Best Jazz 2018 Header
comment 0

Best Jazz Albums of 2018

Here are the 10 Best Jazz Albums that made 2018.

No rank, just a playlist to enjoy outstanding music. You will find under the playlist, full details of the listed artists, album covers, titles, and sometimes links.

Best Jazz Albums of 2018

Kamasi Washington - Heaven And Earth

Kamasi Washington

Heaven And Earth
(Young Turks)

Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone; Dontae Winslow: trumpet; Ryan Porter: trombone; Cameron Graves: piano; Brandon Coleman: keyboards, organ, vocoder; Miles Mosley: bass. electric bass; Ronald Bruner Jr.: drums; Tony Austin: drums, percussion; Allakoi Peete, Kahlil Cummings: percussion | Orchestra: Rickey Washington: flute; Greg Martin: oboe; Tracy Wannomae: clarinet; Amber Joy Wyman: bassoon; Amy Sanchez, Laura Brenes: French horn; Marc T. Bolin: tuba; Jen Simone, Martino, Paul Jacob Cartwright, Ray Suen, Reiko Nakano, Rocio Marron, Yvette Devereaux, Yvette Holzwarth: violin; Brittany Cotto, Caroline Buckman, Chad Jackson, Landon Jones, Molly Rogers, Morgan Matadero, Tom Lea: viola; Adrienne Woods, Ginger Murphy, Peter PT Jacobson: cello; Dominic Thiroux: bass; Dwight Trible, Matachi Nwosu, Patrice Quinn, Steven Wayne: lead vocals; Amaya Washington, Angelo D. Johnson Jr., Cameron Graves, Dawn Norfleet, Dustin W. Warren, Jackie Fiske, Mashica Winslowdynasty, Nia Andrews, Patrice Quinn, Sonnet Simmons, Steven Wayne, Taylor Graves, Thalma de Freitas: choir
Released June 22, 2018


Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings

Makaya McCraven

Universal Beings
(International Anthem)

Makaya McCraven: drums; Brandee Younger: harp; Joel Ross: vibraphone; Tomeka Reid: cello; Dezron Douglas, Junius Paul, Daniel Casimir, Anna Butterss: double bass; Shabaka Hutchings: tenor saxophone; Nubya Garcia: tenor saxophone; Ashley Henry: Rhodes piano; Josh Johnson: alto saxophone; Miguel Atwood-Ferguson: violin; Jeff Parker: guitar; Carlos Niño: percussion
Released October 26, 2018


Barre Phillips _- End To End

Barre Phillips

End To End
(ECM)

“Listeners will be struck by the decisiveness of the playing on End to End, and the way each note, each sound, is put firmly, or gently, in its place. And by the deep feeling that always seems to be part of Barre Phillips’s music”
— Steve Lake, in Liner Notes

Barre Phillips: double bass
Released September 7, 2018


Anteloper - Kudu

Anteloper

Kudu
(International Anthem)

Jaimie Branch: trumpet, synth; Jason Nazary: drums, synth
Released April 20, 2018


Angles 3 - Parede

Angles 3

Parede
(Clean Feed)

Martin Küchen: tenor and soprano saxophone; Ingebrigt Håker Flaten: double bass; Kjell Nordeson: drums and percussion
Released May 18, 2018


Andrew Cyrille, Wadada Leo Smith, Bill Frisell - Lebroba

Andrew Cyrille, Wadada Leo Smith, Bill Frisell

Lebroba
(ECM)

Andrew Cyrille: drums; Bill Frisell: guitar; Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet
Released November 2, 2018


Ambrose Akinmusire - Origami Harvest

Ambrose Akinmusire

Origami Harvest
(Blue Note)

Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet, keyboards, whistle, words; Kool A.D., LmbrJck_t: vocals; Olivia De Prato, Joshua Modney: violin; Victor Lowrie: viola; Isabel Castellvi: cello; Walter Smith III: saxophone; Sam Harris: piano, keyboards; Michael Aaberg: keyboards; Marcus Gilmore: drums, computer
Released October 12, 2018


Myra Melford s Snowy Egret The Other Side of Air

Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret

The Other Side of Air
(Firehouse 12)

Myra Melford: piano; Ron Miles: cornet; Liberty Ellman: guitar; Stomu Takeishi: bass; Tyshawn Sorey: drums
Released November 2, 2018


Sylvie Courvoisier Trio D Agala

Sylvie Courvoisier Trio

D’Agala
(Intakt Records)

Sylvie Courvoisier: piano; Kenny Wollesen: drums, Wollesonic; Drew Gress: bass
Released January 19, 2018


Angelika Niescier, Christopher Tordini, Tyshawn Sorey - The Berlin Concert

Angelika Niescier, Christopher Tordini, Tyshawn Sorey

The Berlin Concert
(Intakt Records)

Angelika Niescier: saxophone; Christopher Tordini: bass; Tyshawn Sorey: drums
Released date May 18, 2018


2010s

Discover all the other 2010’s selections: 2019201820172016201520142013201220112010

The 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2018

  • Kamasi WashingtonHeaven And Earth (Young Turks)
  • Makaya McCravenUniversal Beings (International Anthem)
  • Anteloper Kudu (International Anthem)
  • Barre PhillipsEnd To End (ECM)
  • Andrew Cyrille, Wadada Leo Smith, Bill FrisellLebroba (ECM)
  • Ambrose AkinmusireOrigami Harvest (Blue Note)
  • Myra Melford’s Snowy EgretThe Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12)
  • Sylvie Courvoisier TrioD’Agala (Intakt Records)
  • Angelika Niescier, Christopher Tordini, Tyshawn SoreyThe Berlin Concert (Intakt Records)
  • Angles 3Parede (Clean Feed)

+ 10 jazz tracks and albums:

  • Emanative – “Heaven’s Mirror” ‎from Earth (Jazzman)
  • Sons Of Kemet – “My Queen Is Harriet Tubman” ‎from Your Queen Is A Reptile (Impulse!)
  • Lisa Ullén – “Streets” from Piano Works (Disorder)
  • Christopher Ali Solidarity Quartet – “To Those Who Walked Before Us” from To Those Who Walked Before Us (Self-released)
  • Dave Liebman, Ravi Magnifique – “Marche sur les Nuages” from Seven Stairs / India (Jazzwerkstatt)
  • Quin Kirchner – “Drums & Tines Pt 2” ‎from The Other Side Of Time (Astral Spirits)
  • Kaja Draksler, Petter Eldh, Christian Lillinger – “Nuremberg Amok” ‎from Punkt.Vrt.Plastik (Intakt Records)
  • Ben Lamar Gay – “The Escape, The Chase” from 500 Chains (International Anthem)
  • Binker And Moses – “How Land Learnt To Be Still” ‎from Alive In The East? (Gearbox Records)
  • Nate Smith – “Get Down Get Down” from Pocket Change (Water Baby Music)
Filed under: 2010s, Yearly Selection

About the Author

Posted by

Hi, I am Paul, blogger at Best of Jazz and Jazz enthusiast since 1995.

Any thoughts or comments you would like to add to this post?