Album: Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden, Jasmine (ECM)

This is Jarrett's first studio album for 12 years, and his first date with bassist Haden for 34.

It's an intimate, home-studio recording of love songs – deep, almost painfully heartfelt – and so good it will be sure to top most best-of lists. There's no tricksiness, just the woody thump of Haden's bass adding authority to Jarrett's tender, faithful chording. "For All We Know" is a Desert Island Discs cert; "Body & Soul" is done almost jauntily; the closing "Don't Ever Leave Me" a bitter sweet miracle. If you buy only one album this year, etc.