At the end of the year, we ask our reviewers for their top picks of the year. Last year, there was a lot of crossover, but this year, everyone highlighted different albums - such was the diverse range of fantastic new music. The CDs below range from the classic jazz trio to jazz-funk, cool European sounds to experimental free jazz, soul-jazz to retro. In short, there's something for everyone. We hope you enjoyed our CD and gig reviews throughout the year, and our interviews too. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and wish you all the best for 2017.

Classically trained but inspired by Herbie Hancock, Jason Rebello first came to the attention of one of the founders of jazz fusion, Weather Report’s saxophonist Wayne Shorter in the early 1990’s. He was one of the forerunners of the modern jazz resurgence of that period and was quickly signed to BMG records on a three-album deal. He produced a further two albums by the end of the decade and toured extensively with his own band in the UK and internationally before he was invited by Sting join his band, following the untimely death in 1998 of piano legend and personal hero Kenny Kirkland. Jason recorded with Sting on his Grammy winning albums Brand New Day 1999, All This Time 2001 and Sacred Love 2003. It was through an introduction from Sting that Jason     met guitar legend Jeff Beck in 2006. He worked together with Beck on his 2010 album Emotion and Commotion and co-wrote the Grammy winning single Hammerhead. His latest jazz album, Held, was released on Edition Records in 2016.

A soulful journey.