In this post, we explore the Best Jazz Albums of 2016—each offering a unique journey that contributed to a memorable chapter in jazz history.

There’s no specific ranking here; instead, we present exceptional jazz created by extraordinary artists. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this selection, and please feel free to suggest any albums you believe should be included in the comments section below!

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Best Jazz Albums 2016

GoGo Penguin, the Manchester-based trio known for their genre-blurring sound, return with Man Made Object–their 1st one on Blue Note Records–an album that solidifies their reputation as one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz. Blending elements of jazz, electronica, and classical music, GoGo Penguin creates a sound that feels both organic and futuristic, grounded in acoustic instruments but shaped by the energy and precision of electronic production.

The trio—Chris Illingworth on piano, Nick Blacka on bass, and Rob Turner on drums—crafts intricate, pulsating rhythms that build and evolve with mesmerizing intensity. The title, Man Made Object, hints at the band’s fascination with technology, and throughout the album, you feel that push and pull between the human and the mechanical, the emotional and the calculated.

Man Made Object is GoGo Penguin’s 3rd album and their 1st one on Blue Note. From Manchester, the trio is lead-free and prefers composing and existing as a unit.

Chris Illingworth: piano; Nick Blacka: double bass; Rob Turner: drums
Released February 2, 2016

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Julie Kjær, the adventurous Danish saxophonist and flutist, leads her trio on a daring journey with Dobbeltgænger, a gripping release that balances free jazz improvisation with moments of intense focus. Joined by bassist John Edwards and drummer Steve Noble, Kjær crafts a sound that is both fearless and deeply engaging. The trio’s chemistry is palpable, and together they explore the edges of rhythm and harmony with a raw, unfiltered energy.

Kjær’s saxophone alternates between delicate phrasing and fierce, guttural bursts of sound, while Edwards’ bass and Noble’s drums weave an intricate, shifting framework around her. There’s a sense of unpredictability to every track, but the trio never loses control—it’s a finely tuned chaos.

Read our full review Julie Kjær 3 ‎‎- Dobbeltgænger ‎

Julie Kjær: alto saxophone; John Edwards: double bass; Steve Noble: drums
Release date February 26, 2016

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Allison Miller, the dynamic drummer and composer, leads her ensemble Boom Tic Boom with boundless creativity on Otis Was A Polar Bear. Known for her genre-defying approach, Miller blends modern jazz with a playful sense of experimentation, resulting in an album that feels fresh, vibrant, and full of life. With a stellar lineup featuring Myra Melford on piano, Ben Goldberg on clarinet, Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Jenny Scheinman on violin, and Todd Sickafoose on bass, Boom Tic Boom is a collective that thrives on intricate interplay and spontaneous energy.

Otis Was A Polar Bear showcases Miller’s knack for crafting compositions that are both complex and accessible, mixing intricate rhythms with moments of pure joy. Tough experiences can also lead to new ways of being and play together. This band clearly celebrate friends resilience.

Allison Miller: drums; Ben Goldberg: clarinets; Kirk Knuffke: cornet; Myra Melford: piano; Jenny Scheinman: violin; Todd Sickafoose: bass
Released April 4, 2016

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Shabaka Hutchings, the visionary saxophonist known for his powerful presence in the London jazz scene–also part of Sons of Kemet and The Comet is Coming–takes a spiritual journey with Wisdom of Elders, recorded in South Africa with a group of local musicians. Shabaka and The Ancestors craft an album that feels both ancient and forward-thinking, steeped in the rhythms and traditions of African music while channeling the urgency of modern jazz. It’s a deep, reflective work that explores themes of ancestry, struggle, and transcendence.

Wisdom of Elders is more than just an album—it’s a meditation on identity, history, and the power of music to connect us to something greater than ourselves. Shabaka And The Ancestors deliver a performance that is both rooted in tradition and unafraid to explore new ground. This is music that asks you to listen deeply, to reflect, and to feel its spiritual weight long after the final note fades. It’s a powerful, transformative experience, and a shining example of how jazz continues to evolve while honoring its roots.

Shabaka Hutchings: tenor sax; Mtunzi Myubu: alto sax; Mandla Mlangeni: trumpet; Siyabanga Mthembu: vocals; Nduduzo Makhathini: Rhodes, piano; Ariel Zamonsky: bass; Gontse Makhene: percussion; Tumi Mogorosi: drums
Released September 16, 2016

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Black Focus, the debut album from London duo Yussef Kamaal, is a fresh and groundbreaking fusion of jazz, funk, and broken beat that pulses with the energy of the city’s vibrant underground scene. Comprised of drummer Yussef Dayes and keyboardist Kamaal Williams, Yussef Kamaal takes the essence of jazz and infuses it with the beats and rhythms of UK bass culture. The result is a genre-defying sound that feels organic and alive, a meeting point between tradition and innovation.

On Black Focus, the chemistry between Dayes and Williams is undeniable. Their interplay is tight but fluid, with Dayes’ intricate drumming laying down rhythms that feel both hypnotic and unpredictable, while Williams’ keys float and dart through the grooves with a sense of spontaneity and warmth. Black Focus is a deeply immersive listening experience that will have you nodding your head and getting lost in its deep, irresistible grooves.

One name for a duo from London. Yussef Dayes on drums and Kamaal Williams on the fender rhodes signed on Brownswood by Gilles Peterson – super hype but honestly deserved.

Black Focus is part of the Best Jazz-Funk Albums

Yussef Dayes: drums; Kamaal Williams: fender rhodes; Mansur Brown: guitar; Kareem Dayes & Tom Driessler: bass; Yelfris Valdes: trumpet; Gordon Wedderburn: vocals; Shabaka Hutchings: tenor saxophone
Released November 4, 2016

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Aziza, the supergroup led by legendary bassist Dave Holland, brings together four jazz powerhouses in an exhilarating and dynamic collaboration. Alongside Holland, the quartet features saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Lionel Loueke, and drummer Eric Harland—each an extraordinary talent in their own right. Together, they create a sound that is adventurous, bold, and deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz while embracing a wide range of influences from African music to modern fusion.

With Aziza, Holland and his bandmates strike a perfect balance between intricate composition and free-flowing improvisation. The group’s chemistry is palpable; they listen to each other with a sense of openness and curiosity, allowing the music to breathe and evolve organically. The result is an album that feels both precise and spontaneous, with every member contributing to the collective energy.

Chris Potter: tenor and soprano saxophone; Lionel Loueke: guitar, vocals; Dave Holland: bass; Eric Harland: drums
Released October 14, 2016

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A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke is a profound meeting of minds between pianist Vijay Iyer and legendary trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith. Both artists are known for their deep, boundary-pushing explorations of sound, and this collaboration is no exception. The album, dedicated to the visual artist Nasreen Mohamedi, reflects her minimalist and meditative approach, with Iyer and Smith creating music that feels spacious, contemplative, and deeply connected to a sense of artistic and spiritual purpose.

The interplay between Iyer and Smith is mesmerizing. Their communication is so finely attuned that it often feels as though they are speaking a shared musical language, building something greater than the sum of its parts. Iyer’s piano is both tender and cerebral, laying down harmonies that stretch and shift with subtlety. Smith’s trumpet, at times fragile and at times boldly declarative, floats over Iyer’s textures with a sense of profound emotion and purpose.

Vijay Iyer: piano, fender rhodes, electronics; Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet
Released March 11, 2016

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Borderlands, by Swedish pianist and composer Lisa Ullén, is an album that ventures into uncharted territory, where boundaries between structure and improvisation blur, and the music exists in a space of constant evolution. Ullén, known for her avant-garde sensibilities, leads her quartet into a rich and unpredictable sonic landscape.

It’s a bold and fearless exploration of what modern jazz can be, and by the time the album concludes, you’re left in awe of the creativity and intuition that shapes every moment.

Lisa Ullén: piano; Mats Äleklint: trombone; Nils Ölmedal: bass; Andreas Axelsson: drums
January 15, 2016

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When the ferocious free jazz of Peter Brötzmann collides with the heavy, psychedelic soundscapes of Portuguese band Black Bombaim, the result is nothing short of explosive. Black Bombaim & Peter Brötzmann is an album that pushes the boundaries of both jazz and rock, delivering an unrelenting wave of sonic intensity that demands the listener’s full attention. It’s a meeting of generations and genres, where Brötzmann’s raw, abrasive saxophone finds a perfect counterpoint in Black Bombaim’s massive, riff-driven jams.

The band’s psychedelic grooves provide a sturdy foundation for Brötzmann’s free-flowing improvisation, creating a space where chaos and structure can coexist. It’s raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically loud. But beneath the layers of distortion and intensity lies a deep sense of connection between these musicians.

Peter Brötzmann: saxophone; Ricardo Miranda: electric guitar; Tojo Rodrigues: bass; Paulo Gonçalves: drums
September 21, 2016

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In Movement brings together three generations of jazz royalty—legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (son of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane), and bassist Matthew Garrison (son of Jimmy Garrison, John Coltrane’s bassist). This trio creates a deeply reflective and boundary-pushing album, one that draws from the rich legacy of jazz while looking firmly toward the future. There’s an undeniable weight to this collaboration, not just in the historical connections, but in the music’s emotional depth and technical brilliance.

DeJohnette’s drumming is, as always, a marvel of precision and power, anchoring the trio with his nuanced rhythms. Ravi Coltrane’s saxophone weaves through the compositions with both tenderness and fire, embodying the spirit of his father while carving out his own distinct voice. Garrison’s bass and electronic textures add a modern layer to the music, pushing it into a space where tradition meets innovation.

Jack DeJohnette: drums, piano, electronic percussion; Ravi Coltrane: sopranino saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Matthew Garrison: electric bass, electronics
Released May 6, 2016

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Best Jazz 2016 Albums’ List

• GoGo Penguin – Man Made Object (Blue Note)
• Julie Kjær 3 – Dobbeltgænger (Clean Feed)
• Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom – Otis Was A Polar Bear (The Royal Potato Family)
• Shabaka And The Ancestors – Wisdom Of Elders (Brownswood Recordings)
• Yussef Kamaal – Black Focus (Brownswood Recordings)
• Aziza – Aziza (Dare2 Records)
• Vijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith – A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke (ECM)
• Lisa Ullén Quartet – Borderlands (Disorder)
• Black Bombaim & Peter Brötzmann – Black Bombaim & Peter Brötzmann (Lovers & Lollypops)
• Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Matthew Garrison – In Movement (ECM)

You want more? Listen to a selection of 40 tracks from 40 different albums all from 2016 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 trust this collection has inspired you to revisit these outstanding works or perhaps uncover some new favorites. Jazz is all about exploration and growth, and these albums exemplify its lasting influence. As always, we invite your feedback and encourage you to share any albums you believe should be included in this Best Jazz Albums of 2016 list in the comments section below.