Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow review – sax legend shows no sign of slowing down

The octogenarian joyfully whispers and warbles his way through sublime tone poems, impassioned tributes and traditional spirituals with an all-star band

Amaro Freitas: Y’Y review – transcendent sounds inspired by the Amazon

The Brazilian jazz experimentalist draws on the atmosphere of the rainforest and its mythical beings to create his most explosive, explorative LP yet

Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey: Compassion review – a trio of rare intuition

Improvising around Iyer compositions and numbers by Stevie Wonder, Roscoe Mitchell and more, these musicians foreground openness and receptivity

Laufey review – charming retro romance from a deserved Grammy winner

The Icelandic Chinese singer blends jazz into pop with ease, and her honeyed contralto has found a home in gen Z hearts

Sam Gendel and Fabiano do Nascimento: The Room review – a tender, complex modern classic

The shapeshifting LA-based saxophonist and Brazilian guitarist’s LP is a bossa-tinged celebration of their instruments

Mary Halvorson: Cloudward review – compositions fuse with improv to wondrous ends

(Nonesuch)The Brooklyn jazz guitarist’s seamless, beautifully interwoven tracks are full of welcome surprises

Keyon Harrold: Foreverland review – genre-defying post-bop

Dazzling instrumentals are supplemented by guest vocals from Laura Mvula, Common and more on the US trumpeter’s classy third album

Music: Kitty Empire’s 10 best albums of 2023

It was a year of avant-rap, sex-positive R&B, polyrhythmic jazz and hyper-punk pop – plus Lana Del Rey’s glossy meditations on death and loss

Shabaka Hutchings review – soaring to unfettered heights

In his last performance on the saxophone ahead of a break, Hutchings powers through an interpretation of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme

Thomas Bartlett: Standards Vol 1 review – an intimate, spare solo piano set of American classics

The US producer and piano man to the stars reduces standards by Irving Berlin and more to single takes of soothing simplicity

Jowee Omicil: Spiritual Healing: Bwa Kayiman Freedom Suite review – on the brink of revolution

Saxophonist Omicil builds atmospheres then upends expectations in this free-jazz homage to Haiti’s successful 18th-century slave insurrection

Ambrose Akinmusire: Owl Song review – quietly joyous jazz grooves

The California-raised trumpet virtuoso provides a balming trio album to counter our information overload

Isaiah Collier: Parallel Universe review – an inspired homage to the giants of jazz and soul

Recorded in single-take live performances, the Chicago multi-instrumentalist deftly throws funk, gospel, soul and his own fine voice into the mix

Judi Jackson: My American Songbook review – a brave musical expedition

Spanning Randy Newman to Nina Simone, the US singer’s medley of favourite tunes showcases her powerhouse vocals, which outshine her backing band

Thandi Ntuli with Carlos Niño: Rainbow Revisited review – exquisitely minimal jazz

With delicate arrangements, the South African vocalist and pianist conveys everything from longing to ecstasy, as Niño adds light touches of percussion and production