| 13th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2018 |
2018 Totals: New Albums
- Wayne Shorter Quartet, Emanon (Blue Note) 259 (34)
- Henry Threadgill 14 or 15 Kestra: Agg, Dirt . . . and More Dirt (Pi) 233 (36)
- Andrew Cyrille, Lebroba (ECM) 193 (37)
- Makaya McCraven, Universal Beings (International Anthem) 190 (29)
- Ambrose Akinmusire, Origami Harvest (Blue Note) 177.5 (25)
- Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 (Pi) 174.5 (25)
- Myra Melford's Snowy Egret, The Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12) 166.5 (31)
- Mary Halvorson, Code Girl (Firehouse 12) 164.5 (29)
- Cécile McLorin Salvant, The Window (Mack Avenue) 135 (21)
- Thumbscrew, Ours/Theirs (Cuneiform) 123.5 (23)
- Kamasi Washington, Heaven and Earth (Young Turks) 117 (16)
- Miles Okazaki, Work: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Monk, Vols. 1-6 (self-released) 112.5 (18)
- Tyshawn Sorey, Pillars (Firehouse 12) 97 (14)
- Joshua Redman, Still Dreaming (Nonesuch) 94 (17)
- Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, D'Agala (Intakt) 90.5 (17)
- Dave Holland, Uncharted Territories (Dare2) 88 (18)
- Henry Threadgill, Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus (Pi) 86.5 (12)
- Charles Lloyd & the Marvels + Lucinda Williams, Vanished Gardens (Blue Note) 86.5 (12)
- Frank Kimbrough, Monk's Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk (Sunnyside) 84 (12)
- JD Allen, Love Stone (Savant) 70.5 (13)
- Kenny Barron Quintet, Concentric Circles (Blue Note) 68.5 (13)
- Brad Mehldau, Seymour Reads the Constitution! (Nonesuch) 68 (12)
- Dan Weiss, Starebaby (Pi) 67 (13)
- Bill Frisell, Music IS (Okeh) 65 (11)
- Daniel Carter-William Parker-Matthew Shipp, Seraphic Light (AUM Fidelity) 60 (12)
- Jon Irabagon Quartet, Dr. Quixotic's Traveling Exotics (Irabbagast) 57 (10)
- Don Byron & Aruán Ortiz, Random Dances and (A)tonalities (Intakt) 54 (10)
- Stefon Harris & Blackout, Sonic Creed (Motéma) 50.5 (8)
- Adam O'Farrill's Stranger Days, El Maquech (Biophilia) 48 (8)
- The Nels Cline 4, Currents Constellations (Blue Note) 46.5 (9)
- Fred Hersch Trio, Live in Europe (Palmetto) 43 (8)
- Nicole Mitchell, Maroon Cloud (FPE) 42 (9)
- Harriet Tubman, The Terror End of Beauty (Sunnyside) 42 (6)
- David Virelles, Igbó Alákorin (The Singer's Grove), Vol. I & II (Pi) 38 (8)
- Angelika Niescier Trio, The Berlin Concert (Intakt) 37 (6)
- Steve Swell, Music for Six Musicians: Hommage À Olivier Messiaen (Silkheart -17) 37 (5)
- Mark Turner & Ethan Iverson, Temporary Kings (ECM) 34 (8)
- Christian McBride, Christian McBride's New Jawn (Mack Avenue) 33.5 (7)
- Edward Simon, Sorrows & Triumphs (Sunnyside) 33 (6)
- Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Presence (Smoke Sessions) 32.5 (7)
- Julian Lage, Modern Lore (Mack Avenue) 32 (7)
- Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints, Scandal (Greenleaf Music) 31 (7)
- James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor, Radiant Imprints (OFF) 31 (7)
- Aaron Parks, Little Big (Ropeadope) 31 (6)
- Noah Preminger & Frank Carlberg, Whispers and Cries (Red Piano) 31 (5)
- William Parker, Voices Fall From the Sky (AUM Fidelity) 30 (4)
- Bobby Previte, Rhapsody (RareNoise) 29 (6)
- Ben LaMar Gay, Downtown Castles Can Never Block the Sun (International Anthem) 29 (5)
- Jonathan Finlayson, 3 Times Round (Pi) 28 (6)
- Bobo Stenson Trio, Contra La Indecisión (ECM) 28 (5)
- Ben Wendel, The Seasons (Motéma) 27 (6)
- Bobby Sanabria, West Side Story Reimagined (Jazzheads) 27 (5)
- Eddie Palmieri, Full Circle (Ropeadope) 25.5 (3)
- Mary Halvorson & Bill Frisell, The Maid With the Flaxen Hair (Tzadik) 25 (7)
- Noah Preminger, Genuinity (Criss Cross) 25 (4)
- Jason Kao Hwang Burning Bridge, Blood (True Sound) 24 (3)
- Barre Phillips, End to End (ECM) 23.5 (4)
- Roxy Coss, The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone) 23 (4)
- Allison Miller & Carmen Staaf, Science Fair (Sunnyside) 22 (5)
- The Bad Plus, Never Stop II (Legbreaker) 22 (4)
- Kurt Elling, The Questions (Okeh) 22 (4)
- John Scofield, Combo 66 (Verve) 22 (3)
- Matthew Shipp Quartet, Sonic Fiction (ESP-Disk) 21 (4)
- Kris Davis & Craig Taborn, Octopus (Pyroclastic) 21 (4)
- Dave Liebman & John Stowell, Petite Fleur: The Music of Sidney Bechet (Origin) 21 (3)
- Eddie Daniels, Heart of Brazil (Resonance) 20 (4)
- Rodrigo Amado, A History of Nothing (Trost) 20 (4)
- Wolfgang Muthspiel, Where the River Goes (ECM) 20 (3)
- Luciana Souza, The Book of Longing (Sunnyside) 20 (3)
- Martial Solal, My One and Only Love: Live at Theater Gutersloh (Intuition) 20 (3)
- Todd Marcus, On These Streets (A Baltimore Story) (Stricker Street) 20 (3)
- Monika Herzig, Sheroes (Whaling City Sound) 19.5 (4)
- Jamie Saft Quartet, Blue Dream (RareNoise) 19.5 (4)
- Lynne Arriale Trio, Give Us These Days (Challenge) 19 (3)
- Esperanza Spalding, 12 Little Spells (Concord) 19 (3)
- François Moutin & Kavita Shah Duo, Interplay (Dot Time) 19 (3)
- Arild Andersen, In-House Science (ECM) 18.5 (3)
- Ben Allison, Quiet Revolution (Sonic Camera) 18 (2)
- Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity, Live in Europe (Clean Feed -17) 17.5 (3) *
- Matthew Shipp, Zero (ESP-Disk) 17 (5)
- Now Vs Now, The Buffering Cocoon (Jazzland) 17 (3)
- Susana Santos Silva, All the Rivers: Live at Panteão Nacional (Clean Feed) 16 (3)
- Nik Bärtsch's Ronin, Awase (ECM) 16 (3)
- Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda, Mizu (Long Song) 16 (3)
- Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Barefoot Dances and Other Visions (Planet Arts) 16 (2)
- Eddie Henderson, Be Cool (Smoke Sessions) 15.5 (5)
- Marc Ribot, Songs of Resistance 1942-2018 (Epitaph) 15 (3)
- Jason Moran and the Bandwagon, Looks of a Lot (Yes) 15 (3)
- Rich Halley 3, The Literature (Pine Eagle) 15 (2)
- Steve Tibbetts, Life Of (ECM) 14.5 (3)
- Roscoe Mitchell & Montreal-Toronto Art Orchestra, Ride the Wind (Nessa) 14.5 (2)
- Lionel Loueke, The Journey (Aparte) 14 (2)
- Cory Smythe, Circulate Susanna (Pyroclastic) 14 (2)
- Harold Mabern, The Iron Man: Live at Smoke (Smoke Sessions) 14 (2)
- Renee Rosnes, Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions) 14 (2)
- Peter Kuhn Trio, Intention (FMR) 14 (2)
- Hearts & Minds, Electroradiance (Astral Spriits) 14 (2)
- Jacob Sacks, Fishes (Clean Feed) 13.5 (4)
- McClenty Hunter Jr., The Groove Hunter (Strikezone) 13.5 (3)
- Benjamin Boone & Philip Levine, The Poetry of Jazz (Origin) 13 (3)
- Samuel Blaser, Early in the Mornin' (Out Note) 13 (3)
- Michael Formanek Elusion Quartet, Time Like This (Intakt) 13 (3)
- Walking Distance, Freebird by Walking Distance feat. Jason Moran (Sunnyside) 13 (3)
- Salim Washington, Dogon Revisited (Passin' Thru) 13 (2)
- Felipe Salles and Interconnections Ensemble, The Lullalby Project and Other Works for Large Ensemble (Tapestry) 13 (2)
- Dr. Michael White, Tricentennial Rag (Basin Street) 13 (2)
- Jamie Saft, Solo a Genova (RareNoise) 13 (2)
- Kevin Sun, Trio (Ectomorph Music) 12.5 (3)
- Marc Sinan & Oguz Büyükberber, White (ECM) 12.5 (2)
- Aaron Goldberg, At the Edge of the World (Sunnyside) 12 (3)
- Cuong Vu 4Tet, Change in the Air (RareNoise) 12 (3)
- John Surman, Invisible Threads (ECM) 12 (2)
- Park Jiha, Communion (Tak:til) 12 (2)
- David Murray Feat. Saul Williams, Blues for Memo (Motéma) 12 (2)
- Shakers n' Bakers, Heart Love (Little i Music) 11 (3)
- Denny Zeitlin, Wishing on the Moon (Sunnyside) 11 (3)
- Quin Kirchner, The Other Side of Time (Astral Spirits) 11 (2)
- The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band, Chinese Butterfly (Stretch/Concord) 11 (2)
- Chris Pasin, Ornettiquette (Planet Arts) 11 (2)
- Marty Ehrlich, Trio Exaltation (Clean Feed) 11 (2)
- Roscoe Mitchell & Matthew Shipp, Accelerated Projection: Live at Sant'Anna Arresi (RogueArt) 11 (2)
- Evan Parker-Barry Guy-Paul Lytton, Music for David Mossman: Live at Vortex London (Intakt) 11 (2)
- Theo Hill, Interstellar Adventures (Posi-Tone) 11 (2)
- The Diva Jazz Orchestra, 25th Anniversary Project (ArtistShare -17) 10.5 (3)
- VWCR [Ken Vandermark-Nate Wooley-Sylvie Courvoisier-Tom Rainey], Noise of Our Time (Intakt) 10.5 (3)
- Kate McGarry, The Subject Tonight Is Love (Binxtown) 10 (3)
- Anteloper, Kudu (International Anthem) 10 (3)
- Jeremy Pelt, Noir En Rouge: Live in Paris (HighNote) 10 (2)
- Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp, Oneness (Leo) 10 (2)
- Kaja Draksler-Petter Eldh-Christian Lillinger, Punkt. Vrt. Plastik (Intakt) 10 (2)
- Owen Broder, Heritage: The American Roots Project (ArtistShare) 10 (2)
- Dan Tepfer, Natural Machines (self-released) 10 (2)
- Allan Harris, The Genius of Eddie Jefferson (Resilience Music) 10 (2)
- Tim Berne & Matt Mitchell Duo, Angel Dusk (Screwgun) 10 (2)
- Dave Liebman-Tatsuya Nakatani-Adam Rudolph, The Unknowable (RareNoise) 10 (2)
- Francesco Cafiso, We Play for Tips (EFLAT) 10 (1)
- Jeff Hamilton Trio, Live From San Pedro (Capri) 10 (1)
- Gabriela Friedli Trio, Areas (Leo) 10 (1)
- Amir ElSaffar/Rivers of Sound, Not Two (New Amsterdam -17) 10 (1)
- Myriad 3, Vera (ALMA) 10 (1)
- Anat Cohen Tentet, Happy Song (Anzic -17) 10 (1)
- Assif Tsahar-William Parker-Hamid Drake, In Between the Tumbling a Stillness (Hopscotch) 10 (1)
- El Eco With Guillermo Nojechowicz, Puerto de Buenos Aires 1933 (Zoho -17) 10 (1)
- John Zorn, The Urmuz Epigrams (Tzadik) 10 (1)
- Subtle Degrees, A Dance That Empties (New Amsterdam) 10 (1)
- Mars Williams, Presents an Ayler Xmas (Soul What -17) 10 (1)
- Paul Rogers-Olaf Rupp-Frank Paul Schubert, Three Stories About Rain Sunlilght and the Hidden Soil (Relative Pitch) 10 (1)
- Joakim Milder-Fredrik Ljungkvist-Mathias Landraeus-Filip Augustson-Fredrik Rundkvist, The Music of Anders Garstedt (Moserobie) 10 (1)
- John Zorn, In a Convex Mirror (Tzadik) 10 (1)
- Andy Biskin, 16 Tons: Songs From the Alan Lomax Collection (Andorfin) 10 (1)
- Hanna Paulsberg Concept & Magnus Broo, Daughter of the Sun (Odin) 10 (1)
- Roswell Rudd-Fay Victor-Lafayette Harris-Ken Filiano, Embrace (RareNoise -17) 10 (1)
- Dave Liebman, Fire (Jazzline) 10 (1)
- Fusk, The Jig Is Up (WhyPlayJazz) 10 (1)
- Luke Stewart, Works for Upright Bass and Amplifier (Monofonus Press/Astral Spirits) 10 (1)
- Irreversible Entanglements, Irreversible Entanglements (International Anthem/Don Giovanni -17) 10 (1)
- Alicia Hall Moran, Here Today (Yes -17) 10 (1)
- Lee Konitz & Dan Tepfer, Decade (Impulse!) 9.5 (3)
- Aruán Ortiz Trio, Live in Zürich (Intakt) 9 (3)
- Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Live (ECM) 9 (2)
- Maisha, There Is a Place (Brownswood) 9 (2)
- Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore, After Caroline (Northern Spy) 9 (2)
- No Fast Food, Settings for Three (Corner Store Jazz) 9 (2)
- Houston Person & Ron Carter, Remember Love (HighNote) 9 (2)
- Elliot Galvin, The Influencing Machine (Edition) 9 (2)
- Esbjorn Svensson Trio, E.S.T. Live in London (ACT) 9 (1)
- Spectral [Dave Rempis-Darren Johnston-Larry Ochs], Empty Castles (Aerophonic) 9 (1)
- Emile Parisien Quintet, Sfumato Live in Marciac (ACT) 9 (1)
- Don Menza Quartet, Sonny Daze (Alessa) 9 (1)
- Moses Boyd Exodus, Displaced Diaspora (Exodus) 9 (1)
- Pedro Giraudo & The WDR Big Band, An Argentinian in New York (Zoho) 9 (1)
- Stephanie Richards, Fullmoon (Relative Pitch) 9 (1)
- Guillermo Gregorio-Rafal Mazur-Ramón López, Wandering the Sounds (Fundacja Sluchaj) 9 (1)
- Diane Moser, Birdsongs (Planet Arts) 9 (1)
- Ron English, Dance/Cry/Dance (Detroit Music Factory) 9 (1)
- David Binney, Here & Now (Mythology) 9 (1)
- Duck Baker, Plays Monk (Triple Point) 9 (1)
- Jessica Lurie, Long Haul (Chant -17) 9 (1)
- William Hooker Trio, Remembering (Astral Spirits) 9 (1)
- Michael Musillami & Rich Syracuse, Bird Calls (Playscape -17) 9 (1)
- Sonar With David Torn, Vortex (RareNoise) 9 (1)
- Kris Davis-Matt Mitchell-Aruán Ortiz-Matthew Shipp, New American Songbooks, Volume 2 (Sound American) 9 (1)
- Christian Lillingers Grund, Cor (Plaist Music) 9 (1)
- Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble, Atwood Suites (Origin) 9 (1)
- Frode Haltli, Avant Folk (Hubro) 9 (1)
- Esperanza Spalding, Exposure (Concord -17) 9 (1)
- Medeski Martin & Wood and Alarm Will Sound, Omnisphere (Indirecto) 8.5 (2)
- Benito Gonzalez-Gerry Gibbs-Essiet Okon Essiet, Passion Reverence Transcendence (Whaling City Sound) 8 (2)
- Dafnis Prieto Big Band, Back to the Sunset (Dafnison) 8 (2)
- Ingrid Jensen & Steve Treseler, Invisible Sounds: For Kenny Wheeler (Whirlwind) 8 (2)
- Brian Marsella Trio, Outspoken: The Music of the Legendary Hasaan (Tzadik) 8 (2)
- Michael Dease, Reaching Out (Posi-Tone) 8 (2)
- Ceramic Dog [Marc Ribot], YRU Still Here? (Northern Spy) 8 (2)
- Paul Dunmall-John Irabagon-Mark Sanders-Jim Bashford, The Rain Sessions (FMR) 8 (1)
- Schnellertollermeier, Rights (Cuneiform -17) 8 (1)
- Catherine Sikora & Brian Chase, Untitled: After (Chaikin) 8 (1)
- Leslie Pintchik, You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl! (Pintch Hard) 8 (1)
- Christian Sands, Facing Dragons (Mack Avenue) 8 (1)
- Orquesta Akokán, Orquesta Akokán (Daptone) 8 (1)
- Arve Henriksen, The Height of the Reeds (Rune Grammofon) 8 (1)
- Veryan Weston, The Make Project (Barnyard) 8 (1)
- Chris Lightcap, Superette (The Royal Potato Family) 8 (1)
- Christopher Hollyday, Telepathy (Jazzbeat Productions) 8 (1)
- Roots Magic, Last Kind Words (Clean Feed -17) 8 (1)
- Ra Kalam Bob Moses & Bukky Leo, Spaceships Over Africa (Ra-Kalam -17) 8 (1)
- Neal Kirkwood, Blue Inventions (Present Eye) 8 (1)
- Greg Saunier-Mary Halvorson-Ron Miles, New American Songbooks Volume 1 (Sound American -17) 8 (1)
- Momentum 2&3, Momentum 2&3 [Brüllt/Monster] (Audiographic -17) 8 (1)
- Chris Potter, The Dreamer Is the Dream (ECM -17) 8 (1)
- Thandi Ntuli, Exiled (Inpartmaint) 8 (1)
- Møster, States of Minds (Hubro) 8 (1)
- Andrew Bernstein, An Exploded View of Time (Hausu Mountain) 8 (1)
- Wadada Leo Smith, Najwa (TUM -17) 8 (1)
- Chucho Valdés, Jazz Batá 2 (Mack Avenue) 7 (3)
- Charles Pillow Large Ensemble, Electric Miles (MAMA) 7 (3)
- Ben Goldberg & Michael Coleman, Practitioner (BAG Productions) 7 (2)
- John Bailey, In Real Time (Summit) 7 (2)
- Fay Victor's SoundNoiseFunk, Wet Robots (ESP-Disk) 7 (2)
- Michael Leonhart, The Painted Lady Suite (Sunnyside) 7 (2)
- Eric Alexander, Song of No Regrets (HighNote -17) 7 (1)
- We Out Here (Brownswood) 7 (1)
- Julian Argüelles, Tonadas (Edition) 7 (1)
- Dave Tull, Texting and Driving (Toy Car) 7 (1)
- Mark Masters Ensemble, Our Métier (Capri) 7 (1)
- Willie Nelson, My Way (Legacy) 7 (1)
- Gary Smulyan, Alternative Contrafacts (SteepleChase) 7 (1)
- François Houle-Alexander Hawkins-Harris Eisenstadt, You Have Options (Songlines) 7 (1)
- Kate Reid, The Heart Already Knows (self-released) 7 (1)
- Ran Blake & Christine Correa, Streaming (Red Piano) 7 (1)
- Marty Krystall-Mike Alvidrez-Fritz Wise, Marty's Mode (K2B2) 7 (1)
- Dayramir Gonzalez, The Grand Concourse (Hippos in Tanks) 7 (1)
- Quinsin Nachoff's Flux, Path of Totality (Whirlwind) 7 (1)
- Judy Niemack, New York Stories (Sunnyside) 7 (1)
- Peter Brötzmann & Heather Leigh, Sparrow Nights (Trost) 7 (1)
- Dave Douglas Quintet, Brazen Heart: Live at Jazz Standard: Saturday (Greenleaf Music) 7 (1)
- Ken Vandermark-Klaus Kugel-Mark Tokar, No-Exit Corner (Not Two) 7 (1)
- Diane Marino, Soul Serenade: The Gloria Lynne Project (M&M) 7 (1)
- Marta Sánchez Quintet, Danza Imposible (Fresh Sound New Talent -17) 7 (1)
- Andy Milne & Dapp Theory, The Seasons of Being (Sunnyside) 7 (1)
- Lauren Sevian, Bliss (Posi-Tone) 7 (1)
- The Rempis/Daisy Duo & Guests, Dodecahedron (Aerophonic) 7 (1)
- Alchemy Sound Project, Adventures in Time and Space (ARC) 7 (1)
- Michael Musillami Trio + 2, Life Anthem (Playscape) 7 (1)
- Larry Goldings-Peter Bernstein-Bill Stewart, Toy Tunes (Pirouet) 7 (1)
- Black Spirituals, Black Access/Black Axes (Sige) 7 (1)
- Jacques Schwarz-Bart-Stéphane Galland-Malcolm Braff-Laurent David, Shijin (Alter-Nativ) 7 (1)
- Gregory Lewis, Organ Monk Blue (self-released) 7 (1)
- Kukuruz Quartet, Julius Eastman Piano Interpretations (Intakt) 6.5 (2)
- John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, All Can Work (New Amsterdam) 6 (3)
- Kenny Werner, The Space (Pirouet) 6 (3)
- Camille Thurman, Waiting for the Sunrise (Chesky) 6 (2)
- Lionel Loueke, Close Your Eyes (Newvelle) 6 (2)
- Marquis Hill, Modern Flows, Vol. 2 (Black Unlimited Music Group) 6 (2)
- Keith Jarrett-Gary Peacock-Jack DeJohnette, After the Fall (ECM) 6 (1)
- Cyrille Aimée, Live (Mack Avenue) 6 (1)
- Camilla George, The People Could Fly (Ubuntu) 6 (1)
- Yuko Fujiyama, Night Wave (Innova) 6 (1)
- On the Levee Jazz Band, Swinging New Orleans Jazz: For Dancing - Or Just Listening! (Big Al) 6 (1)
- Adam Nussbaum, The Lead Belly Project (Sunnyside) 6 (1)
- John Petrucelli, Presence (self-released) 6 (1)
- Yusef Komunyakaa-David Cieri-Mike Brown, White Dust (Ropeadope -17) 6 (1)
- François Carrier & Michel Lambert, Out of Silence (FMR -17) 6 (1)
- Adrian Cunningham & Ken Peplowski, Duologue (Arbors Jazz) 6 (1)
- Ken Thomson, Sextet (New Focus/Panoramic) 6 (1)
- Eric Harland, 13th Floor (13th Floor) 6 (1)
- The Yellowjackets, Raising Our Voice (Mack Avenue) 6 (1)
- Jason Robinson, Resonant Geographies (pfMENTUM) 6 (1)
- Wendy Eisenberg, Its Shape Is Your Touch (Vin du Select Qualitite) 6 (1)
- Ray Angry, One (JMI) 6 (1)
- Nigel Kennedy, Kennedy Meets Gershwin (Warner Classics) 6 (1)
- Vinny Golia-Henry Kaiser-Bob Moses-Damon Smith-Weasel Walter, Astral Plane Crash (Balance Point Acoustics) 6 (1)
- Sarah Bernstein Unearthish, Crazy Lights Shining (Phase Frame) 6 (1)
- Koplant No, Elker (Mize Music) 6 (1)
- The Trio Waz, That's What It Waz (Asian Improv -17) 6 (1)
- Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Anniversary (ArtistShare) 5.5 (1)
- Roger Kellaway Trio, New Jazz Standards Vol. 3 (Summit) 5.5 (1)
- Ernie Krivda and Swing City, A Bright and Shining Moment (Capri) 5.5 (1)
- Roberta Piket, West Coast Trio (13th Note) 5.5 (1)
- Michael Beharie & Teddy Rankin-Parker, A Heart From Your Shadow (Mondoj) 5.5 (1)
- Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt, Brace Up! (Palilalia) 5.5 (1)
- Szun Waves, New Hymn to Freedom (The Leaf Label) 5.5 (1)
- Onyx Collective, Lower East Suite Part Three (Big Dada) 5.5 (1)
- Yoni Kretzmer's New Dilemma, Months, Weeks and Days (OutNow) 5.5 (1)
- Wendy Eisenberg, The Machinic Unconscious (Tzadik) 5.5 (1)
- Harold Lopez-Nussa, Un Día Cualquiera (Mack Avenue) 5.5 (1)
- MAST, Thelonious Sphere Monk (World Galaxy) 5.5 (1)
- Anthony Braxton, Solo (Victoriaville) (Victo) 5.5 (1)
- Achim Kaufmann, Mnemon (Nuscope) 5.5 (1)
- Phillip Johnston, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (Asychronous) 5.5 (1)
- Alexander Von Schlippenbach & Globe Unity Orchestra, Globe Unity - 50 Years (Intakt) 5.5 (1)
- Elephant9, Greatest Show on Earth (Rune Grammofon) 5 (2)
- Devin Gray, Dirigo Rataplan II (Rataplan) 5 (2)
- Alfredo Rodriguez, The Little Dream (Mack Avenue) 5 (2)
- The Mattson 2, A Love Supreme (Spiritual Pajamas) 5 (1)
- Kat Edmonson, Old Fashioned Gal (Spinnerette) 5 (1)
- Tim Daisy Fulcrum Ensemble, Animation (Relay) 5 (1)
- Caroline Davis, Heart Tonic (Sunnyside) 5 (1)
- Justin Brown, Nyeusi (Biophilia) 5 (1)
- Chad Taylor, Myths and Morals (Ears & Eyes) 5 (1)
- Mia Dyberg Trio, Ticket! (Clean Feed) 5 (1)
- William Parker, Flower in a Stained-Glass Window & The Blinking of the Ear (Centering/AUM Fidelity) 5 (1)
- Louis Moholo-Moholo's Five Blokes, Uplift the People (Ogun) 5 (1)
- Joe Magnarelli, Magic Trick (SteepleChase) 5 (1)
- Alexander Hawkins, Unit[e] (self-released -17) 5 (1)
- Darrell Katz and the JCA Orchestra, Rats Live on No Evil Star (JCA) 5 (1)
- Elliott Levin-Gabriel Lauber Duo, Yu (Dimensional -17) 5 (1)
- 10³²K, The Law of Vibration (self-released) 5 (1)
- Jamie Baum Septet+, Bridges (Sunnyside) 5 (1)
- Jason Stein Quartet, Lucille! (Delmark -17) 5 (1)
- Geof Bradfield, Yes and . . . Music for Nine Improvisers (Delmark) 5 (1)
- Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids, An Angel Fell (Strut) 5 (1)
- Daniel Carter-Patrick Holmes-Matthew Putman-Hilliard Greene-Federico Ughi, Telepathic Alliances (577 -17) 5 (1)
- Ben Vince, Assimilation (Where to Now?) 5 (1)
- The Ken Peplowski Big Band, Sunrise (Arbors) 5 (1)
- Champian Fulton, The Stylings of Champian (Champian) 5 (1)
- Mars Williams, Presents an Ayler Xmas: Volume 2 (Soul What) 5 (1)
- Harvey Sorgen-Joe Fonda-Marilyn Crispell, Dreamstruck (Not Two) 5 (1)
- Thollem-DuRoche-Stjames Trio, Live in Our Time (ESP-Disk) 5 (1)
- Karrin Allyson, Some of That Sunshine (Kasrecords) 5 (1)
- Ryan Porter, The Optimist (World Galaxy/Alpha Pup) 5 (1)
- Jeremiah Cymerman, Decay of the Angel (5049) 5 (1)
- Shamie Royston, Beautiful Liar (Sunnyside) 5 (1)
- This Is It!, 1538 (Libra) 4 (2)
- Josephine Davies' Satori, In the Corners of Clouds (Whirlwind) 4 (2)
- Yelena Eckemoff, Desert (L&H) 4 (1)
- Kit Downes, Obsidian (ECM) 4 (1)
- Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, Down a Rabbit Hole (Summit) 4 (1)
- Tess Souter, Picture in Black and White (NOA) 4 (1)
- James Francies, Flight (Blue Note) 4 (1)
- Juan Andres Ospina Big Band, Tramontana (self-released) 4 (1)
- Walter Wolfman Washington, My Future Is My Past (Anti-) 4 (1)
- The Necks, Body (Northern Spy) 4 (1)
- Buster Williams, Audacity (Smoke Sessions) 4 (1)
- Anne Sajdera, New Year (Bijuri) 4 (1)
- Megumi Yonezawa-Masa Kamaguchi-Ken Kobayashi, Boundary (ESP-Disk) 4 (1)
- Dave Rempis-Tomeka Reid-Joshua Abrams, Ithra (Aerophonic) 4 (1)
- Stefan Bellnäs, Podunk (Country & Eastern) 4 (1)
- Miggy Augmented Orchestra, Colorful (ArtistShare) 4 (1)
- Amos Hoffman & Noam Lemish, Pardes (self-released) 4 (1)
- Kristen Strom, Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett (OA2) 4 (1)
- The Vinny Golia Sextet, Trajectory (Nine Winds/Orenda) 4 (1)
- Sungjae Son, Near East Quartet (ECM) 4 (1)
- Bill Anschell, Shifting Standards (Origin) 4 (1)
- Phillip Johnston & the Coolerators, Diggin' Bones (Asynchronous) 4 (1)
- Azar Lawrence, Elementals (HighNote) 4 (1)
- Terence Blanchard Featuring the E-Collective, Live (Blue Note) 4 (1)
- Brandon Coleman, Resistance (Brainfeeder) 4 (1)
- Marije Van Dijk, The Stereography Project Feat Jeff Taylor and Katell Keinig (Hert) 4 (1)
- Made to Break, Trébuchet (Trost -17) 4 (1)
- Mike Jones & Penn Jillette, The Show Before the Show: Live at the Penn & Teller Theater (Capri) 4 (1)
- Thiefs, Graft (Le Greffe) (Jazz & People) 3 (2)
- Mica Bethea Big Band, Suite Theory (self-released) 3 (1)
- Angles 3, Parede (Clean Feed) 3 (1)
- Ronnie Cuber, Ronnie's Trio (SteepleChase) 3 (1)
- Stacey Kent, I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions (Okeh -17) 3 (1)
- François Carrier-Michel Lambert-Rafal Mazur, Beyond Dimensions (FMR) 3 (1)
- Kevin Bales & Keri Johnsrud, Beyond the Neighborhood: The Music of Fred Rogers (GabNat) 3 (1)
- John Escreet, Learn to Live (Blue Room) 3 (1)
- Gilad Hekselman, Ask for Chaos (Hexophonic Music/Motéma) 3 (1)
- Tom Rainey Obbligato, Float Upstream (Intakt -17) 3 (1)
- Gayelynn McKinney, McKinFolk: The New Beginning (Detroit Music Factory) 3 (1)
- The New York All-Star Big Band, The Unheard Artie Shaw (Hep) 3 (1)
- Rolf Kühn, Yellow + Blue (MPS) 3 (1)
- Trio Corrente & Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica de São Paulo, Ao Vivo (Tratore) 3 (1)
- Steve Hobbs, Tribute to Bobby (Challenge) 3 (1)
- SFJAZZ Collective, Live: SFJAZZ Center 2017 (SFJAZZ) 3 (1)
- Ralph Peterson's Aggregate Prime, Inward Venture: Alive Vol. 5 at the Side Door (Onyx Productions) 3 (1)
- Leny Andrade, Bossa Nossa: Leny Andrade Canta Fred Falcão (Biscoito Fino) 3 (1)
- Dave McMurray, Music Is Life (Blue Note) 3 (1)
- Andy Sheppard Quartet, Romaria (ECM) 3 (1)
- Roller Trio, New Devices (Edition) 3 (1)
- Andrew Barker Trio, Avert Your I (Astral Spirits) 3 (1)
- Tord Gustavsen Trio, The Other Side (ECM) 2 (1)
- Martin Blume-Tobias Delius-Achim Kaufmann-Dieter Manderscheid, Frames & Terrains (No Business) 2 (1)
- Keith Jarrett, La Fenice (ECM) 2 (1)
- Jemeel Moondoc Quartet, The Astral Revelations (RogueArt) 2 (1)
- Robbie Lee & Mary Halvorson, Seed Triangular (New Amsterdam) 2 (1)
- Stephane Spira, New Playground (Jazzmax) 2 (1)
- The Thing, Again (Trost/The Thing) 2 (1)
- Kirk Knuffke & Steven Herring, Witness (SteepleChase) 2 (1)
- ROVA Saxophone Quartet, In Transverse Time (Victo) 2 (1)
- Spirit of Chicago Orchestra/Formation Jazz de la Musique de l'Air, Tribute to James Reese Europe (Frémeaux & Associés) 2 (1)
- The Carl Michel Group, Music in Motian (The Compositions of Paul Motian) (Play On) 2 (1)
- New England Jazz Ensemble, Peter and the Wolf (NEJE) 2 (1)
- Judy Silvano & the Zephyr Band, Lessons Learned (Unit) 2 (1)
- Simon Barker-Henry Kaiser-Bill Laswell-Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mudang Rock (Fractal Music) 2 (1)
- Kyoko Kitamura's Tidepool Fauna, Protean Labyrinth (self-released) 2 (1)
- Nick Millevoi's Desertion Trio With Jamie Saft, Midtown Tilt (Shhpuma) 2 (1)
- Josh Sinton's Predicate Trio, Making Bones, Taking Draughts, Bearing Unstable Millstones Pridefully, Idiotically, Prosaically (Iluso) 2 (1)
- Joe Armon-Jones, Starting Today (Brownswood) 2 (1)
- Michael Moss Accidental Orchestra, Helix (4th Stream) 2 (1)
- Peter Zak Quartet Featuring Marcos Varela, One Mind (Fresh Sound New Talent) 2 (1)
- Tim Garland, Weather Walker (Edition) 2 (1)
- Donny McCaslin, Blow (Motéma) 2 (1)
- Mary Halvorson & Joe Morris, Traversing Orbits (RogueArt) 2 (1)
- Vinny Golia-Steph Richards-Bert Turetzky, Trio Music (pfMENTUM) 2 (1)
- Endangered Blood, Don't Freak Out (Skirl) 2 (1)
- Georgia Anne Muldrow, Overload (Brainfeeder) 2 (1)
- Joel Harrison, Angel Band: Free Country, Vol. 3 (HighNote) 2 (1)
- Dongfeng Liu, China Caribe (Zoho) 1 (1)
- Marco Colonna-Agustí Fernandez-Zlatko Kaucic, Agrakal (Not Two) 1 (1)
- Adam Berenson-Scott Barnum-Eric Hofbauer, Introverted Cultures (Dream Play) 1 (1)
- Carol Liebowitz & Birgitta Flick, Malita-Malika (Leo) 1 (1)
- Kaze, Atody Man (Libra) 1 (1)
- José James, Lean on Me (Blue Note) 1 (1)
- Sarathy Korwar and Upaj Collective, My East Is Your West (Gearbox) 1 (1)
- Claudia Villela, Encantada Live (self-released) 1 (1)
- Carlos Henriquez, Dizzy Con Clave (RodBros Music) 1 (1)
- Chris Pitsiokos CP Unit, Silver Bullet in the Autumn of Your Years (Clean Feed) 1 (1)
- The Oakland Elementary School Arkestra, The Saga of Padani (Modern Harmonic) 1 (1)
- Mike Westbrook, Starcross Bridge (Hatology) 1 (1)
- Salvo Losappio, Long Story Short (Gut String) 1 (1)
- Verve Jazz Ensemble, Connect the Dots (Lightgroove Media) 1 (1)
- Billie Davies Trio, Perspectives II (self-released) 1 (1)
- Here's to Us, Animals, Wild and Tame (Hoob) 1 (1)
- Ryan Keberle & Frank Woeste, Reverso: Suite Pavel (Phonoart) 1 (1)
- Corcoran Holt, The Mecca (Holthouse Music) 1 (1)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York, Fukushima (Libra -17) 1 (1)
- Martin Küchen & Landaeus Trio, Vinyl (Moserobie) 1 (1)
- Johan Lindström Septett, Music for Empty Halls (Moserobie) 1 (1)
- Hailu Mergia, Lala Belu (Awesome Tapes From Africa) 1 (1)
- The Manhattan Transfer, The Junction (BMG) 1 (1)
- Snowpoet, Thought You Knew (Edition) 1 (1)
- Dos Santos, Logos (International Anthem) 1 (1)
- Tim Warfield, Jazzland (Criss Cross) 1 (1)
- Marcus Strickland Twi-Life, People of the Sun (Blue Note/Revive Music) 1 (1)
- Meg Okura-Sam Newsome-Jean-Michel Pilc, NPO Trio Live at the Stone (Chant) 1 (1)
- Noah Baerman Resonance Ensemble, The Rock & the Redemption (RMI) 1 (1)
- Vinnie Raniolo, Air Guitar: Songs of Flight (Raniolo Music) 1 (1)
- Jorge Nila, Tenor Time (Tribute to the Tenor Masters) (Ninjazz) 1 (1)
- Nicola Conte Presents Cosmic Forest: The Spiritual Sounds of MPS (MPS) 1 (1)
- Ab Baars-Kaja Draksler-Joe Williamson, Fish Scale Sunrise: No Queen Rises (Relative Pitch) 1 (1)
- Jakob Bro, Bay of Rainbows (ECM) 1 (1)
- Bettye LaVette, Things Have Changed (Verve) 1 (1)
- Pablo Held Trio, Investigations (Edition) 1 (1)
- Brandon Lopez, Quoniam Facta Sum Vilis (Astral Spirits) 1 (1)
Notes
* Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity, Live in Europe
(Clean Feed) includes 2 (1) carried over from 2017.
Records are eligible here if they contain any music recorded within
the past 10 years (from 2008 on).
Critics were asked to list 10 albums in descending order, with
10 points awarded for their #1, 9 for #2, etc. (On ballots where
choices were listed alphabetically, each received 5.5 points.) The
first bold number indicates total points; the number in parentheses is
the tally of ballots on which a CD appeared, which was used as a
tiebreaker.
New albums that received votes as Reissues/Historical:
- David S. Ware Trio, The Balance (Vision Festival XV+) (2009-10, AUM Fidelity) 3 (2)
Reissues/Historical albums that received votes as New:
- Charlie Haden & Brad Mehldau, Long Ago and Far Away (2007, Impulse!) 25 (3)
- Esbjorn Svensson Trio, E.S.T. Live in London (2005, ACT) 9 (1)
- Keith Jarrett-Gary Peacock-Jack DeJohnette, After the Fall (1998, ECM) 6 (1)
- Keith Jarrett, La Fenice (2006, ECM) 2 (1)
- Nicola Conte Presents Cosmic Forest: The Spiritual Sounds of MPS (MPS) 1 (1)
Albums receiving votes this year that had received votes in
last year's poll:
- Amir ElSaffar & Rivers of Sound, Not Two (New Amsterdam -17) 28.5 (7) + 10 (1)
- Anat Cohen Tentet, Happy Song (Anzic) 27 (6) + 10 (1)
- Mars Williams, An Ayler Xmas (Soul What) 8 (1) + 10 (1)
- Roswell Rudd-Fay Victor-Lafayette Harris-Ken Filiano, Embrace (RareNoise) 25.5 (5) + 10 (1)
- Irreversible Entanglements, Irreversible Entanglements (International Anthem) 15 (3) + 10 (1)
- Michael Musillami & Rich Syracuse, Bird Calls (Playscape) 4 (1) + 9 (1)
- Roots Magic, Last Kind Words (Clean Feed) 12 (3) + 8 (1)
- Greg Saunier-Mary Halvorson-Ron Miles, New American Songbook Vol I (Sound American) 1 (1) + 8 (1)
- Chris Potter, The Dreamer Is the Dream (ECM) 54.5 (9) + 8 (1)
- Wadada Leo Smith, Najwa (TUM) 77 (13) + 8 (1)
- Eric Alexander, Song of No Regrets (HighNote) 1 (1) + 7 (1)
- Marta Sánchez 5tet, Danza Imposible (Fresh Sound New Talent) 7.5 (2) + 7 (1)
- Alexander Hawkins, Unit[e] (AH) 13 (2) + 5 (1)
- Jason Stein, Lucille! (Delmark) 13 (3) + 5 (1)
- Jason Kao Hwang, Sing House (Euonymous) 28 (3) + 4 (1)
- Made to Break, Trébuchet (Trost) 7 (1) + 4 (1)
- Tom Rainey Obbligato, Float Upstream (Intakt) 40 (6) + 3 (1)
- Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity, Live in Europe (Clean Feed) 2 (1) + 15.5 (2)
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York, Fukushima (Libra) 4 (1) + 1 (1)
The rule is that we add the old votes into this year's totals only
if the album received more votes this year than last.