15th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2020

Ballots 2020 [3]

Troy Dostert (All About Jazz, Free Jazz Collective)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  2. Natsuki Tamura-Satoko Fujii-Ramon Lopez, Mantle (Not Two)
  3. Ivo Perelman & Arcado String Trio, Deep Resonance (Fundacja Sluchaj)
  4. Webber/Morris Big Band, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music)
  5. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin)
  6. James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Molecular (Intakt)
  7. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
  8. Pedro Melo Alves, In Igma (Clean Feed)
  9. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Free Hoops (Intakt)
  10. Rich Halley-Matthew Shipp-Michael Bisio-Newman Taylor Baker, The Shape of Things (Pine Eagle)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Sam Rivers, Ricochet [Sam Rivers Archive Project, Volume 3] (1978, NoBusiness)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Alain Drouot (Downbeat, Citizenjazz.com, WNUR-FM)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Tim Berne's Snakeoil, The Deceptive 4 (Intakt)
  2. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  3. Tani Tabbal Trio, Now Then (Tao Forms)
  4. Jason Kao Hwang, Human Rites Trio (True Sound)
  5. WHO Trio, Strell: The Music of Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington (Clean Feed)
  6. Joe Fiedler's Big Sackbut, Live in Graz (Multiphonics Music)
  7. Ikue Mori-Satoko Fujii-Natsuki Tamura, Prickly Pear Cactus (Libra)
  8. Stirrup + 6, The Avondale Edition (Cuneiform)
  9. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Free Hoops (Intakt)
  10. TOC & Dave Rempis, Closed for Safety Reasons (Circum Disc)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Europe Jazz All Stars, Room 1220 (1970, Trio/Ultra Vybe)
  2. Second Sight, Tiger Tracks (1987, Sunjump)
  3. Borah Bergman-Perry Robinson-Steve Swell-Ray Sage, Quartets Trios Duos (2007, Mahakala Music)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Ken Dryden (New York City Jazz Record, Hot House, Timeless Jazz [WUTC-FM], Hot House)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Alan Broadbent Trio, Trio in Motion (Savant)
  2. Vic Juris, Let's Cool One (SteepleChase)
  3. Denny Zeitlin, Live at Mezzrow (Sunnyside)
  4. Rufus Reid & Sullivan Fortner, Always in the Moment (Newvelle)
  5. Kenny Barron-Dave Holland Trio Featuring Johnathan Blake, Without Deception (Dare2)
  6. Expansions: The Dave Liebman Group, Earth (Whaling City Sound)
  7. Joe Fiedler's Big Sackbut, Live in Graz (Multiphonics Music)
  8. Fred Hersch, Songs From Home (Palmetto)
  9. Jason Palmer, The Concert: 12 Musings for Isabella (Giant Steps Arts)
  10. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time OutTakes (1959, Brubeck Editions)
  2. Paul Desmond, The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic)
  3. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Jordannah Elizabeth (New York City Jazz Record, Chamber Music America, DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Nubya Garcia, Source (Concord)
  2. Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood, Live (International Anthem)
  3. Luke Stewart, Exposure Quintet (Astral Spirits)
  4. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
  5. Ingrid Laubrock, Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt (Intakt)
  6. Jeff Parker, Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)
  7. Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger, Force Majeure (International Anthem)
  8. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
  9. Sara Serpa, Recognition (Biophilia)
  10. Makaya McCraven, Universal Beings E&F Sides (International Anthem)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Nina Simone, I Put a Spell on You (1965, Verve)
  2. Nina Simone, Pastel Blue (1965, Verve)
  3. Sharhabil Ahmed, The King of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Steve Feeney (Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, ArtsFuse)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
  2. Thumbscrew, The Anthony Braxton Project (Cuneiform)
  3. James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Molecular (Intakt)
  4. Tani Tabbal Trio, Now Then (Tao Forms)
  5. Kenny Barron-Dave Holland Trio Featuring Johnathan Blake, Without Deception (Dare2)
  6. Tomas Fujiwara, 7 Poets Trio (RogueArt -19)
  7. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  8. Fred Hersch, Songs From Home (Palmetto)
  9. Rich Halley-Matthew Shipp-Michael Bisio-Newman Taylor Baker, The Shape of Things (Pine Eagle)
  10. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Lennie Tristano, The Duo Sessions (1967-76, Dot Time)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Sascha Feinstein (Brilliant Corners, Jazziz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jimmy Heath, Love Letter (Verve)
  2. George Garzone-Peter Erskine-Alan Pasqua-Darek Oles, 3 Nights in LA (Fuzzy Music -19)
  3. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  4. Charles Lloyd, 8: Kindred Spirits (Live From the Lobero) (Blue Note)
  5. Ahmad Jamal, Ballades (Jazz Village -19)
  6. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  7. Eri Yamamoto Trio & Choral Chameleon, Goshu Ondo Suite (AUM Fidelity -19)
  8. Michael Dease, Never More Here (Posi-Tone -19)
  9. Teodross Avery, Harlem Stories: The Music of Thelonious Monk (Wj3)
  10. Wallace Roney, Blue Dawn-Blue Nights (HighNote -19)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Ken Franckling (JazzTimes, Hot House, Jazz Notes)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Tim Ray, Excursions and Adventures (Whaling City Sound)
  2. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  3. Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note)
  4. Jeff Rupert & George Garzone, The Ripple (Rupe Media)
  5. Lynne Arriale Trio, Chimes of Freedom (Challenge)
  6. Bernard Purdie-Christian Fabian-Ron Oswanski, Move On! (CAP)
  7. 3D Jazz Trio, I Love to See You Smile (DIVA)
  8. Funk Shui NYC, Shark NATO on a Plane (Zoho)
  9. Wayne Alpern, Standard Deviation (Henri Elkan Music)
  10. The Michael O'Neill Quartet, And Then It Rained (Jazzmo)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Phil Freeman (Stereogum, The Wire, Bandcamp Daily, Stereogum)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  2. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
  3. Matthew Shipp Trio, The Unidentifiable (ESP-Disk)
  4. Nduduzo Makhathini, Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds (Blue Note)
  5. Aaron Diehl, The Vagabond (Mack Avenue)
  6. Black Art Jazz Collective, Ascension (HighNote)
  7. Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble, Queen Nandi: The African Suite (Mageba Music)
  8. Shabaka and the Ancestors, We Are Sent Here by History (Impulse)
  9. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  10. James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Molecular (Intakt)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  2. Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley, Birdland, Neuburg 2011 (Fundacja Sluchaj)
  3. Pharoah Sanders, Live in Paris 1975: Lost ORTF Recordings (Transversales Disque)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Felipe Freitas (JazzTrail)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio, Angels Around (Heartcore)
  2. Shabaka and the Ancestors, We Are Sent Here by History (Impulse)
  3. The Nels Cline Singers, Share the Wealth (Blue Note)
  4. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin)
  5. Tim Berne's Snakeoil, The Fantastic Mrs. 10 (Intakt)
  6. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  7. Matthew Shipp Trio, The Unidentifiable (ESP-Disk)
  8. Pat Metheny, From This Place (Nonesuch)
  9. Liberty Ellman, Last Desert (Pi)
  10. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega (Blue Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Pharoah Sanders, Live in Paris 1975: Lost ORTF Recordings (Transversales Disque)
  3. Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings (1954, Blue Note)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Pat Frisco (WHFR-FM [Dearborn, MI])

NEW RELEASES

  1. Luke Stewart, Exposure Quintet (Astral Spirits)
  2. Vinny Golia-John Hanrahan-Henry Kaiser-Wayne Peet-Mike Watt, A Love Supreme Electric: A Salvo Inspired by John Coltrane: A Love Supreme & Meditations (Cuneiform)
  3. Matthew Shipp, The Piano Equation (Tao Forms)
  4. Alan Braufman, The Fire Still Burns (Valley of Search)
  5. Steve Swell, The Center Will Hold (Not Two)
  6. Tim Berne's Snakeoil, The Fantastic Mrs. 10 (Intakt)
  7. Quin Kirchner, The Shadows and the Light (Astral Spirits)
  8. Alexander Hawkins & Tomeka Reid, Shards and Constellations (Intakt)
  9. Simon Nabatov, Time Labyrinth (Leo)
  10. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Free Hoops (Intakt)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Cecil Taylor & Tony Oxley, Being Astral and All Registers (2002, Discus Music)
  2. Borah Bergman-Perry Robinson-Steve Swell-Ray Sage, Quartets Trios Duos (2007, Mahakala Music)
  3. London Jazz Composers Orchestra, That Time (1972-80, Not Two)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Richard Gehr (Relix, Bandcamp)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Sun Ra Arkestra, Swirling (Strut)
  2. Alan Braufman, The Fire Still Burns (Valley of Search)
  3. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  4. Thumbscrew, The Anthony Braxton Project (Cuneiform)
  5. Angelica Sanchez & Marilyn Crispell, How to Turn the Moon (Pyroclastic)
  6. John McLaughlin-Shankar Mahadevan-Zakir Hussain, Is That So? (Abstract Logix)
  7. Asher Gamedze, Dialectic Soul (On the Corner)
  8. Whit Dickey Trio, Expanding Light (Tao Forms)
  9. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem)
  10. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  2. George Coleman Quintet, In Baltimore (1971, Reel to Real)
  3. The Heshoo Beshoo Group, Armitage Road (1970, We Are Busy Bodies)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Andrew Gilbert (San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Classical Voice, Bay Area News Group)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Harold Mabern, Mabern Plays Mabern (Smoke Sessions)
  2. Ben Goldberg, Symphony No. 9 (BAG Production)
  3. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
  4. Jimmy Heath, Love Letter (Verve)
  5. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  6. Walter Smith III-Matthew Stevens-Micah Thomas-Linda May Han Oh-Nate Smith, In Common 2 (Whirlwind)
  7. Eddie Henderson, Shuffle and Deal (Smoke Sessions)
  8. Jason Palmer, The Concert: 12 Musings for Isabella (Giant Steps Arts)
  9. Lisa Mezzacappa Six, Cosmicomics (Queen Bee)
  10. Whit Dickey, Morph (ESP-Disk)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  3. George Coleman Quintet, In Baltimore (1971, Reel to Real)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Kurt Gottschalk (New York City Jazz Record, The Wire, WFMU)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jeff Parker, Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)
  2. The End, Allt År Intet (RareNoise)
  3. Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood, Live (International Anthem)
  4. Sara Serpa, Recognition (Biophilia)
  5. Roscoe Mitchell With Ostravská Banda, Performing Distant Radio Transmission Also Nonaah Trio, Cutouts for Woodwind Quintet and 8.8.88 (Wide Hive)
  6. Thumbscrew, The Anthony Braxton Project (Cuneiform)
  7. The Necks, Three (Northern Spy)
  8. Asher Gamedze, Dialectic Soul (On the Corner)
  9. PRAED Orchestra, Live in Sharjah (Morphine)
  10. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. George Lewis, Rainbow Family (1984, Carrier)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Nina Simone, Fodder on My Wings (1982, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

David A. Graham (The Atlantic)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  2. James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor, Live in Willisau (Intakt)
  3. James Carney Sextet, Pure Heart (Sunnyside)
  4. Keith Jarrett, Budapest Concert (ECM)
  5. Dayna Stephens, Right Now! Live at the Village Vanguard (Contagious Music)
  6. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem)
  7. Susan Alcorn Quintet, Pedernal (Relative Pitch)
  8. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
  9. Bill Frisell, Valentine (Blue Note)
  10. Joshua Redman-Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Brian Blade, Round Again (Nonesuch)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  3. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Mike Greenblatt (Goldmine)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Connie Han, Iron Starlet (Mack Avenue)
  2. Delfeayo Marsalis Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Party (Troubadour Jass)
  3. Christian McBride Big Band, For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver (Mack Avenue)
  4. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis, The Music of Wayne Shorter (Blue Engine)
  5. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  6. Pat Metheny, From This Place (Nonesuch)
  7. Charles Lloyd, 8: Kindred Spirits (Live From the Lobero) (Blue Note)
  8. Stephane Wrembel, The Django Experiment V (Arte Boreal)
  9. Funk Shui NYC, Shark NATO on a Plane (Zoho)
  10. Chick Corea, Plays (Concord)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charlie Parker, The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection (1944-48, Craft)
  2. Wolfgang Lackerschmid & Chet Baker, Quintet Sessions 1979 (Dot Time)
  3. Bob James, Once Upon a Time: The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions (Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Steve Greenlee (JazzTimes)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Nate Wooley, Seven Storey Mountain VI (Pyroclastic)
  2. Benny Rubin Jr. Quartet, Know Say or See (Benny Jr. Music)
  3. Kenny Kotwitz & the LA Jazz Quintet, When Lights Are Low (PMRecords)
  4. Øyvind Skarbø/Fredrik Ljungkvist/Kris Davis/Ole Morten Vågan, Inland Empire (Clean Feed)
  5. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  6. 3D Jazz Trio, I Love to See You Smile (DIVA)
  7. Massimo Biolcati, Incontre (Sounderscore)
  8. Rich Halley-Matthew Shipp-Michael Bisio-Newman Taylor Baker, The Shape of Things (Pine Eagle)
  9. Kaze & Ikue Mori, Sand Storm (Libra)
  10. The Nels Cline Singers, Share the Wealth (Blue Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Dexter Gordon Quartet, Live in Chateauvallon 1978 (Elemental Music)
  2. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)
  3. Bob James, Once Upon a Time: The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions (Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

George Grella (Brooklyn Rail, New York City Jazz Record, The Wire, Red Hook Star-Review)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Tyshawn Sorey, Unfiltered (self-released)
  2. Junk Magic, Compass Confusion (Pyroclastic)
  3. Wolfgang Muthspiel-Scott Colley-Brian Blade, Angular Blues (ECM)
  4. Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Artificial Happiness Button (Ropeadope)
  5. James Carney Sextet, Pure Heart (Sunnyside)
  6. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega (Blue Note)
  7. Gregg August, Dialogues on Race: Volume One (Iacuessa)
  8. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
  9. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  10. Daniel Carter-Matthew Shipp-William Parker-Gerald Cleaver, Welcome Adventure! Vol. 1 (577 Records)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)
  2. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  3. Paul Desmond, The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Kira Grunenberg (American Songwriter, No Depression, DownBeat, Throw the Dice and Play Nice)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Nubya Garcia, Source (Concord)
  2. SPAZA, Uprize! (Mushroom Hour Half Hour)
  3. Joshua Redman-Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Brian Blade, Round Again (Nonesuch)
  4. Connie Han, Iron Starlet (Mack Avenue)
  5. Barry Stephenson, The Iconoclast (self-released)
  6. Gregory Porter, All Rise (Blue Note)
  7. GoGo Penguin, GoGo Penguin (Blue Note)
  8. Warren Wolf, Reincarnation (Mack Avenue)
  9. Joey Alexander, Warna (Verve)
  10. Philippe Lemm Trio, City Birds (Outside In)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)
  2. Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker, Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 (Premium Cool)
  3. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

James Hale (DownBeat, SoundStageXperience.com)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Lina Allemano's Ohrenschmaus, Rats and Mice (Lumo)
  2. The Nels Cline Singers, Share the Wealth (Blue Note)
  3. Dave Douglas, Marching Music (Greenleaf Music)
  4. Ran Blake & Andrew Rathbun, Northern Noir (SteepleChase)
  5. Joshua Redman-Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Brian Blade, Round Again (Nonesuch)
  6. Aaron Parks, Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man (Ropeadope)
  7. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  8. Liberty Ellman, Last Desert (Pi)
  9. John Scofield, Swallow Tales (ECM)
  10. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  2. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Alex Henderson (New York City Jazz Record, Salon, AlterNet, The Raw Story, XBIZ, The New Civil Rights Movement, The National Memo)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Pat Metheny, From This Place (Nonesuch)
  2. Charles Lloyd, 8: Kindred Spirits (Live From the Lobero) (Blue Note)
  3. David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg, Breath & Hammer (Table Pounding)
  4. Chick Corea, Plays (Concord)
  5. Eddie Daniels, Night Kisses: A Tribute to Ivan Lins (Resonance)
  6. Joe Farnsworth, Time to Swing (Smoke Sessions)
  7. Kurt Elling, Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition)
  8. Mark Soskin, Everything Old Is New Again (SteepleChase)
  9. Sofija Knezevic, Sofijazz (Archival)
  10. Rachel Therrien, Vena (Bonsai Music)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Alain Jean-Marie, The Complete Alain Jean-Marie Biguine Reflections (Frémeaux & Associés -19)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN