Boudin Man, co-host of Kitchen Sink with A.J. Rodrigue and A.A., Wednesdays, 10pm-MIDNIGHT.

Record of the Year

Zydeco Sont Pas Sales - North Side: King Clifton Chenier - Zydeco Et Pas Sales - South Side: Rolling Stones - Zydeco Sont Pas Sales. 7"-45RM Smithsonian Folkways, Arhoolie and Valcour Records

A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco – Various Artist - Valcour Records

Jeffery Broussard and The Nightime Syndicate – Bayou Moonlight

The Meters – Live At The Great American Music Hall 1975

Quintron and Miss Pussycat – Chrystal Crunchy

Whip Appeal – Cut Flowers

The Glue – Shot In The Dark

Chris Lyons – Painters Street

Sick Thoughts – Another Piece Of Plastic

Nick Lowe (Not) Indoor Safari Vol. 1

Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts - Talkin To The Trees

Julian Primeaux - Spinning Heartache Into Gold

Cassette

Stargazer and The Lilies with Weeks Island - Live from the Ace

Digital Releases

Bruisey Peets - Cartwheel Clown

Louie Michot - SEAUXLEAUX

T. R. Johnson, host of the Tuesday edition of Jazz from Jax Brewery, 4-7p

Abide in Love – Greg Tardy

About Ghosts- Mary Halvorson

Abstraction is Deliverance – James Brandon Lewis

Antes Que a Terra Acabe - Luedji Luna

Apple Cores – James Brandon Lewis

Belonging – Branford Marsalis

Everyday – Takuya Kuroda

For the Love of it All -- Brandon Woody

For the Record – Makaya McCraven

Gadabout Season – Brandee Younger

Heroes – John Ellis

How You Been - SML

Keys to the City, Vol 1 – Robert Glasper

Love Letters – JD Allen

Ones & Twos – Gerald Clayton

Rearranging the Planets – Steve Lands

Search for the New – Marcus Gilmore

Southern Nights – Sullivan Fortner

Strange Heavens – Linda May Han Oh

Trio of Bloom – Trio of Bloom

Triune – Nicholas Payton

Um Mar Pra Cada Um -- Luedji Luna

Vanguardia Subterranéo -- Miguel Zenon Quartet

Words Fall Short – Josh Redman

Duane Williams, host of What's New, Sundays, 10pm-MIDNIGHT.

In no particular order:

Sariyah Idan’s “Solo Live In Berlin” album. This album just shows Sariyah's wide-ranging talent with recordings of her live performance overseas last year. It's always a pleasure to spend time with her voice, whether at home listening to the album or while strolling down Royal Street and catching her performing live!

John Coltrane: The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings 7LP Boxset was a very welcome surprise earlier this year. Granting access to more than four hours of this legend's work from over six decades ago was a reminder to take some time to sit back and appreciate getting lost in his soundtrack without any distractions from the rest of the world.

Dave Matthews Band's collection of hits over the decades, Where Are You Going: The Singles, being dropped a couple of months before being able to see them perform live at Jazz Fest was a great treat of nostalgia. Not only a great musician but also entertainer who keeps the crowds entertained between songs and makes the time fly by and exudes all the cool an audience requires on the sunniest of days at a stage with no shade.

Tom McGuire & the Brassholes album A NAME FOR EVERYTHING I'LL EVER BE was an unexpected treat. My favorite party band from Glasgow, they delved so much deeper with this album. The tracks resonate with Tom's introduction to becoming a parent and is much more self-reflective. The band is aging and that's not a bad thing. As with all who are self aware you not only grow but examine yourself on the why's and how you've grown. It's always a pleasure to watch them evolving from across the pond.

Musique(s)! is a great taste of home. A collection of Louisiana artists singing in French and Creole for a dozen tracks. That may feel like enough but the project includes a book, an exhibition, and a documentary. The sound is timeless but from contemporary artists, including two Grammy-winning artists. Proof that this tradition isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Woodkid's single To The Wilder from DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH was an earworm for me this year. It made its way into my head and I never tired of it. It was moving and touching to the point it never felt corny and I still enjoy it when it pops up on my playlist. There's even a shift to it with the alternate version where Elle Fanning sings the song. Woodkid did a fantastic job producing the soundtrack but these two versions stuck out and struck a chord with me. Rolling Stone has a great interview with the artist about the meaning behind it and the rest of his work over the years here.

The Cranberries performing live on the MTV Unplugged album was a reminder of how much their raw performances came through each medium. Whether on stage or on television. It was nice reliving the sounds of a voice we won't get to experience live again but which continues in a large body of work.

Jennifer Brady, host of The Kitchen Sink , Thursdays, 10pm-MIDNIGHT.

Jimmy Duck Holmes, Bentonia Blues/Right Now
Hypnotic, acoustic blues that you can catch live at the Bentonia Blues Festival in Mississippi. Bring your lawn chair, make the drive. Thank you to Black Mold and Andrew Grafe for introducing me to Jimmy’s music and his juke joint, the Blue Front Cafe.

Irma Thomas, Galactic, Audience with the Queen

People Museum, Live From Marigny Opera House
If you have the chance to see this group live, please go. This year, I was lucky enough to catch them at both Lafayette Square (thank you, YLC) and Gasa Gasa.

Raye and Mark Ronson, Suzanne
Great song, Can't wait to catch Raye at Jazz Fest in 2026!

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Wake Up Afrika
Discovered his music because he performed at Gasa Gasa over the summer.

Jon Batiste, Big Money
Love his rendition of Lonely Avenue with Randy Newman.

J.Mix, Burnout, Circles - singles
J.Mix is Jessica Mixon, songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist from New Orleans.

Boyfriend, In the Garden
This album is a good time with special guests like Peaches and Big Freedia.