With luck, all our British jazz musicians are enjoying mince pies and warming drinks in the bosoms of their families, rather than being up there on the bandstand this week, so it’s time to look back on the year and what they have done in the recording studio.

Here is my top 10:

10. Ma The Last: This quartet is saxophonist Tom Challenger, drummer Dave Smith, organist Ross Stanley and electronic manipulator Matt Calvert. For the range and richness of the textures, atmospheres and grooves, the most interesting band working in the industrial rock-jazz field.

9. Neil Yates Five Countries: Trumpeter Neil Yates has straddled the jazz and folk genres for a while now. Here he works with Romanian acoustic guitarist Zsolt Bende and Irish bodhran player Cormac Byrne, and the results are truly lovely, taking inspiration from the music and landscape of Scotland, Ireland, Romania and more.

8. Phil Robson The Immeasurable Code: The guitarist continues to show what a strong composer and conceptualist he is in addition to wielding the mighty axe.

7. Kairos 4tet Statement of Intent: As enjoyable a ride as the band’s first disc, Kairos Moment. The band feels even tighter, probably as a result of quite a bit of touring, and the character of saxophonist Adam Waldmann’s music is even more defined. His compositions are strong with not necessarily just one good tune apiece.

6. Empirical Elements Of Truth: Another strong outing from the quartet that last time around were reflecting upon Eric Dolphy. Here they are reflecting on their own place in British society and in the international music world. The whole affair is infused with great energy.