Aaaaand that’s a wrap! The voting ballot is closed, your voices have been heard and recorded. Below you can find all of the Winners for our Album of the Year Awards 2024.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote during this process. We take great pleasure in looking back over the year of fantastic DSD music that we are able to promote, and we are happy that you do as well.

A very big Thank You to NativeDSD Senior Reviewer Bill Dodd and Technical Advisor Brian Moura for their contributions to the AOTY Awards process, and for their efforts in general. NativeDSD would not be what it is without them.

We once again applaud all of the Nominees for AOTY 2024. Just being nominated is a token of excellence in DSD Audio Quality, and with so many great albums this year it was hard to even choose the Nominees!

Album of the Year 2024 Winners

35% Off through January 05, 2025

WINNER
Solo Guitar /
Audience Choice Award

This album also receives our Audience Choice Award for receiving the most votes overall, with an impressive 174 votes! Congratulations to Gergely Szurgyi, Robert Zoltan Hunka and the rest of the Hunnia Records team.

Gergely Szurgyi
Hunnia Records – HRES2417

Gergely Szurgyi introduces us to Scordatura, a technique where “new horizons in guitar playing” can be achieved by changing the usual tuning of the guitar. It can trade off volume for more depth and warmth. I was not familiar with this approach to the guitar. Szurgyi’s guitar and his playing result in a wonderful album of Pure DSD 256 Stereo music. This album will make you a fan of the Scordatura!

WINNER
Vocals (Jazz)

Holly Cole
2xHD – 2XDAR1015

Jazz Singer Holly Cole reunites with the Jazz duo of Davis & Piltch plus drummer Davide DiRenzo on the album Night. Cole’s cool Jazz vocals are on full display here. She offers new musical insights on familiar, and in some cases unexpected selections, including Viva Las Vegas, You Only Live Twice, Goodtime Charlie’s Got The Blues and You’ve Got A Secret. The album provides an enjoyable evening of cool jazz at its finest.

WINNER
Vocals (Folk)

Corrie Lynn Green & Her Band with Hazelrigg Brothers
Outer Marker Records – OM08100h

Time To Be Brave was one of our weekly # 1 Best Sellers this year at NativeDSD. It features singer and songwriter Corrie Lynn Green, Her Band, and the Hazelrigg Brothers. All of the songs on the album were written and sung by Corrie Lynn Green. They are delivered in a heartfelt and passionate way that looks at life in Appalachia. The mix of Folk, Americana and Appalachian genres is very moving, and the musicianship is top notch. Resulting in an album that is a memorable listening experience.

WINNER
Vocals (Classical Soloist)

Magdalena Kozená, Czech Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle
PENTATONE – PTC5187077

This lovely, haunting album of Czech orchestral songs is a real winner. It’s a followup to last year’s Folk Songs, winner of Album of the Year in the vocal category. This new one from Magdalena Kozena, backed by the Czech Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle is even more attractive to me because many of these art songs are from Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959), a composer whose works I have fallen in love with over the last few years. The peacefulness and beauty that flows from this album is amazing!

WINNER
Orchestral

Manfred Honeck, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Reference Recordings – FR757

Over the decades I have heard conductors try to impart the greatness of Bruckner’s music, and here’s one is completely successful. Honeck knows Bruckner inside and out. He writes, “Just as a human being consists of spirit, soul and body, I see Bruckner’s symphonic music in a similar light: Spirit — The art of designing compositional relationships, Soul — The grasping of a boundless depth of spirituality, and Body — The love of Austrian folk and dance music”

WINNER
Holiday Music

Diana Panton
2xHD – 2XHDDP1130

Christmas Kiss is a new addition to the NativeDSD collection of Christmas Music albums. Diana Panton and her Jazz Trio bring listeners an interesting set of 15 tracks that feature not only holiday favorites but also some lesser known tunes and some original songs. Panton’s warm and gentle vocals compliment the songs wonderfully. Just the thing to put you in the Christmas spirit.

WINNER
Film Music

José María Moreno Valiente, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga
IBS Classical – IBS82024

The Year 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of famed composer Henry Mancini. To celebrate this musical milestone, IBS Classical brought us the album Henry Mancini Centennial featuring the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga conducted by José María Moreno Valiente. The album is a celebration of Mancini’s many contributions to Film and TV music during his career. Theme From The Pink Panther, Peter Gunn, Moon River, Charade, The Days of Wine and Roses, Two For The Road, Dear Heart, Baby Elephant Walk and many more bring back fond memories of the music and the movies and TV shows that featured them.

WINNER
Concertos / Orchestral with Soloist

Ning Feng, Bochum Symphony Orchestra, Tung-Chieh Chuang
Channel Classics – 45924

The amazing Ning Feng has a number of superb Albums available on Channel Classics, and this one is no exception.  Tung-Chieh Chuang and the Bochum Symphony Orchestra (Germany) provide excellent backing as Ning Feng dazzles with these two Soviet era concertos.  This is superb musicianship!

WINNER
Opera

Marnie Breckenridge, Matt Haimovitz
PENTATONE – PTC51873411_bundle

This is an opera– but hardly traditional.  Marnie Breckenridge is the sole singer, and she is accompanied only by the other character, her cello!  The cello is personified by cellist Matt Haimovitz who is physically present as a non- vocal character, but also plays the cello.  If that seems confusing, check the album cover.  Jacqueline is Jacqueline du Pre, whose rise to fame was meteoric, but very brief due to multiple sclerosis.  Marnie Breckenridge handles a difficult role very well.  Haimovitz, a du Pre protege, is also fine. Listen to the available samples to get a sense of composer Luna Pearl Woolf’s and librettist Royce Vavrek’s work. It’s hardly traditional, but it is remarkable.

WINNER
Classical Crossover

Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen
OUR Recordings – 8226920

Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen provides us with a fascinating look at how a number of famed rock classics are influenced by the music of Bach. He does this by performing classics like Light My Fure, People Are Strange, Stairway To Heaven and A Whiter Shade of Pale, among others, alongside several Bach compositions on the Organ. By the end of the album’s 74 minutes of music Mikkelsen proves his thesis. And it’s a wonderful journey of musical discovery along the way.

WINNER
Compilation Album

Bill Evans, Monty Alexander, Bob James, Hank Jones, Les McCann, Teddy Wilson, Dick Hyman and more.
2xHD – 2XHDFT1265

This year 2xHD Mastering brought us another excellent sampler of Jazz from the Resonance Records, Storyville Records and Jazzology Records catalogs with Piano Piano Piano. The album features 18 tracks and over 90 minutes of music from Jazz Stars including Bill Evans, Monty Alexander, Bob James, Hank Jones, Les McCann, Teddy Wilson and Dick Hyman. If you like Jazz, this is a must have addition to your music collection.

WINNER
Meditation & Relaxation

Karttikeya
Outer Marker Records – OM10100H

This album by musician, producer, engineer and educator Karttikeya presents a joyous glimpse into the enthralling world of hand pans. In equal parts resonant and rhythmic, these 15 tracks showcase Karttikeya’s deep connection with these incredible handcrafted instruments and deliver a truly hypnotic listening experience.

WINNER
Jazz Trio

Rob van Bavel, Frans van Geest, Marcel Serierse
Sound Liaison – SL1069A

The Studio Sessions is the second in a three album trilogy from Jazz pianist Rob van Bavel. The trilogy focuses on ballads favored by the pianist and some of his musical collaborators. On this album bassist Frans van Geest and drummer Marcel Serierse are featured. The trio brings new insights to favorites including Slow Boat to China, Misty, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square and Cinema Paradiso. This is fine Jazz pianist artistry and well worth a listen.

WINNER
Jazz Ensemble

Jasper Staps, Rembrandt Frerichs Quartet
Just Listen Records – JL030

The First At Last was a frequent visitor to the weekly Top 10 Best Sellers List during 2024. And its no mystery as to why. Featuring two European Jazz stars – sax player Jasper Staps and pianist and composer Rembrandt Frerichs and two up and coming Jazz musicians, the album offers smooth and cool Jazz music. One NativeDSD Listener called it “The Perfect Jazz album.”  I’d say it’s an album not to be missed. 

WINNER
Jazz Fusion

Balázs Rodek
Hunnia Records – HRES2410

Trees From Underneath was inspired by articles on science, nature, stars, and physics according to quartet leader Balázs Rodek. The album features 6 original songs that feature a unique “dreamy” sound created by the improvised nature of the ensemble’s interactions and playing. An interesting addition to the NativeDSD Jazz catalog.

WINNER
Solo Instrumental

Henrik Dam Thomsen 
OUR Recordings – 8226922

*DANISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR -POLITIKEN
*EDITOR’S CHOICE – GRAMOPHONE

The Six Suites for Cello— Amazing music! We’ve had some very good original cello performances arrive over this past year, but this one by Henrik Dam Thomsen instantly became my favorite modern recording– perhaps even beating the older ones by Casals or Starker. I can give no higher praise. In a very crowded field, this wonderful performance becomes the one to beat.

WINNER
Chamber Music

Rikke Sandberg & Kristoffer Hyldig
OUR Recordings – 8226923

Over the last few years I have become a fan of Nielsen’s symphonies, but I was not prepared for the power of this 4 hand / two piano arrangement of the Third. These two very talented pianists have gone way beyond a simple rearrangement– this is a whole new piece of music that stands proudly on its own. Equally fine are the Saul and David excerpts. Although these were written for “4 hands” I think there is a huge benefit from having two separate pianos. Highly recommended!

WINNER
Tribute Album

The Ghost, The King and I (Frans van Geest, Vincent Koning, Rob van Bavel)
Sound Liaison – SL1064A

The Ghost, The King and I is a Jazz trio featuring bassist Frans van Geest, guitarist Vincent Koning and pianist Rob van Bavel. Here they play eight songs composed by George Gershwin. Recorded live with an audience using a main microphone and three microphones to support or “spot” the trio members. The trio’s approach to the Gershwin tunes is both familiar and yet improvised. Listeners will recognize the melodies yet enjoy the Jazz improvisations. 

WINNER
Latin Jazz

Bebo Valdes, Juan Pablo Torres & Paquito D’ Rivera
Anderson Audio NY – AANYC542024

Suite Cubana, Vol. 1 (Immersive Edition) brings a historic Jazz album to the world of high resolution audio and 5.1 Channel Surround Sound. It features band leader Bebo Valdes and a band of Latin Jazz all-stars in a rich and lively recording. Available in Stereo and 5.1 Channel Surround Sound DSD and Dolby Atmos TrueHD, it’s a musical treat guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The Stereo edition of the album is fun, but the 5.1 Channel Surround Sound DSD and Dolby Atmos versions spreads the music around the listening room for an even more musically engaging experience. An album not to be missed.

WINNER
Vocals (Pop & Soul)

Diana Panton
2xHD – 2XHDDP1125

Canadian singer Diana Panton highlights the music of Brazil including Samba and Bossa Nova on the album To Brazil With Love. But she doesn’t stop there. The album also features Pop, French Chansons and Jazz songs sung in English and French. Nominated for an Independent Music Award, it highlights Panton’s vocals and some wonderful music.

Thank You for Voting!

Every Winning Album (and all albums from 2024) are now on special!
35% Off through January 05, 2025

*Discount is applied automatically at checkout.
*Offer expires January 05, 2025 end of day Pacific Standard Time

The NativeDSD Team would like to thank Bill Dodd and Brian Moura for having spent an eternity listening to all of the albums released in 2023, and for selecting the albums they believe you should not miss.