In this post, we dive into the Best Jazz Albums of 2015—each a remarkable journey that helped shape an unforgettable chapter in jazz history.

There’s no ranking or order here, just exceptional jazz crafted by extraordinary artists. Take a listen to the Spotify playlist and browse through the album covers. Feel free to share your thoughts on the current selection, and don’t hesitate to suggest albums you think should have made the list in the comments section below!

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Best Jazz Albums 2015

Makaya McCraven, an American born in 1983 in Paris, raised in Massachusetts, and living in Chicago since 2007, is a drummer and producer. He draws his influences from both jazz and hip-hop (in the same spirit as Madlib might).

The track First Thing First is a rhythmic marvel that will captivate and hypnotize you: it’s impossible to break free from the rhythm and the song, and despite its 12-minute length, Makaya McCraven will gently, insidiously hook your ears, and you’ll find yourself trying to play along with him.

Makaya McCraven: drums, beats, loops & overdubs; Matt Ulery: double bass & bass guitar; Marquis Hill: trumpet; Junius Paul: double bass & bass guitar; Justefan: vibraphone; Jeff Parker: guitar; Joshua Abrams: double bass; De’Sean Jones: tenor saxophone; Tony Barba: tenor saxophone & electronics
Released January 20, 2015

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Charles Lloyd, the legendary saxophonist and flutist, has been a towering figure in jazz for over five decades. His sound, a blend of spirituality, lyricism, and deep introspection, has influenced generations of musicians. With Wild Man Dance, Lloyd proves that even in his 70s, his creative fire burns as brightly as ever. This six-part suite, recorded live in Poland, is more than just an album: it’s a meditative journey!

The title track Wild Man Dance is nothing short of mesmerizing. Lloyd’s saxophone, lyrical and searching, seems to carry the weight of the world, as if he’s channeling something beyond the music itself. The rhythmic interplay between Cleaver’s drums and Sanders’ bass is hypnotic, while the lyra and cimbalom add layers of texture and mystery that transport you to another place entirely. It’s a piece that breathes, stretches, and unfolds with a quiet intensity, inviting you to lose yourself in its ebb and flow.

Charles Lloyd: tenor saxophone; Gerald Clayton: piano; Joe Sanders: bass; Gerald Cleaver: drums; Socratis Sinopoulos: Greek lyra; Lukács Miklos: cimbalom
Released April 14, 2015

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Winner of the Victoire de la Musique award for Best World Music Album in 2014, Ibrahim Maalouf needs no introduction—at least in France. So just in case, here’s his bio.

Red & Black Light “is an ode to the modern woman and her foundational and essential role in hoping for a better future,” emphasizes Ibrahim Maalouf. This theme didn’t really strikes when listening to the album, but Essentielle does. A real knockout! It’s dense, very dense. It’s intense and powerful like a galloping ride. The trumpet is magnificent, and the rhythm is simply astounding. The simplicity of the complexity makes this track a sonic gem that invigorates and delights. If one ever has to face something greater than themselves, this is the track to listen to.

Ibrahim Maalouf: trumpet, keyboards; Eric Legnini: electric piano, synth; François Delporte: guitar; Stéphane Galland: drums
Released October 23, 2015

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Kamasi Washington was born in Los Angeles, California. It was while completing his studies in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA that he met many of the musicians with whom he would later play and collaborate. One of his strengths is opening up jazz and creating connections with other genres, such as with Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, and Flying Lotus.

The album The Epic is, as its name suggests, epic. What is surprising is this blend of sounds and genres, drawn from 50 years of jazz. And what is even more surprising is that this mix creates something new and powerful, something that definitely doesn’t sound like anything that came before. A real magic.

The track “Change of the Guard” is a pinnacle: you’ll want to sit comfortably because you’re about to embark on a 12-minute intergalactic journey, Star Trek-style, where all the places will seem familiar yet different, as if he had transported you to a parallel world. And in that world, jazz is grandiose!

Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone; Thundercat: electric bass; Miles Mosley: upright bass, electric bass; Ronald Bruner, Jr., Tony Austin: drums; Leon Mobley: percussion; Cameron Graves: piano, organ; Brandon Coleman: keyboards, organ, piano; Ryan Porter: trombone; Igmar Thomas: trumpet; Dwight Trible, Patrice Quinn: lead vocals; +Additional musicians & Ensemble
Released May 5, 2015

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Rudresh Mahanthappa, the Indian-American saxophonist and composer, is known for pushing the boundaries of jazz, blending complex rhythms, fierce improvisation, and a deep connection to both his South Asian roots and the jazz tradition. His playing is always innovative, yet with Bird Calls, he takes his inspiration from a jazz legend: Charlie “Bird” Parker. But don’t expect a simple tribute album—this is a bold reinterpretation.

Bird Calls isn’t just a homage to Parker’s genius; it’s a complete reimagining of his spirit. Mahanthappa doesn’t play Parker’s tunes note for note. Instead, he creates original compositions inspired by Parker’s music, capturing his restless energy, innovative phrasing, and lightning-fast lines. It’s Parker’s essence, filtered through Mahanthappa’s modern and multicultural lens.

Rudresh Mahanthappa: alto saxophone; Matt Mitchell: piano; Adam O’Farrill: trumpet; François Moutin: acoustic bass; Rudy Royston: drums
Released February 27, 2015

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Sons of Kemet, the explosive London-based quartet led by saxophonist and composer Shabaka Hutchings, is one of the most exhilarating groups of the contemporary jazz scene. Their sound is a fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, hypnotic grooves, and political firepower. Blending tuba, saxophone, and dual drummers, Sons of Kemet break the boundaries of traditional jazz with their energy and spirit of protest.

Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do, the group’s second album, is a powerful manifesto. It’s deeply rooted in a sense of purpose and resistance, a reminder of history and the need to move forward while honoring the past. From the first note, it’s clear that the music is about more than just melodies—there’s an urgency, a call to reflect on identity, culture, and struggle.

This is an album that grabs you and doesn’t let go. It’s thought-provoking, rhythmic, and utterly immersive.

Shabaka Hutshings: saxophone, clarinet; Theon Cross: tuba; Tom Skinner: drums; Seb Rocheford: drums
Released September 25, 2015

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The National Jazz Orchestra (or ONJ) is a French jazz orchestra created in 1986 at the initiative of the Minister of Culture. The orchestra is led by a conductor appointed for a limited term. It was guitarist and composer Olivier Benoit who took the helm in January 2014, for a four-year term, with a mission to open up internationally, notably through a traveling residency dedicated to major European cities, and to break down genre barriers (cf. Wikipedia).

A first opus already delighted us (Europa Paris in 2014), and this year it’s a majestic confirmation with Europa Berlin. The inspiration came from immersing in the city (Berlin, of course), in its atmosphere, its architecture, and what it can evoke and tell of a strong and contrasting history.

The track Révolution is a perfect representation of this. It’s powerful, it’s hypnotic, but with a narrative, characters that express themselves, dissonate, and awaken or provoke reactions in others. It’s free jazz, as a revolution should be, but skillfully minimalist and electronic.

Olivier Benoit: artistic direction & composition; Jean Dousteyssier: clarinets; Alexandra Grimal: tenor saxophone; Hugues Mayot: alto saxophone; Fidel Fourneyron: trombone; Fabrice Martinez: trumpet; Théo Ceccaldi: violin; Sophie Agnel: piano; Paul Brousseau: fender rhodes, bass synthesizer, effects; Olivier Benoit: electric guitar; Bruno Chevillon: double bass & electric bass; Eric Echampard: drums
Released April 27, 2015

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Omer Klein, pianist and composer, draws his inspiration from modern jazz as well as his oriental roots. He was born and spent his youth in Israel before finishing his musical studies in Boston and then New York. He now lives in Düsseldorf. And whether he plays at the Blue Note or Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, he seems to always stand out!

For Fearless Friday, his sixth album, Omer is accompanied by Haggai Cohen-Milo on double bass and Amir Bresler on drums. The trio formed at the beginning of 2014, and apparently, the connection between the three clicked right away.

Yemen, the second track on the album, first appeared as a piano solo on a 2009 album (Heart Beats). It was good, really good (though much shorter), but this 2015 trio version is perfect. Two parts: first, the theme is introduced, then each member accelerates and improvises. What immediately stands out is the joy and connection with which these three play together; it’s palpable from the very first seconds of the track, and that joy is instantly shared with the listener. It will put a smile on your face throughout the entire video and long after!

Omer Klein: piano; Haggai Cohen Milo: double bass; Amir Bresler: drums
Released February 27, 2015

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Released with his longtime ensemble, Zooid, this double album is a masterclass in avant-garde jazz, blending improvisation with intricate compositional structures. Threadgill doesn’t just challenge the listener—he invites them into a complex, unpredictable, and captivating soundscape.

Zooid, with its unusual instrumentation—tuba, cello, drums, guitar, and Threadgill’s own saxophone and flute—creates textures that are dense yet spacious, intricate yet loose. The interplay between these musicians is almost telepathic, each member contributing to a collective flow while maintaining their own distinct voice. It’s music that feels alive, constantly evolving and revealing new layers with every listen.

This is not an album that unfolds its secrets easily. It demands your full attention, challenging you to follow its twists and turns. But the rewards are immense. By the end, you’re left in awe of its complexity, and you realize you’ve just experienced something truly profound.

Henry Threadgill: flute, bass flute, alto saxophone; Jose Davila: trombone, tuba; Liberty Ellman: guitar; Christopher Hoffman: cello, violin; Elliot Humberto Kavee: drums, percussion
Released

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Of Indian origin, Vijay Iyer was born in the United States. He is a scientist (having studied at Yale and Berkeley), but above all, an exceptional musician who has been touring, composing, and gaining worldwide recognition for many years now (perhaps you were also captivated by Human Nature). His strength surely comes from this mix of cultures (Indian and American), 15 years of classical violin studies, though self-taught on the piano, and his comfort with mathematics and physics.

The album Break Stuff is simply breathtaking. The project for this full-length album was to play with rhythms and downtime, and it’s clear that this trio (with Stephan Crump and Marcus Gilmore) succeeded brilliantly.

Hood is maybe the tensest track on the album. The rhythm is almost suffocating, giving the impression that it can’t hold, that it’s going to fall apart, to end. But it always holds, it continues, it builds. And your attention is gripped from the first to the last second, without a moment of rest—you even find yourself breathing again when the track ends, exhausted by such imbalance.

Vijay Iyer: piano; Stephan Crump: bass; Marcus Gilmore: drums
Released February 10, 2015

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Best Jazz 2015 Albums’ List

• Makaya McCraven – In The Moment (International Anthem)
• Charles Lloyd – Wild Man Dance (Blue Note)
• Ibrahim Maalouf – Red & Black Light (Impulse!)
• Kamasi Washington – The Epic (Brainfeeder)
• Rudresh Mahanthappa ‎- Bird Calls (ACT)
• Sons Of Kemet – Lest We Forget What We Came Here To Do (Naim Jazz)
• Orchestre National De Jazz, Olivier Benoit – Europa Berlin (ONJazz Records)
• Omer Klein ‎- Fearless Friday (Neuklang)
• Henry Threadgill Zooid – In for a Penny, In for a Pound (Pi Recordings)
• Vijay Iyer Trio – Break Stuff (ECM)

You want more? Listen to a selection of 40 tracks from 40 different albums all from 2015 on this Spotify playlist.

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2010’s

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

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We hope this selection has sparked your curiosity to revisit these remarkable works or maybe even discover some