I listened to this podcast right after I put it together, and really dug it. But of course, I'm biased. But it is my favourite episode of 2026 (last week's was my 2nd favourite).

These are tracks from some of the albums that critics (could be one critic, could be 30) have put on their 'best of' lists for 2025. And all of them I play this week are from albums that I listened to and decided were worth hearing again.

My favourite? Well it keeps changing. But right at the moment I'm thinking John Zorn's Bagatelles as played by the Mary Halvoson Quartet with Miles Ozaki joining Halvorson on guitar.

But the more I listen to the title track from Miguel Zenon's Vanguard Subterranea, the more I like it. I'll have to listen to the rest of the album again.

And Kenny Barron has put out his first 'vocal' album, even though he's not doing the singing. But lots of other different people are. Some of the best singers in today's jazz.

There are a couple classically inspired albums in this episode. You've probably never heard of Tryptique. They are a Canadian 'jass infused chamber music' group out of Toronto. Scott Yanow put in on one his best of 2025 lists which you can find on the JazzWorld site on facebook. The other classically inspired piece is by Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, with Scott Colley and Brian Blade.

Then there's a very famous (although I wasn't familiar with her) soul singer named Ledisi who is doing a tribute to Dinah Washington. On this album she's doing some of my favourite songs that Dinah Washington made famous. Don't tell any Dinah fans, but I think she does them better than Dinah. The one I include in this epsode is a duet she did with Brook Benton....but here Ledisi duets with none other than Gregory Porter.

A new talent you've probably never heard of (unless you go to The Yardbird Suite in Edmonton) is bassist Aretha Tillotson. Here she teams up with the famous Jensen sister (Christine and Ingrid) with an album influenced by Sonny Rollins "Way Out West". She calls hers "Kinda Out West".

Then there's Brad Mehldau sounding like he's never sounded before, and a tribute to the late singer-songwriter, Elliot Smith.

Last but not least are the two Emma's: Emma Smith and Emma Jean Thackray. And that doesn't even include the 3rd Emma who I'm sure to play on one of my soon to come future episodes---Emma Rawlicz.