It’s that exciting time of year again… time to begin our Album of the Year Awards process! 2025 has given us a plethora of new music to discover – just check out these stats:

Highlighting and honouring the highest quality DSD music is what we do at NativeDSD. And there is no better way than to let you, our trusted music-loving audiophiles, vote on the top albums from the last year.

How do we select the nominees for our anticipated Albums of the Year Awards? As has been our tradition, NativeDSD has asked Senior Reviewer Bill Dodd and Technical Advisor Brian Moura to carefully review the year’s DSD releases and bring our listeners their nominations in several musical categories.

This is a great way to applaud and reward the excellent music and performances that the music labels and artists have brought us this year. And it also is a guide for our listeners to see what we have selected as the best DSD music in 2025.

Nominations Part 3 features the Jazz Fusion, Jazz Soloist, Classical Crossover, Latin, World selections from 2025, chosen with great deliberation by Brian Moura. These categories are divided into to groups.

Jazz Fusion

Invisible Cities: Part 1 – André Mehmari & Sergio Reze (ADS 003)

Invisible Cities is a live recording with Jazz musicians André Mehmari (Piano & Bass Synthesizer) and Sérgio Reze (Drums & Gongs). They have performed together for 30 years and have a strong musical connection. On this album, the music was performed without rehearsal to ensure that the performances are fresh and completely improvised. Rather than talking about tracks on the album, instead it features a series of themes described as “cities”. It is a fresh approach and it yields an interesting musical change of pace.

Protocol II – Simon Phillips (In-A-Kustik 01691315)

Simon Phillips is a famed drummer in the worlds of Rock, Jazz, and Fusion. He is usually found in the album credits of other bands and performers. Here Philips steps out in front with a trio of ace musicians – Andy Timmons on Guitar, Steve Weingart on Keyboards and Ernest Tibbs on Bass. Anchored by Philips on Drums, the group delivers a powerful set pf music that mixes Jazz Fusion and Rock styles. It is a high energy ride from start to finish and one you will enjoy. 

Jazz Soloist

Cookin’ At The Queens – Emily Remler (2xHD Mastering & Resonance Jazz 2XHDRE1277)

2xHD Mastering and Resonance Jazz teamed up to bring us Cookin’ At The Queens featuring Jazz Guitarist Emily Remier. Remastered from the Original Analog Master Tape of this Live Recording, listeners are treated to a virtuoso performance of seven familiar standards by the very talented guitarist. The performances are full of swing and energy with a recording quality that enhances the set. 

Sovereign Mind – Ryan Benthall (Octave Records OCT0060 )

On Sovereign Mind, Ryan Benthall plays piano and synthesizer on 9 original tracks that he has written for his debut album on Octave Records. The music is mellow and is described as a setting a dreamy and introspective tone. Benthall adds drums played with brushes, bass and a bit of horns and sax to enhance the foundation that he sets down. It is a enjoyable set and a promising start for this new artist.

Classical Crossover

Gratia – Enzo Pietropaoli, Gabriele Mirabassi, Michele Rabbia, Sonus Vocum Ensemble (Fone SACD255)

In his 11th release at NativeDSD, double bass player Enzo Pietropaoli brings us an album titled Gratia. Fone describes the album as being “designed and elaborated to give life to contemporary improvisations and reinterpretations of Marian antiphons in ‘counterpoint’ or, to use Jazz language, in ‘interplay’ with the performance of Gregorian chant.” It features Pietropaoli along with Gabriele Mirabass  on Clarinet, Michele Rabbia on Percussion & Live Electronics and the Sonus Vocum Ensemble. If you are looking for something that is very unique and unexpected, this album may be just what you are looking for.

Ponticello – Vincent Segal &  Stéphane Kerecki with Airelle Besson (Fuga Libera FUG850)

Ponticello features Vincent Segal and Stéphane Kerecki, two French musicians who share a love of both Jazz and Classical music. Here they are joined by Airelle Besson on Trumpet for an album that features 7 original compositions plus 3 songs composed by Earl Zindars, Hampton Hawes, and Scott LaFaro. The three musicians create music that is at once intriguing and creates a special mood. It is worth listening to if you would like to venture out a bit from the standard take on Jazz and Classical music.

Latin

Just Jobim [Pure DSD] – Manfredo Fest (DMP 034005)

This is another NativeDSD customer requested album that we were able to license for release in 2025 from the DMP (Digital Musid Products) music label. It is an excellent Pure DSD Stereo recording using the Ed Meitner designed Analog to Digital Converters from EMM Labs and the Sonoma DSD Workstation. Manfredo Fest was a famed Jazz and Bossa Nova pianist and bandleader from Brazil. Just Jobim was his tribute to the great Antonio Carlos Jobim, and it was his final album before his passing in 1999. Listening to the album, you can tell right away that Fest is very at home playing the Bossa Nova music of Jobim with a special energy, swing and enthusiasm, absent from other Jobim albums where the music is much more laid back in its presentation. This is easily one of my favorite albums of Bossa Nova music and I think it will soon be one of your favorites as well.

Cinnamon Flower – Charlie Rouse (2xHD Mastering & Resonance Jazz 2XHDRE1283)

This album is an early entry in Brazilian Jazz featuring tenor saxophone player Charlie Rouse and an all-star band that includes Ron Carter and Clifford Adams. In this newly remastered edition from the Original Analog Master Tapes, Resonance Jazz and 2xHD were able to remove overdubs, synthesizers and effects added to prior editions of the album, bringing the original session intent and feel back to Jazz listeners. The new edition of Cinnamon Flower is a real treat and promises to have a whole new legion of fans discover this classic recording.

Favela – Mr. Wins (2xHD Latin 2XHDBS1278)

Favela is the debut album on the 2xHD Mastering-Latin music label. It features a band named Mr. Wins that is said to have 7 members, yet I count 13 on the album credits. What we have here is Brazilian music with elements of Miles Davis and Banda. Favela brings you into the festive and party atmosphere of Brazil. It is a fun listen guaranteed to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face.

WorldJazz Fusion

Old Friends – The Secret Trio (Anderson Audio NY AANY218 )

Old Friends is a new album by The Secret Trio, an ensemble featuring Ismail Lumanovski (Clarinet), Ara Dinkjian (Oud) and Tamer Pinarbasi (Kanun). It was recorded Live to Stereo and 5.1 Channel Surround Sound by the team of Jim Anderson and Ulrike Anderson at Anderson Audio NY. The editions of the album at NativeDSD were created from the Edit Master Source and they sound great. The Music on Old Friends features the trio’s Eastern Music influences with Western Harmonies. It is fresh and very enjoyable. With standout sound to match.

Why The Wings? [Pure DSD] – Veni & Péter Cseh (Hunnia HRES2429)

Recorded in Budapest at the church of the Bartók Béla Unitarian Parish, Why The Wings? features singer Veni (Veronika Szasz) and guitarist Péter Cseh. It is her 6th album at NativeDSD. The album features 13 original songs that are sung in Veni’s native language with beautiful accompaniment by guitarist Cseh. The album appeared on the NativeDSD Top 10 Selling Albums list when it was released. Showing that the singer and her fine singing is gaining a following among our listeners.