On this episode of Visions, I share my best releases of 2025, featuring new music from Blue Note’s Artemis, Brandon Woody and and Out Of/Into; Nonesuch Records’ Cecile McLorin Salvant and Mary Halvorson; and International Anthem’s Makaya McCraven and SML. I also play music from here in Detroit by Louis Jones III and Russ Macklem.

I play a couple older tracks that were released in 2025. I was really excited to see Strata-East team up with Mack Avenue to digitally release the Strata-East catalog this year. From their vast catalog, I played Charles Tolliver.

I was also super excited when I saw news of a never-before released live recording from bassist Charlie Haden coming out in the fall of this year.

I’ve got a lot more music in this playlist, too! I had a ton of fun putting this playlist together, so I hope you have as much—if not more—fun listening to it.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Dec. 22, 2025

• “FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE” – Kassa Overall
• “I Will Persevere” – Russ Macklem*
• “Imafan” – Makaya McCraven
• “Unconditional Love” – Milena Casado
• “BBL” – Brandee Younger
• “No. 2” – Nicole Glover
• “Spanning (Live)” – Charles Tolliver
• “Ornithology (Live)” – Charlie Haden
• “Go For Broke (feat. Joel Ross, Paul Cornish, Harish Raghavan & Kendrick Scott)” – Gregory Groover Jr.
• “Guéreh” – Noura Mint Seymali
• “Taking out the Trash” – SML
• “Motions” – Louis Jones III*
• “Eureka” – Cecile McLorin Salvant
• “Carved From” – Mary Halvorson
• “Footprints” – Artemis
• “Wisdom; Terrace on St. Paul St.” – Brandon Woody
• “Feed the Fire (feat. esperanza spalding & Karriem Riggins*) [Bonus Track]” – Nicholas Payton
• “Familiar Route (feat. Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott & Matt Brewer)” – Out Of/Into

*indicates Detroit artists

On this episode of Visions and in typical fashion, I head all over the musical map with my selections.

This week features classic cuts from John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Curtis Fuller, and Detroit’s Barry Harris. I also feature newer releases from Esthesis Quartet, Heat On, Brandee Younger, and Detroit’s Louis Jones III and William Hill III.

I venture slightly into the avant-garde with Eric Dolphy and Marion Brown. And finally, a great track from Roy Hargrove featuring Wynton Marsalis.

There are a few others in the mix, but with music spanning from the 1960’s to the 2020’s, there’s something in here for everyone to enjoy.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Dec. 15, 2025

• “‘Snuff” – Jackie McLean
• “Black Bath” – Curtis Fuller
• “Mr. Day” – John Coltrane
• “Country Boy” – John Lee Hooker
• “Breaking Point” – Brandee Younger
• “Stay the Course” – William Hill III*
• “Horace Silver” – The New York Bass Violin Choir & Bill Lee
• “Nicaragua” – The Barry Harris* Sextet
• “Homestretch” – Joe Henderson
• “Peek-A-Boo” – Louis Jones III*
• “Ace of Pentacles” – Esthesis Quartet
• “Bye-Ya” – Carmen Staaf
• “Gazzelloni” – Eric Dolphy
• “West India” – Marion Brown
• “Nostalgia” – Roy Hargrove
• “Rimrock” – Heat On
• “Feed the Fire (feat. esperanza spalding & Karriem Riggins*)[Bonus Track]” – Nicholas Payton

*indicates Detroit artists