Jazz Highlights for Record Store Day 2025

For most Americans, April brings to mind tax deadlines and spring cleaning. But for vinyl collectors, April means something far more exciting: Record Store Day. Each year, music lovers line up early for a chance to snag limited-edition releases—many of them archival treasures, rarities, or long-lost recordings brought back to life. While the overall selection spans multiple genres, 2025's offerings deliver an especially rich batch for jazz fans. Here are some of the most notable jazz releases for Record Store Day 2025:

Chet Baker
Almost Blue +2
Slow Down Sounds
Quantity: 750

When filmmaker Bruce Weber released Let's Get Lost, his documentary about Chet Baker, he had plenty of leftover music that didn't make the final cut. This 12" 45 rpm EP features selections from that material, sealed in Weber's archives for over three decades. Officially licensed in partnership with Weber's Little Bear Inc., the release includes a haunting live version of Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue," recorded during the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, along with two more tracks from that year: "C'est Si Bon" (Paris studio) and "Make Me Rainbows" (Los Angeles session). Serving as a teaser for a full-length 2xLP due in May, this beautifully pressed audiophile release hints at a deeper project decades in the making—one that captures Baker's unmistakable late-period lyricism. Weber is also preparing a new video for the single's release.

Count Basie
Best of the Roulette Years
Rhino
Quantity: 1,000

Count Basie stands as one of the foremost figures in jazz, and his recordings for Roulette, such as The Atomic Mr. Basie (Roulette 1958) and Basie Plays Hefti (Roulette 1958), are among his finest. Pressed on dark green vinyl, this new collection revisits Count Basie's essential recordings from his Roulette Records era. Highlights include "Splanky," "Flight of the Foo Birds," and the perennial "One O'Clock Jump."

Nathan Davis
Happy Girl
MPS
Quantity: 1,800

MPS Records began production during the 1960s and quickly became one of the most memorable jazz labels. Nathan Davis's Happy Girl is one of the earliest gems in the MPS catalog. Recorded in 1965 during Davis's time in Europe, it features Woody Shaw (trumpet), Larry Young (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), and Billy Brooks (drums). Unavailable on vinyl for decades, this reissue comes on 180g black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with a booklet. This release should be a welcome addition for collectors and fans of adventurous post-bop.

Kenny Dorham
Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from Blue Morocco
Quantity: 2,500

When it comes to jazz trumpeters, Kenny Dorham sometimes gets overshadowed by some of his contemporaries like Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan. But make no mistake, Dorham is a force to be reckoned with. A stunning archival find, this previously unreleased 1967 live set captures Kenny Dorham at the Blue Morocco jazz club in the Bronx, with a stellar lineup including Sonny Red, Cedar Walton, Paul Chambers, and Denis Charles. Restored from the original tape reels, the 2-LP set includes a booklet with essays by jazz scholar Bob Blumenthal and interviews with musicians inspired by Dorham.

Bill Evans
Further Ahead: Live in Finland (1964—1969)
Quantity: 4,700

Certain artists seem to be Record Store Day favorites, and Bill Evans has to be the record holder for jazz. Practically every recent RSD drop has featured an archival release, and they are almost all exceptional. Further Ahead presents yet another major archival release from the Bill Evans Estate, featuring never-before-released recordings of the legendary pianist performing live in Finland during the mid-to-late '60s. The 2-LP gatefold includes rare photos, liner notes by Evans scholar Marc Myers, and interviews with longtime trio members Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell. Mastered for vinyl by Matthew Lutthans and pressed on 180g vinyl, it's an essential new window into Evans's Nordic years.

Astrud Gilberto
That Girl from Ipanema Prestige Elite
Quantity: 1,000

Originally released in 1977, this disco-era album finds bossa nova icon Astrud Gilberto exploring new sonic territory. Though not one of her best-known recordings, the album includes a surprisingly effective disco rendition of "The Girl from Ipanema" and several original compositions. A fascinating time capsule from a global star reshaping her sound in the late '70s.

Vince Guaraldi
Selections from "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Quantity: 4,300

A novelty-leaning release with charm to spare, this 10-inch Easter egg-shaped vinyl features eight tracks from Vince Guaraldi's 1974 Easter Beagle soundtrack. The music itself—steeped in Guaraldi's funky electric piano period—is strong, and the colorful pressing adds seasonal flair. Comes in one of five springtime colors (randomly packed).

Vince Guaraldi Trio
Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Alternate Takes)
Craft Recordings
Quantity: 3,000

Pressed on sky blue vinyl, this collection offers alternate takes from the original Jazz Impressions sessions, including beloved tunes like "Linus and Lucy" and "Baseball Theme." A treat for collectors and Peanuts fans alike.

Freddie Hubbard
On Fire: Live From The Blue Morocco
Resonance
Quantity: 1500

Captured live in 1967 at the Blue Morocco jazz club in the Bronx, this previously unreleased recording finds Freddie Hubbard at the height of his powers. The session features a powerhouse lineup including Bennie Maupin (sax), Kenny Barron (piano), Herbie Lewis (bass), and Freddie Waits (drums). Transferred from the original tape reels recorded by engineer Bernard Drayton, the 3-LP set was mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab and pressed on 180g vinyl at Le Vinylist. The package includes a booklet with liner notes by journalist Shannon J. Effinger, as well as interviews with musicians influenced by Hubbard—Eddie Henderson, Jeremy Pelt, Reggie Workman, and others. Released exclusively for Record Store Day 2025, this is a must-have for trumpet fans and collectors alike.

Laufey
A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl
AWAL
Quantity: 15,000

Rising star Laufey joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic for this lushly orchestrated performance, captured live at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. This 2-LP set features fan favorites reimagined with full symphonic backing and includes a limited-edition poster. An accessible entry point for crossover listeners exploring jazz-inflected pop.

Charles Mingus
In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts
Resonance
Quantity: 3,000

Resonance Records has established itself as one of the finest jazz labels in recent years. A three-LP box set of never-before-released Mingus performances from 1977 in Buenos Aires, featuring tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, trumpeter Jack Walrath, pianist Robert Neloms, and drummer Dannie Richmond. These concerts feature standout performances all around. As Walrath recalls. "I think it was arguably the best band of the time. In Argentina, they went crazy. They loved it. We reached all different kinds of people, and it was great." Lavishly packaged with liner notes, archival photos, and interviews, this Resonance release is a treasure for deep Mingus fans.

Charles Mingus
Mingus at Monterey
Candid
Quantity: 2,000

Out of print for over 40 years, this fiery 1964 Monterey Jazz Festival performance returns in a remastered 2-LP edition. Originally released via Mingus's short-lived mail-order label, it's now restored in full glory with original artwork and new mastering. A definitive live document of Mingus's prime.

Thelonious Monk
Live at the It Club
Legacy Recordings
Quantity: 3,500



This classic live set, recorded at the It Club in Los Angeles, captures Monk in peak form. Featuring signature tracks like "Straight, No Chaser" and "'Round Midnight," the release has been remastered from the original analog tapes in 24-bit hi-res audio. A must-have for Monk devotees.

Wes Montgomery
Smokin' in Seattle
Resonance
Quantity: 1,500

Originally released for RSD 2017, this live set returns with new cover art and expanded inserts. Recorded at Seattle's Penthouse in 1966, the session features Montgomery alongside the Wynton Kelly Trio, with Ron McClure on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Includes rare photos and liner notes from Pat Metheny, Paul de Barros, Zev Feldman, and more. Pressed on 180g vinyl—back by popular demand.

Gerry Mulligan / Thelonious Monk
Mulligan Meets Monk (Mono Edition)
Craft Recordings
Quantity: 3,000

A rare mono edition of the 1957 Riverside classic, this version features all-analog mastering (AAA) by Kevin Gray and pressing at RTI. Housed in a tip-on jacket, the album highlights a unique and fascinating collaboration between two of jazz's most distinct voices.

David "Fathead" Newman, Ellis Marsalis, and Cornell Dupree
Return to the Wide Open Spaces
Steady Boy Records
Quantity: 950

This 1990 live recording—made at Fort Worth's Caravan of Dreams—blends jazz and R&B with a distinctly Texan flavor. Featuring a stellar lineup including James Clay, Leroy Cooper, Chuck Rainey, and George Rains, this is its first-ever vinyl release. The original CD won N.A.I.R.D.'s Traditional Jazz Album of the Year in 1991.

Pharoah Sanders
Izipho Zam (My Gifts)
Strata-East / Mack Avenue
Quantity: 1,500

A spiritual jazz landmark, Izipho Zam was recorded in 1969 and released in 1973, featuring a 13-piece ensemble including Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Leon Thomas. This reissue marks the first time the album will be available on CD, digital, and 180g vinyl—mastered from the original tapes and housed in a deluxe gatefold with liner notes by Harmony Holiday and rare photographs.

Gil Scott-Heron
Moving Target
LMLR
Quantity: 3,000

Gil Scott-Heron's music features plenty of funky jazz grooves along with powerful messages. His music and poetry have become highly influential. However, as Adam Sweeting noted in a 2004 article, "unlike some of those he influenced, Scott-Heron had enough intellectual and musical flexibility to ensure that his medium wasn't crushed under the ponderous weight of his message." Moving Target is an important entry in Scott-Heron's discography that reflects his evolving sound in the early '80s. Reissued for RSD 2025 with updated packaging and remastered audio.

Archie Shepp and the Full Moon Ensemble
The Complete Live in Antibes
LMR
Quantity: 3,000

Saxophonist Archie Shepp is one of the major figures in avant-garde jazz. Originally released in 1971 on the BYG Actuel label. The Complete Live in Antibes has been unavailable on vinyl for years. This double album deluxe reissue restores the original artwork and features rare archival photos and newly written essays. Pressed on orange and brown colored vinyl, it captures Shepp's raw energy and avant-garde spirit at the 1970 Antibes Jazz Festival.

Sun Ra
Stray Voltage
Modern Harmonic
Quantity: 1,000

This collection of unissued synth explorations from the 1970s and '80s features Sun Ra in full cosmic-electronic mode. Pressed on frosted orange vinyl, Stray Voltage isn't for the faint of heart—it's fierce, freeform, and as one might expect from Sun Ra, totally unpredictable.

Sun Ra
Nuits de la Fondation Maeght
Strut
Quantity: 800

A massive 6-LP box set reissue of Sun Ra and the Arkestra's legendary 1970 performances in France. This expanded edition includes both original volumes plus a reprint of the festival program, an oversized booklet with essays and photos, and beautifully restored audio. A landmark release for fans of Sun Ra's interstellar live work.

Also of Interest

Ry Cooder
Live at the Main Point 1972
Rhino
Quantity: 3,000

Ry Cooder is one of the most innovative guitarists in modern American music, and this release features Cooder when he was truly coming into his own as an artist. The previously-unreleased set was recorded live at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1972. Featuring intimate renditions of early folk and blues material, it offers a rare glimpse of Cooder's raw, unadorned style. Pressed on black vinyl and sourced from Warner's vaults, this is its first official release in full.

K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas
Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu
Soundway Records
Quantity: 1,000

Ghianan highlife music features a unique blend of African, African American, and European music that blends traditional African rhythms with jazz, rock, and reggae influences, creating funky, danceable grooves all around. This 1976 recording, which has become one of the most revered albums in Ghanaian highlife history, features the iconic track "Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu." Blending traditional percussion and horns with synth textures, the album showcases K. Frimpong's trailblazing Afro-jazz-rock fusion. Long out of print, this RSD pressing comes on blue vinyl in a heavyweight sleeve.

Harvey Mandel
The Snake
Culture Factory USA
Quantity: 2,000

Before guitar giants Joe Satriani or Steve Vai appeared on the scene, there was Harvey Mandel. Known for pioneering two-handed tapping and wah-driven tones, Mandel's 1972 album The Snake is a cult favorite. This long-out-of-print LP returns on translucent turquoise vinyl, housed in a gatefold jacket with an OBI strip and printed inner sleeve.

The Meters
Live at the Great American Music Hall Sing Inc. | Quantity: 3,500

Finally, The Meters, one of the most influential bands to emerge in the late sixties and early seventies, get the live album they've long deserved. Captured in 1975 during the classic lineup's prime, this set features extended jams from Rejuvenation and Fire on the Bayou. Restored from the original tapes and sequenced in full for the first time, this Mardi Gras-colored vinyl release includes liner notes and rare photos—a funk lover's dream.

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2025 Record Store Day Run-Out Groove

Whether you're a longtime jazz collector or a curious newcomer, Record Store Day 2025 has something to offer—from unearthed live sets to colorful reissues and cross-genre surprises. These releases not only honor the legacy of jazz but spotlight its ongoing evolution. As always, quantities are limited and lines start early, so circle the date, make your list, and support your local record store while the wax is hot.

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