“Year-End Wrap Up: Our Favorite Music of 2025”

In this episode, we look back and pick our favorite classical and jazz recordings from 2025.   The Adult Music Podcast is featured in: Feedspot's 100 Best Jazz Podcasts   Episode 241 Deezer Playlist   Fair use disclaimer: Music sample clips are for commentary and educational purposes. We recommend that listeners listen to the complete recordings, all of which are available on streaming services in the links provided. We also suggest that if you enjoy the music, you consider purchasing the CDs or high-quality downloads to support the artists.   Russ’ Classical Picks   Episode 204: “Anniversaries & Inner Journeys” 3/17/2025 “Hough: Piano Concerto, Sonatina & Partita” (Hyperion) Sir Stephen Hough, The Hallé, Sir Mark Elder https://open.spotify.com/album/6aj6j7obrqKiSJJF9GB51l https://music.apple.com/us/album/hough-piano-concerto-sonatina-partita/1790189101 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DSWK94H6   Episode 208: “Elegance & Fire” 4/14/2025 “Prokofiev & Shor” (Alpha) Behzod Abduraimov, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vasily Petrenko https://open.spotify.com/album/6yTib2Mj4XZNvPoC7ILgqR https://music.apple.com/us/album/prokofiev-shor/1792782208 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DV5N35H1   Episode 210: “Fluted Grooves” 4/28/2025 “Daugherty: Blue Electra” (Naxos) Anne Akiko Meyers, Albany Symphony Orchestra / David Alan Miller https://open.spotify.com/album/7KeVVROhrOyr7hwyAMc2Od https://music.apple.com/us/album/michael-daugherty-blue-electra-last-dance-at-the-surf/1803167332 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DTKSWBX9   Episode 211: “Saxurated Sound” 5/5/2025 “Tales of the Jazz Age” (La Dolce Volta) Florian Noack https://open.spotify.com/album/1pgOmjL6jYB69GOA2aMNxP https://classical.music.apple.com/sg/album/1795617036 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DWNBXQ3M   “Ancient Modernity” (Delphian) Louise McMonagle https://open.spotify.com/album/4mYIWqAJAYTqU4ayjzJnsI https://music.apple.com/za/album/ancient-modernity/1799737575 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DZ31FWKW   Episode 213: “Sacred Trinity & Swingin’ Trio” 5/18/2025 “Alexander Scriabin: Vers La Flamme” (BIS) Yevgeny Sudbin https://open.spotify.com/album/3wYDp7bi9o73xbr9ZzWLrk https://music.apple.com/us/album/scriabin-vers-la-flamme/1803174467 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F1Z3KHWL   Episode 218: “A Quarter for Your Tones” 7/7/2025 “Persia & Baroque - Classical Persian Music and European Baroque” (Christophorus) Hamburger Ratsmusik / Simone Eckert, Ulrich Wedemeier, Anke Dennert, Neoclassical Ensemble of Tehran / Arash Mohafez https://open.spotify.com/album/5owCWVmzhFYnjbqZHg4lT0 https://music.apple.com/us/album/persia-baroque-classical-persian-music-and-european/1822952513 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F8C7Z8D5   Episode 219: “Border Crossers” 7/14/2025 “Laurent Boutros: Apatride, An Armenian in Paris” (Da Vinci Classics) Antonino Ielo https://open.spotify.com/album/7hQ2upqq5JxHfbJ8yDlX5C https://music.apple.com/us/album/laurent-boutros-apatride-an-armenian-in-paris/1819815810 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FCP46QV9   Episode 229: “A Trumpet Junket” 9/29/2025 “Kevin Puts: Concerto for Orchestra, Silent Night Elegy & Virelai” (Delos) Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra / Stéphane Denève https://open.spotify.com/album/3s5T4R7QJKHjgfNHmVy6Vz https://music.apple.com/us/album/kevin-puts-concerto-for-orchestra-silent-night-elegy/1826975431 No Amazon Music   Episode 231: “Bourbon Based” 10/13/2025 “Robert Russell Bennett & Vernon Duke: Violin Concertos” (Chandos) Chloë Hanslip, Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Andrew Litton https://open.spotify.com/album/5SQS6UVFNNBMf7Itmo1JEG https://music.apple.com/us/album/bennett-duke-violin-works/1830974602 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FKQ8BJYV   Mike’s Classical Picks   Episode 202: “The Spaces Between” 2/24/2025 “The Age of Extremes: W.F. Bach, G. Benda & C.P.E. Bach” (Arcana) Francesco Corti, Il Pomo d'Oro https://open.spotify.com/album/666rWzJgsF6pZo9KyAZ27A https://music.apple.com/gh/album/the-age-of-extremes-w-f-bach-g-benda-c-p-e-bach/1781631697 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DN6QFCXM   Episode 207: “Blues ‘n’ Bones” 4/7/2025 “Dvořák & Price: Piano Quintets” (Hyperion) Takacs Quartet, Marc-Andre Hamelin https://open.spotify.com/album/1i8Dx19cZUT4y5TcD9bomJ https://music.apple.com/us/album/dvořák-price-piano-quintets/1791744025 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DTKP5X5F   Episode 209 “Women on the Open Road” 4/21/2025 “Vox Feminae” (Alpha) Les Kapsber’girls https://open.spotify.com/album/7CMohdNtQxiB83iEMqntc7 https://music.apple.com/us/album/vox-feminae/1793025660 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DV5PTBMJ   Episode 212: “From Bach to Boogaloo” 5/12/2025 “Concertos: Pécou, Lazkano, Nante” (Erato) Alexandre Tharaud https://open.spotify.com/album/6bI8HUotFbewV3WMYX0OV0 https://music.apple.com/us/album/pécou-lazkano-nante-piano-concertos/1806217843 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F3FG9KJ7   Episode 213: “Sacred Trinity & Swingin’ Trio” 5/18/2025 “Clérambault: Te Deum & Histoire de la Femme Adultère” (Château de Versailles Spectacles) Lisandro Abadie, Guy Cutting, Samuel Namotte, Gwendoline Blondeel A Nocte Temporis, Chœur de Chambre de Namur / Reinoud Van Mechelen https://open.spotify.com/album/3kITS98BQIa4cFBjT1NSnH https://music.apple.com/us/album/clérambault-te-deum-histoire-de-la-femme-adultère/1799108129 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DYNNF76N   Episode 215 “Doorway to the Horizon” 6/7/2025 “Ni Dufay, Ni Binchois - the Works of Johannes Pullois” (Passacaille) Sollazzo Ensemble https://open.spotify.com/album/4NMrnD08oj20PzLNDHM0rL https://music.apple.com/us/album/ni-dufay-ni-binchois-the-works-of-johannes-pullois/1807330875 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F44CTHZL   Episode 224: “Moon Tunes” 8/18/2025 “Bach, Telemann & Albinoni: Concerti” (Alpha) Sophie Gent, Kathleen Kajioka, Ensemble Masques / Olivier Fortin https://open.spotify.com/album/4Z9606TIlzMs2YA6LXiZnP https://music.apple.com/us/album/j-s-bach-telemann-albinoni-concerti/1807001257 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F8NM4DPF   Episode 227: “Melodic Reflections” 9/9/2025 “Libro primo” (ECM) Rolf Lislevand https://open.spotify.com/album/3XPfRhPmgp2sTj5rLPPH2I https://music.apple.com/us/album/libro-primo/1826581965 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FHJ5H7JV   Episode 229: 2A Trumpet Junket” 9/29/2025 “Martinů String Quartets 2-3-5-7” (Supraphon) Pavel Haas Quartet https://open.spotify.com/album/5LhBAJvYfW3akK0G35B8wh https://music.apple.com/us/album/martinů-string-quartets-nos-2-3-5-7/1832782214 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FM474BZ7   Episode 234 “Found Objects & Fresh Air” 11/10/2025 “Martinu Violin Concertos 1 & 2, Stravinsky Divertimento” (Supraphon) Josef Spacek, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra / Petr Popelka https://open.spotify.com/album/0SKhKsHvwcPZ4OYMtzGRuK https://music.apple.com/us/album/martinů-violin-concertos-1-2-stravinsky-divertimento/1846791139 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FTGJLNHZ   “Found Objects / Sound Objects” (Hyperion) Marc-André Hamelin https://open.spotify.com/album/2dGt6QoBUsh75ShmyWOERe https://music.apple.com/us/album/found-objects-sound-objects/1828259285 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FJHYS4SJ   Mike’s Jazz Picks   Episode 205: “Fragmented Inspirations” 3/24/2025 “South” (Sunnyside) Randal Despommier https://open.spotify.com/album/1EcSKXQuNPs7UIzaTkLl0j https://music.apple.com/us/album/south/1797433088 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DTWJSFZJ   Episode 208: “Elegence and Fire” 4/14/2025 “Live at Snug Harbor” (Outside in Music) Leon Anderson https://open.spotify.com/album/34XmNuGwm09hMfwDqaiGyf https://music.apple.com/us/album/live-at-snug-harbor/1792288803 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DTWHYQSL   Episode 212: “From Bach to Boogaloo” 5/12/2025 “Steep Steps” (Hobby Horse Records) Carl Winther, Richard Andersson, Jeff “Tain” Watts https://open.spotify.com/album/6mSi775nA3yYvU9Njpd7LV https://music.apple.com/us/album/steep-steps/1796891336 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DXFZPK8X   Episode 218: “A Quarter for Your Tones” 7/7/2025 “Nico’s Dream” (SteepleChase) Tony Miceli https://open.spotify.com/album/5wUvoUKyZ0mmP87LZT877P https://music.apple.com/us/album/nicos-dream/1828638176 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F4DSQMVV   Episode 229: “A Trumpet Junket” 9/29/2025 “Oblivity” (Origin) Shawn Purcell https://open.spotify.com/album/4BdcYHpppD4zNskoxnuP2Z https://music.apple.com/us/album/oblivity/1831093754 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FL4V5HPB   Episode 230: “Concertos & Ciphers” 10/6/2025 “Cipher” (PHP Records) Charlie Porter https://open.spotify.com/album/2Nf8PpF9l3pDz6FLn4V18s https://music.apple.com/us/album/cipher/1807658361 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F49QRDH5   Episode 233: “Origin-al Recipe” 11/3/2025 “New Outlook” (Origin) Affinity Trio, Eric Jacobson https://open.spotify.com/album/6lhUbkRZQbk93E8rqane5J https://music.apple.com/us/album/new-outlook/1841929457 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FSCP685Q   “In the Groove: Live at the Alluvion” (OA2) trumpet, 10/17/2025 Anthony Stanco https://open.spotify.com/album/1eTkEAn2waOoKYJTjGkRyi https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-the-groove-live-at-the-alluvion/1841931160 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FSCSVSY6   Episode 235: “Impressions & Connections” 11/17/2025 “Lasting Impression” (Savant/High Note) Brandon Sanders https://open.spotify.com/album/1avyPXf8rP4eqgbfGHnnQN https://music.apple.com/us/album/lasting-impression/1840695827 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FRNM61SQ   Episode 240: “Double Trouble” 12/22/2025 “It’s On!” (Nervy Nigel Records) Nigel Price https://open.spotify.com/album/0y2Rph1r8YLaqktG90Xxeh https://music.apple.com/gb/album/its-on/1850003081 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FY3P1HB4   Honorable Mention   Episode 228: “Synergy, Vocals, and Vibes” 9/22/2025 “Synergy” (SteepleChase) Paul Bollenback, Boris Kozlov https://open.spotify.com/album/59j2rbwlkeEgvAwKTVZz9o https://music.apple.com/us/album/synergy/1843953911 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FL5GF4F1   Russ’ Jazz Picks   Episode 198: “Serene Screen Time” 1/27/2025 “The Snake Charmer” (Origin) Brad Goode Polytonal Big Band https://open.spotify.com/album/3FGXtQeRDC6i5LQMDTnyDl https://music.apple.com/us/album/polytonal-big-band-the-snake-charmer/1781618413 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DNZ5HRRD   Episode 202: “The Spaces Between” 2/24/2025 “Table for Three” (SteepleChase) Alex Norris https://open.spotify.com/album/2l4TGcCJaluGa98MqC8Ht7 https://music.apple.com/us/album/table-for-three/1806266526 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DVBDCBXQ   Episode 206: “Timbre Tantrum” 3/31/2025 “LightSide” (A.MA Records) Matteo Pastorino https://open.spotify.com/album/4z1xt1yALoiVkVk4t5vgVi https://music.apple.com/us/album/lightside-feat-dario-deidda-armando-luongo-domenico-sanna/1798791324 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DYN9FLW8   Episode 214: “Building Characters & Light Bassoonery” 5/26/2025 “Building Characters” (Cellar Music) Charles Chen https://open.spotify.com/album/5u6CjR2OTU7MjQUU5OOJCZ https://music.apple.com/us/album/building-characters/1795037951 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DWG54DLB   Episode 220: “Trans-phonic” 7/21/2025 “Transverse” (Calligram Records) Chad McCullough, Gordan Spasovski, Kiril Tufekčievski, Viktor Filipovski https://open.spotify.com/album/4GsqtJEMpqYfEDF14dxPzu https://music.apple.com/us/album/transverse/1819687910 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FCM5H3K5   Episode 222: “Mountain Viewfinder” 8/4/2025 “Viewfinder” (Attica Records) Hugh Pascall https://open.spotify.com/album/7IBrlJsdgj0sY579JDebqT https://music.apple.com/us/album/viewfinder/1825686850 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FH2XKXG5   Episode 224: “Moon Tunes” 8/18/2025 “Many Moons” (Third Coast Sound) Markus Rutz https://open.spotify.com/album/4MK0b4KgkFSclrpIqbrF3b https://music.apple.com/us/album/many-moons/1810126274 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F61HBSNF   Episode 225: “Chromatic Dreams” 8/25/2025 “Still We Dream” (Posi-Tone) Josh Lawrence https://open.spotify.com/album/3Rybpa0B2Xs4hrB8JBG4yP https://music.apple.com/us/album/still-we-dream/1821713242 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FGZMSQDS   Episode 232: “A French Connection” 10/20/2025 “The Dark Forest” (Steeplechase) Chris Byars https://open.spotify.com/album/4kFItljxvnU4JdIln0Wdp4 https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-dark-forest/1844056557 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FSG9R8C1   Episode 234: “Found Objects & Fresh Air” 11/10/2025 “A Breath of Fresh Air” (Taylor Christian Records) Sean Mason https://open.spotify.com/album/6mS8l8ZNHCu2CWerK3iBt7 https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-breath-of-fresh-air/1836167990 https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FP2V4FH2