Tyshawn Sorey

From Anthony Joseph’s forceful poetry to Tomu DJ’s deconstructed club; from Fire-Toolz’s calculated sprawl to Rosie Lowe and Duval Timothy’s expansive exploration of harmony—these are the jazz and experimental releases that made our year.

In 2021, works by Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points, Nala Sinephro, Nicolás Jaar, and others furthered a contemplative sound that’s impossible to ignore.

The albums that got us through a very strange year, featuring Tyler, the Creator, Adele, Jazmine Sullivan, Playboi Carti, and more