Discover the 20 tracks and albums selected for this best jazz 2014.
No rank nor order, just high-quality jazz, by outstanding artists. Listen to the Spotify playlist and scroll through the art covers. All comments on the current selection and tracks that you believe should have made it to this list are very welcome!
Best Jazz 2014
Goran Kajfeš Subtropic Arkestra

”Dokuz Seki/Esmerim”
from The Reason Why Vol. 2
(Headspin Recordings)
If you want to discover all the original tracks covered by Goran Kafjes Subtropic Arkestra in The Reason Why Vol I, II & III, you can also read this post (with full playlist)
Takuya Kuroda

”Rising Son”
from Rising Son
(Blue Note)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band

”That’s It!”
from That’s It!
(Legacy)
Angles 9

”European Boogie”
from Injuries
(Clean Feed)
Orlando Julius With The Heliocentrics

“Buje Buje”
from Jaiyede Afro
(Strut)
The Neil Cowley Trio

“Winterlude”
from Touch And Flee
(Naim Jazz)
Kris Bowers

“Wake The Neighbors”
from Heroes + Misfits
(Concord Jazz)
The Heliocentrics & Melvin Van Peebles

”The Cavern”
from The Last Transmission
(Now-Again Records)
Chłopcy Kontra Basia

“Jerzy”
from Oj Tak !
(Riverboat Records)
The Souljazz Orchestra

“Kingdom Come”
from Inner Fire
(Strut)
Peter Van Huffel’s Gorilla Mask

”Chained”
from Bite My Blues
(Clean Feed)
Peirani & Parisien Duo Art

”Song Of Medina [Casbah]”
from Belle Époque
(ACT)
The Touré-Raichel Collective

”Hodu”
from The Paris Session
(Cumbancha)
Nicholas Payton

”Three”
from Numbers
(Paytone Records)
Numbers is part of our selection of the “Best Smooth Jazz Albums.”
“If someone wants you to describe what Numbers sounds like, tell them it’s like Nicholas and Butcher Brown took a time capsule back to 1973 and played a gig for the people demonstrating what’s happened in music for the past 40 years.”
–Nicholas Payton, May 2014
Nicholas Payton: Fender Rhodes, trumpet; Keith Askey: guitar; Devonne Harris: Juno, piano, organ; Andrew Randazzo: bass; Corey Fonville: drums | featuring Butcher Brown
Released July 22, 2014
Ambrose Akinmusire

”Marie Christie”
from The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint
(Blue Note)
Anouar Brahem

”January”
from Souvenance
(ECM)
Orchestre National De Jazz, Olivier Benoit

“Paris I”
from Europa Paris
(ONJazz Records)
Discover the entire EUROPA cycle here: Orchestre National De Jazz , Olivier Benoit – Europa
Jason Moran

“Yacht Club Swing”
from All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller
(Blue Note)
The Shaolin Afronauts

”Baie de Sangareya”
from Follow The Path
(Freestyle Records)
Mats Gustafsson & NU Ensemble

“Hidros 6: Part A”
from Hidros6 Knockin’
(Not Two Records)
Thanks to the perfect voice of Stine J. Moland, who knows exactly the right tone to use, the opening surprises and intrigues us, and what follows is even more intense than we expected. It’s a double slap: two fiery drums, and an impressive set of musicians with chaotic finesse.
Once we have barely recovered from the pleasant spark of lightning and thunder from the percussion, the voice resumes, this time leaving us speechless and stunned. I frankly found myself out of breath and with tears in my eyes, just listening to her perfect, irreplicable voice.
WebsiteBest Jazz 2014 Playlist
Albums’ List
- Goran Kajfeš Subtropic Arkestra – The Reason Why Vol. 2
- Takuya Kuroda – Rising Son
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band – That’s It!
- Angles 9 – Injuries
- Orlando Julius With The Heliocentrics – Jaiyede Afro
- The Neil Cowley Trio – Touch And Flee
- Kris Bowers – Heroes + Misfits
- The Heliocentrics & Melvin Van Peebles – The Last Transmission
- Chłopcy Kontra Basia – Oj Tak !
- The Souljazz Orchestra – Inner Fire
- Peter Van Huffel’s Gorilla Mask – Bite My Blues
- Peirani & Parisien Duo Art – Belle Époque
- The Touré-Raichel Collective – The Paris Session
- Nicholas Payton – Numbers
- Ambrose Akinmusire – The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint
- Anouar Brahem – Souvenance
- Orchestre National De Jazz, Olivier Benoit – Europa Paris
- Jason Moran – All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller
- The Shaolin Afronauts – Follow The Path
- Mats Gustafsson & NU Ensemble – Hidros6 Knockin’
2010s
Discover all the other 2010’s best of jazz playlist: 2019 – 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012 – 2011 – 2010