Our Top Ten, in alphabetical order:

Nat Birchall - Invocations: Birchall reignites Coltrane's late 60s muse for the spiritual but not religious milleniums. Seductive, confident and made in Britain. (Simon Cooney)

Chris Minh Doky - New Nordic Jazz: The whole album makes it clear that Nordic Jazz is in fine fettle. The lands across the North Sea are fertile and rich with innovative musicians who are tilling the jazz soil and unearthing some beautiful music which has that wonderful mix of openness, melancholy and laid-back nature that one often associates with the Nordic region. (Rob Mallows)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/264-chris-minh-doky-new-nordic-jazz

Kyle Eastwood - Timepieces: His most conventional-sounding album to-date, it shows a new musical maturity and connects his past with what should be a promising future as one of the leading bass players of his generation. (Rob Mallows/Erminia Yardley)

Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra - Into Forever: The influence of Alice Coltrane, and to a lesser extent, the early 1970s recordings of McCoy Tyner, can still be heard, but the Orchestra has a markedly different feel second time around. (Matthew Ruddick) 

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/247-matthew-halsall-the-gondwana-orchestra-into-forever

ISQ - Too: These are, without exception, quite memorable tunes, which will burn their way into your head with repeated listens. Serra’s singing is superb, perhaps at its most effective when she sounds bruised and vulnerable, but equally capable of light and shade. (Matthew Ruddick)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/231-isq-too

Pixel - Golden Years: In their haunting sung style, right-angle lyrics and creative band sound, they exemplify why the Nordic region is at the cutting edge of much in jazz at the moment. (Rob Mallows)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/244-pixel-golden-years

Cecile McLorin Salvant - For One to Love: For One to Love is a beautiful construction - melodic, sad, innovative and most of all, stupendously performed. She also writes with no fear, with a new and fresh approach to lyrics that is to be admired.  (Erminia Yardley)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/236-cecile-mclorin-salvant-for-one-to-love

Christian Scott - Stretch Music: Stretch Music throws a number of genres into a melting pot, and the result is an amazing stew, bursting with flavours and sounds – that does away with traditional jazz themes and solos, and leaves you feeling excited about what the future might hold. (Matthew Ruddick)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/272-christian-scott-stretch-music

Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest - Sylva: While the purists might turn their nose up at their populist soundscapes and penchant for hard grooves, they are I think a welcome shot in the arm for jazz and live music, bringing new listeners to the world of jazz in all its forms, which can’t be a bad thing. (Rob Mallows)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/207-snarky-puppy-metropole-orkest-sylva

Kamasi Washington - The Epic: For the most part, The Epic lives up to its name. It is a quite dazzling debut, bursting at the seams with ambition, and at its best, the most exciting jazz album I’ve heard in many years. (Matthew Ruddick)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/204-kamasi-washington-the-epic

Also highly recommended:

John McLaughlin - Black Light: This new album, with eight new McLaughlin-penned tracks, shows that he’s still as vital a part of the modern jazz scene as ever and producing quality music. (Rob Mallows)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/253-john-mclaughlin-black-light

Brad Mehldau - Ten Years Solo Live: A majestic collection from our favourite pianist, who effortlessly blends such a vast array of influences. (Matthew Ruddick) 

Maciek Pysz - A Journey: His primary influence is Al Di Meola, but one can also hear hints of Ralph Towner in his playing. The new album has a warm, Mediterranean flavour, which is well suited to the travel theme that runs through the album. (Matthew Ruddick)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/271-maciek-pysz-a-journey

Emily Saunders - Outsiders Insiders: An excellent second album, that blended vocal virtuosity, warm Brazilian melodies, intelligent lyrics and an adventurous spirit. (Phil Acio)

Rogier Telderman Trio – Contours: Telderman is a gifted pianist and composer, with a good ear for melody. As with EST, this band has potential crossover appeal beyond jazz enthusiasts, and could go far. (Matthew Ruddick)

http://www.kindofjazz.com/index.php/component/k2/226-rogier-telderman-trio-contours