The New York Times' Best Jazz Albums of 2021

In a year of continued uncertainty, musicians held their colleagues, and listeners, close.

Published: December 02, 2021 12:36 Source

# 1

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 2

Album • Jan 15 / 2021 Jazz

# 3

Album • May 07 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz

# 4

Maquishti by Patricia Brennan

Album • Jan 15 / 2021 Free Improvisation

# 5

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz

# 6

Album • Jul 21 / 2021 Nu Jazz Spiritual Jazz

# 7

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz Third Stream Modern Creative

# 8

Intimate Strangers by Sara Serpa + Emmanuel Iduma

Album • Dec 03 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz Jazz Poetry

# 9

Sun Beans of Shimmering Light by Wadada Leo Smith + Douglas Ewart + Mike Reed

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Free Jazz Avant-Garde Jazz

# 10

Album • Sep 24 / 2021 Vocal Jazz Avant-Garde Jazz