The 30 Best Jazz and Experimental Albums of 2023

"The 30 Best Jazz and Experimental Albums of 2023" is a deep dive into the avant-garde and innovative sounds that defined this year. From Ruth Anderson's intricate "Resolutions" off "Tête-à-tête" to the tranquil yet provocative "Leaving Dreaming" from Ellen Arkbro's "Sounds While Waiting," this playlist taps into the core of modern jazz and experimental music. Explore the boundary-pushing "Free Love" by Irreversible Entanglements and get lost in the soothing nostalgia of Pat Metheny's "Clouds Can’t Change the Sky." Tracks like Dustin Wong's "Perpetual Morphosis" and Jonny Nash's "Theories" showcase a range of textures and moods, reflecting the dynamic nature of these genres.

Notably, the playlist includes eclectic pieces like Bill Orcutt's "The Ocean Will Find Its Shore" and "That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... Sh¥t Was Wild" by André 3000 off "New Blue Sun." The mix also features contributions from artists like Arooj Aftab and Vijay Iyer with "Sharabi" and Natural Information Society's "Stigmergy," ensuring a rich auditory exploration. With a lineup including Gia Margaret, Leo Takami, Irreversible Entanglements, and more, this playlist is a curated experience of 2023's most forward-thinking jazz and experimental music.

Playlist Genres

Ambient

Experimental

Spectra

Dream Pop

Indie Rock

Jazz

Art Pop Avant-garde Drone Experimental Ambient Minimalism Shoegaze Acousmatic Alternative Rock Art Rock Avant-garde Jazz Electra Electroacoustic Experimental Guitar Experimental Jazz Experimental Rock Fourth World Free Jazz Indie Pop Jazz Guitar Pastoral Post-punk Post-rock Singer-songwriter World