WDCB DJs - Top 5 Jazz Releases in 2025

A yearly tradition around the studios of WDCB, our annual top five lists from our DJs. You’ll see that everyone had personal favorites, but there were consensus favorites as well. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we could have put together a top 20 list in the blink of an eye. Jazz never disappoints.

Paul Abella
Sharel Cassity - Gratitude
Conrad Herwig - Reflections Facing South
Carl Allen - Tippin’
James Brandon Lewis - Apple Cores
Artemis - Arboresque

Leslie Keros
Marques Carroll - Live at Winter’s Jazz Club and Andy’s Jazz Club
Michel Petrucciani Trio - Jazz Club Montmartre
Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Broom - More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery
The Empress - Square One
Tyreek McDole - Open Up Your Senses

Bruce Oscar
Sharel Cassity - Gratitude
Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Broom - More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery
The Empress - Square One
Artemis - Arboresque
Nick Hempton & Cory Weeds - Horns Locked

Matthew Hermes
Eric Scott Reed - Out Late
Greg Murphy - Snap Happy
Entre Amigos - Magpie
Marc Seales - People and Places
Anita Donndorff - Thirsty Soul

Dona Mullen
Rodney Jordan - Memphis Blue
Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Broom - More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery
Sam Dillon - My Ideal
Marc Seales - People and Places
Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring - Split Decision

Jay Greene
Dave Stryker with Strings - Goes to the Movies
Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project - Shades of Sound
Eugenie Jones - Eugenie
Donnie McCaslin - Lullaby for the Lost
Carolyn Trowbridge - Found Memories

Tom Macek
Sharel Cassity - Gratitude
Nancy Kelly - Be Cool
Joe Alterman featuring Houston Person - Brisket for Breakfast
The Empress - Square One
Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Broom - More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery