Dear listener,

Every year (going on almost a decade now, I had to check), the staff of KMHD gets together and votes on our favorite albums of this year. If you’re a regular listener, you may already be familiar with the many of the albums and the artists on this list. After all, this group constitutes music that we’ve celebrated on the air throughout this year. What truly makes these albums special, though, is the self-imposed criteria we place upon ourselves in voting for the: these are what we consider to be ‘perfect’ albums without a bad song on them. We are confident in recommending these records to you for a place in your own personal music library. We sincerely hope you’ll enjoy these wonderful sounds, and if you get the chance, go and see these artists live when they play near you.

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-Matt Fleeger, Program Director

Makaya McCraven, Off The Record (International Anthem)

Makaya McCraven’s Off The Record features four separate EPs of live performances from across the globe. An all-star cache of musicians like Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson, Junius Paul, and Joel Ross pepper in a unique flavor to every track with the constant being McCraven behind the drums. My favorite side of this release has to be Techno Logic with Theon Cross’s low notes adding a brassy thick foundation to some seriously snappy hooks. These stellar sounds took place from 2015-2025 in the likes of Venice, London, Chicago, and New York City (to name a few). One of many standouts from the International Anthem label in 2025, Off The Record keeps McCraven at the forefront of what’s new and exciting in the world of jazz.

–Meg Samples

Resavoir & Matt Gold, Horizons (International Anthem)

Horizons is the third release from multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Will Miller under the name Resavoir and his first full-length collaboration with college friend and fellow multi-instrumentalist/guitarist Matt Gold. What began as a shared love of Brazilian music quickly evolved into a more exploratory process of songs that meld acoustic and electric instruments along with string and horn arrangements. The record flows effortlessly from track to track, like walking down a street of distinct yet connected homes - each thoughtfully designed, unique in character, and detailed without ever feeling fussy.

–Alex Newman

Okonski, Entrance Music (Colemine Records)

Entrance Music by Okonski was recorded over the course of a few days at the Colemine Records studio in Loveland, Ohio. Steve Okonski, a classically trained pianist who also plays with Durand Jones & The Indications, brought in his bandmates, bassist Michael “Ish” Montgomery, and drummer Aaron Frazer, and the three of them improvised the entire album. Just three musicians making decisions in real time.

Okonski plays with a beautiful restraint that only comes from deep listening. Montgomery and Frazer hold the groove like they’re cradling something fragile that could also bench press a Buick. The results are warm, spacious, and spiritual.

My favorite tracks are “October” and “Wind or Vertigo.” Both tracks have that rare, intimate quality of sounding like you’ve already been listening to them for years, which is either a compliment to the musicians or proof that time is a social construct. Probably both.

This is music for sitting still and meaning it.

–Blaire Stapp

SML, How You Been (International Anthem)

How You Been is the second release from the quintet out of L.A., SML. It’s an interesting and exciting exploration of live improvisation creating a complex and experimental listening experience. Notable tracks include “Chicago Three”, “Moving Walkway”, and “Brood Board SHROOM”.

–Nicole D’Amato

Aaron Parks, By All Means!! (Blue Note)

Throughout his entire career, Aaron Parks has played the piano with a kind of lushness, with notes washing over the ear, and his singing along has become a signature in itself. In his now long-standing group with bassist Ben Street and drummer Billy Hart, Parks has found a pure route to flourish in the acoustic setting, and this has only grown with the addition of Ben Solomon on tenor saxophone. His latest album for Blue Note leans into all his old tricks in the service of an intimate album reflecting his family life and his always distinct vision and approach to his instrument to create a work that feels more than on any of his other releases to stand the test of time in the Blue Note catalog.

–Bryson Wallace

Cosmic Tones Research Trio, S/T (Mississippi records)

The sophomore release from the spiritual jazz trio based here in Portland finds the group continuing to explore the soulful, spiritual jazz sound they embarked on with their first release. Here the listener will find solace, peace, and uplifting sounds that transport one’s being to a plane of higher emotional vibrations. Give a listen, I think you’ll find yourself in a better place than where you started from.

–Matt Fleeger

Sinsuke Fujieda Group, Fukushima (SoFa Records)

Fukushima, the debut album from Tokyo-based saxophonist and flutist Sinsuke Fujieda and his group, is poised to become a new Japanese spiritual jazz classic with universal appeal.

Filled with dynamic range and heavy grooves, the group plays off each other with surprising ease, evoking the atmospheric sound of 1970s modal and fusion jazz, while still feeling fresh and vibrant. The rare album that doesn’t sacrifice invention for relatability - it provides the listener with both in spades.

–Bri Drennon

Ella Feingold & Charlie Hunter, Different Strokes for Different Folks (SideHustle Records)

An ode to their guitar heroes, Charlie Hunter & Ella Feinold’s 15 track LP serves as a sort of beat tape with most of the tracks being under 3 mins in length. Both guitarists get experimental using tricks like inverted tuning to give the project a unique quality. Their use of the ASR-10 sampler and programmed drums give many of the songs a boom-bap hip-hop feel. Play it at loud and nod your head to the beat!

–Rev Shines

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Take a look back at our year in jazz lists from 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021.