes

Hamid Drake: drums, frame drum, tabla, vocals; Napoléon Maddox: vocals, beatbox; Jeff Albert: trombone, Hammond organ; Jeb Bishop: trombone; Jeff Parker: guitar; Josh Abrams: double bass, guimbri

Released 2010

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“But make no mistake, this is not an old-fashioned alto battle. And this is not a concept album. This live recording is an important marker in Mahanthappa and Lehman’s shared history, and documents the work of two cutting-edge composer/performers who have made a commitment to learning from each other and to expanding the possibilities of what their music can be.”
–Clean Feed Records

Rudresh Mahanthappa, Steve Lehman: alto saxophone; Liberty Ellman: guitar; Matt Brewer: double bass; Damion Reid: drums

Released January 2010

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Saturn Sings by Mary Halvorson Quintet is one of those albums that really grabs your attention. It’s a wild mix of jazz, avant-garde, and experimental sounds. Mary’s guitar work is so unique—she takes risks, but it always pays off—and the quintet is tight but still allows for plenty of freedom. The tunes are complex and a bit off-kilter, but they have got this underlying groove that keeps you hooked the entire time.

Mary Halvorson: guitar; Jonathan Finlayson: trumpet; Jon Irabagon: alto saxophone; John Hebert: bass; Ches Smith: drums

Released October 5, 2010

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Latin and jazzy, more than jazz, this release is an outstanding mix of sounds and feelings “inspired by soundsystem culture but widened out far beyond just reggae and dancehall styles […] encompassing a heavy bass and reggae aesthetic alongside the Tropical dance-orientated music from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia.” Yeah, quite a mix but for an outstanding and lasting results

Quantic [William Holland]: guitar, accordion, organ, piano; Alfredo Linares: piano; Francisco Javier Echeverry, Gerardo Barreto: Euphonium; Reggie Johnson: alto saxophone; Angel Hernandez, Reggie Boyce: trumpet; Wilfredo Ayerbe Peña: saxophone, clarinet; Fernando Silva, Jorge Herrera: bass; Conrad Kelly: drums; Orlando Hurtado, Virgilio Hurtado: coro; Freddy Colorado: congas, percussion; Wilson Viveros: bongos, maracas, timbales, guacharaca; Jafet Andrade-Mosquera: clarinet, maracas, guacharaca; Marco Micolta, Nidia Góngora: vocals

Released July 19, 2010

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“I wanted to create a musical backdrop that referenced everything I liked about the music from the ‘60s – Miles Davis’ second quintet, Coltrane’s quartet, Mingus’ band – coupled with music made by people like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. The music from that era just had more depth, whether it was jazz or rock or folk or whatever. The political and social climate at the time was much heavier, and there were a few musicians who weren’t afraid to reference that climate in their work. The ones who did that – and at the same time captivated people in a way that referenced their own humanity – were the ones who ended up lasting the longest.”
–Christian Scott, Liner Notes

Christian Scott: trumpet; Matthew Stevens: guitar; Milton Fletcher Jr.: piano; Kristopher Keith Funn: bass; Jamire Williams: drums

Released February 1, 2010

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In Flying Toward The Sound, Geri Allen’s solo album, she plays with such sensitivity and gentle finesse that it feels as if her hands are gliding over and through your mind and soul. Her performance envelops you with a level of technique and style that echoes the highest standards of piano inventiveness and brilliance.

Geri Allen: piano

Released 2010

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With an ensemble that has been scaled down to more traditional proportions, This Brings Us To Volume II is still characterized by Threadgill’s unique compositional technique, which involves “interval blocks.” Instead of using traditional chord progressions, each musician is given a set of intervals and rules for improvisation, allowing for a high degree of freedom while maintaining a sense of structure. This approach results in music that is both angular and fluid, with an intricate interplay between composed and improvised elements.

Henry Threadgill: alto saxophone, flute; Liberty Ellman: acoustic guitar; Stomu Takeishi: bass guitar; José Davila: trombone, tuba; Elliot Humberto Kavee: drums

Released October 26, 2010

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Best Jazz 2010 Albums’ List

• Jason Moran – Ten (Blue Note)
• Goran Kajfeš – X/Y (Headspin Recordings)
• Vijay Iyer – Solo (ACT)
• Hamid Drake & Bindu – Reggaeology (Rogueart)
• Rudresh Mahanthappa, Steve Lehman – Dual Identity (Clean Feed)
• Mary Halvorson Quintet – Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12 Records)
• Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Dog With A Rope (Tru Thoughts)
• Christian Scott – Yesterday You Said Tomorrow (Concord Jazz)
• Geri Allen – Flying Toward The Sound (Motéma)
• Henry Threadgill Zooid – This Brings Us To Volume II (Pi Recordings)

You want more? Listen to a selection of 40 tracks from 40 different albums all from 2010 on this Spotify playlist.

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2010’s

Discover all the other 2010’s best of jazz selections: 2019 – 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012 – 2011 – 2010

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We hope this selection invites you to revisit these remarkable albums or discover some new favorites. Jazz is a genre that continues to evolve, and these albums represent its dynamic energy. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to suggest any albums that you believe should be included in our Best Jazz Albums of 2010 list in the comments below!