2018 wasn’t a particularly exciting year for me in Jazz. I wasn’t too much impressed with Cecile McLorin Salvant’s and Shai Maestro’s releases this year, so I didn’t even bother to review then. And overall, this was probably the year of my lowest number of Jazz album reviews since I started this blog.
I also checked out the Top 2018 lists of many other reviewers, and didn’t see anything standing out there (except for the latest Wayne Shorter which I still have to check out).
Nevertheless, here are my 5 favorite Jazz albums of the year. Note a big victory for ECM with 3 out of my 5 albums coming from their great label.
You may also want to check out my Top 5 Jazz albums from 2017, 2016, and 2015, as well as my Top 5 Classical albums of 2018.
Melody Gardot Live in Europe
My favorite live album of the year. And no, I didn’t just pick this for the cover. Check it out, Melody is at her best here. See my original review here.
Marcin Wasilewski Trio – Live
A lot of live albums this year. 3 out of 5. I completely forgot to review this. Marcin Wasilewski plays what regular readers by now understood to be my favorite trio style: intimate with beautiful melodies.
You can find it here (Qobuz)
Keith Jarrett Trio – After The Fall
Not really a new recording, just a new release. But one really worth having. See my original review here. The only downside is the recording quality which is not on par with the regular ECM pristine sound.
Tord Gustavsen – The Other Side
Good to see that Gustavsen is back in trio format. This reminds me very much of The Ground, my favorite Gustavsen album. You’ll find my original review here.
Joey Alexander Christmas
Joey Alexander is my discovery of the year. Hence the mention of this short EP, which I reviewed here.
You’ll find the download links to the albums in the respective original reviews.
musicophilesblog - From Keith Jarrett to Johannes Brahms 
Dear Musicophile,
I must admit that Cecile McLorin Salvant’s album disappointed me whereas Shai Maestro’s record is one of my favorite…tastes and colours, no worry and be happy !
Here is my Top 5 from the list below : Shai Maestro (surprise !), Thomas Fonnesbaek Trio, E. J. Strickland Quintet, Sumrrà and Reis-Demuth-Wiltgen.
Yours faithfully,
Alain
Thomas Fonnesbaek Trio Sharing
Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonnesbaek Blue Waltz
Enrico Pieranunzi Wine & Waltzes
Enrico Pieranunzi Trio Monsieur Claude (a Travel with Debussy)
Jeremy Hababou Nuances
Sumrrà 6 Mulleres
Lars Jansson Trio Just This
Reis-Demuth-Wiltgen Once in a Blue Moon
Phronesis We are All
Xavi Torres Trio Jamboree Live 11
Abade Rabade Trio Doravante
Claudio Filippini Before the Wind
Emil Brandqvist Trio Within a Dream
Brad Mehldau After Bach
Brad Mehldau Trio Seymour Reads the Constitution
Shai Maestro (trio) The Dream Thief
Emmet Cohen Masters Legacy Series vol. 2 : Ron Carter
Espen Eriksen Trio Perfectly Unhappy
European Jazz Trio West Village
Fred Hersch Live in Healdsburg
Fred Hersch Trio 97@The Village Vanguard
Fred Hersch Trio Live in Europe
Fred Hersch Trio Heartsongs
Kamasi Washington Heaven and Earth
Tord Gustavsen Trio The Other Side
Kenny Barron Quintet Concentric Circles
Joel Lyssarides Dreamer
Marcin Wasileswki Trio Live
Alex Monfort Trio Introspection
Omer Klein Trio Our Sea (single)
Alfredo Rodriguez The Little Dream
Cyrus Chestnut Kaleidoscope
EST Live in London
Espen Berg Trio Bolge
John Nazarenko Trio Some Other Time
Lewis Porter Beauty & Mystery
Joey Alexandre Eclipse
Thomas Bramerie Trio Side Stories
E.J.Strickland Quintet Warriors for Peace
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Hi Alain, thanks for your feedback. There are some albums here I need to check out especially Reis Demuth, as I liked their previous release. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Listening to the Wasilewski trio. Very nice. Had to listen hard to get the “Message in a Bottle” melody. As feedback, I wish you had more sax, fewer piano albums. I’m not anti-piano but sax is such a primary instrument in jazz. Or maybe the other choices have that, haven’t gotten there yet. (And yeah, I know you play piano. I probably favor guitar for the same reason.) And what’s with that woman with that picture? It doesn’t offend me but… why?
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