15th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2020

Ballots 2020 [5]

Elzy Kolb (Hot House)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  2. Sarah Elizabeth Charles & Jarrett Cherner, Tone (BaldHill)
  3. Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)
  4. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
  5. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  6. Jay Clayton-Fritz Pauer-Ed Neumeister, 3 for the Road (2001-02, Meistero Music)
  7. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  8. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  9. Shabaka and the Ancestors, We Are Sent Here by History (Impulse)
  10. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  2. Mal Waldron, Free at Last [Extended Edition] (1969, ECM -19)
  3. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time OutTakes (1959, Brubeck Editions)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Stuart Kremsky (Mr. Stu's Record Room)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Fred Hersch, Songs From Home (Palmetto)
  2. Jason Palmer, The Concert: 12 Musings for Isabella (Giant Steps Arts)
  3. Lafayette Gilchrist, Now (Lafayette Gilchrist Music)
  4. JD Allen, Toys/Die Dreaming (Savant)
  5. Jorge Roeder, El Suelo Mio (T-Town)
  6. Ran Blake & Frank Carlberg, Gray Moon (Red Piano)
  7. Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp, Amalgam (Mahakala Music)
  8. Ray Mantilla, Rebirth (Savant)
  9. Gato Libre, Koneko (Libra)
  10. Micah Thomas, Tide (self-released)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)
  2. Paul Desmond, The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic)
  3. Hank Mobley, The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70 (Mosaic -19)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

David Kunian (New Orleans Jazz Museum, WWOZ-FM New Orleans)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
  2. The Nels Cline Singers, Share the Wealth (Blue Note)
  3. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  4. Jon Batiste, Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard (Verve -19)
  5. Matt Wilson Quartet, Hug! (Palmetto)
  6. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem)
  7. Sun Ra Arkestra, Swirling (Strut)
  8. Shabaka and the Ancestors, We Are Sent Here by History (Impulse)
  9. Nubya Garcia, Source (Concord)
  10. The Extended Trio vs Brad Walker, The SideBar Sessions Vol. 1 (SideBar NOLA)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Louis Armstrong, Live in Europe (1948-52, Dot Time -19)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. John Coltrane, Blue World (1964, Impulse -19)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Art Lange (free-lance)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL (listed alphabetically; 2 points each)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Will Layman (PopMatters)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Matthew Shipp, The Piano Equation (Tao Forms)
  2. John Hollenbeck, Songs You Like a Lot (Flexatonic)
  3. Liberty Ellman, Last Desert (Pi)
  4. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  5. Webber/Morris Big Band, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music)
  6. Kurt Elling, Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition)
  7. Chad Taylor Trio, The Daily Biological (Cuneiform)
  8. James Carney Sextet, Pure Heart (Sunnyside)
  9. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)
  10. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  2. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  3. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Devin Leonard (Bloomberg Businessweek)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  2. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega (Blue Note)
  3. Giveton Gelin, True Design (self-released)
  4. Brad Mehldau, Suite: April 2020 (Nonesuch)
  5. Will Vinson, Four Forty One (Whirlwind)
  6. Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio, Angels Around (Heartcore)
  7. Wood River, More Than I Can See (Yellowbird)
  8. Gerald Cleaver, Signs (577 Records)
  9. Liberty Ellman, Last Desert (Pi)
  10. Keith Jarrett, Budapest Concert (ECM)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Martin Longley (The Brooklyn Rail, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Jazziz, London Jazz News, The Guardian, etc.)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin)
  2. Ikue Mori-Satoko Fujii-Natsuki Tamura, Prickly Pear Cactus (Libra)
  3. The Heliocentrics, Infinity of Now (Madlib Invazion)
  4. Laura Toxværd, Tidens Strøm (ILK -19)
  5. Kimchi Moccasin Tango, Yankee Zulu (Clean Feed -19)
  6. Luis Lopes Humanization 4tet, Believe, Believe (Clean Feed)
  7. Dave Glasser, Hypocrisy Democracy (Here Tiz Music)
  8. Jeff Williams, Live at London Jazz Festival: Road Tales (Whirlwind)
  9. Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, The Rise Up (Dunya)
  10. Collocutor, Continuation (On the Corner)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978 (Bureau B)
  2. Jon Hassell/Farafina, Flash of the Spirit (1988, Tak:Til)
  3. Edikanfo, The Pace Setters (1981, Glitterbeat)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Suzanne Lorge (New York City Jazz Record, DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Pat Metheny, From This Place (Nonesuch)
  2. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  3. Keith Jarrett, Budapest Concert (ECM)
  4. Gregory Porter, All Rise (Blue Note)
  5. Jimmy Heath, Love Letter (Verve)
  6. Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note)
  7. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis, Black Brown & Beige (Blue Engine)
  8. Arturo O'Farrill/The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Four Questions (Zoho)
  9. Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)
  10. Lara Driscoll, Woven Dreams (Firm Roots Music)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. John Coltrane, Blue World (1964, Impulse -19)
  3. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Phillip Lutz (DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. David Liebman-Randy Brecker-Marc Copland-Drew Gress-Joey Baron, Quint5t (InnerVoice Jazz)
  2. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
  3. Andy Emler, No Solo (La Buissonne)
  4. John Scofield, Swallow Tales (ECM)
  5. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  6. Rez Abbasi, Django-shift (Whirlwind)
  7. Carla Bley-Andy Sheppard-Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)
  8. Michael Wollny, Mondenkind (ACT Music)
  9. Fred Hersch, Songs From Home (Palmetto)
  10. Eddie Henderson, Shuffle and Deal (Smoke Sessions)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)
  3. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Kevin Lynch (The Shepherd Express, No Depression, Culture Currents)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Gregg August, Dialogues on Race: Volume One (Iacuessa)
  2. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  3. SFJazz Collective, Live: SFJazz Center 2019: 50th Anniversary: Miles Davis In a Silent Way and Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (SFJazz)
  4. Adam Kolker, Lost (Sunnyside)
  5. Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note)
  6. Greg Reitan, West 60th (Sunnyside -19)
  7. Lynne Arriale Trio, Chimes of Freedom (Challenge)
  8. Weird Turn Pro, Maul and Mezcal (Weird Turn Pro)
  9. Dayna Stephens, Right Now! Live at the Village Vanguard (Contagious Music)
  10. Dave Douglas, Marching Music (Greenleaf Music)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Edward Simon, 25 Years (1995-2018, Ridgeway)
  3. Pharoah Sanders, Live in Paris 1975: Lost ORTF Recordings (Transversales Disque)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Jim Macnie (DownBeat, JazzTimes, Lament for a Straight Line)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  2. Michael Moore Fragile Quartet, Cretan Dialogues (Ramboy -19)
  3. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  4. Matthew Shipp Trio, The Unidentifiable (ESP-Disk)
  5. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem)
  6. Susan Alcorn Quintet, Pedernal (Relative Pitch)
  7. The NDR Bigband With Michael Moore, Sanctuary (Ramboy -19)
  8. Raf Vertessen Quartet, LOI (El Negocito)
  9. Pavogüchi, III (Aklovap)
  10. Webber/Morris Big Band, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Milford Graves & Don Pullen, The Complete Yale Concert, 1966 (Corbett vs Dempsey)
  3. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Howard Mandel (Downbeat, ArtsJournal/JazzBeyondJazz, Jazz Journalists Association, The Wire, NPR)

NEW RELEASES

  1. John Beasley, MONK'estra Plays John Beasley (Mack Avenue)
  2. Junius Paul, Ism (International Anthem -19)
  3. Dave Bryant, Night Visitors (SE)
  4. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)
  5. Brian Charrette, Like the Sun (Dim Mak)
  6. Jimmy Johnson, Every Day of Your Life (Delmark -19)
  7. Lisa Mezzacappa Six, Cosmicomics (Queen Bee)
  8. Geof Bradfield-Ben Goldberg-Dana Hall Trio, General Semantics (Delmark)
  9. John Scofield, Swallow Tales (ECM)
  10. Jason Kao Hwang, Human Rites Trio (True Sound)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Peter Margasak (DownBeat, The Quietus, Chamber Music)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Nate Wooley, Seven Storey Mountain VI (Pyroclastic)
  2. Susan Alcorn Quintet, Pedernal (Relative Pitch)
  3. Torbjörn Zetterberg & Den Stora Frågan, Are You Happy? (Moserobie)
  4. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  5. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
  6. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem)
  7. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  8. JD Allen, Toys/Die Dreaming (Savant)
  9. Anna Högberg Attack, Lena (Omlott)
  10. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Free Hoops (Intakt)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Horace Tapscott With the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Ancestral Echoes: The Covina Sessions, 1976 (Dark Tree)
  2. Sun Ra Arkestra, Egypt 1971 (Strut)
  3. Phil Wachsmann, Writing in Water (1985, Corbett vs. Dempsey)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Milo Miles (Boston Arts Fuse, Miles to Go)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)
  3. Oneness of Juju, African Rhythms 1970-1982 (Strut)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Bill Milkowski (DownBeat, Jazziz, Absolute Sound, Guitar Player)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Chris Potter, There Is a Tide (Edition)
  2. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  3. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)
  4. David Liebman-Randy Brecker-Marc Copland-Drew Gress-Joey Baron, Quint5t (InnerVoice Jazz)
  5. Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)
  6. Troy Roberts, Stuff I Heard (Toy Robot Music)
  7. Lionel Loueke, HH (Edition)
  8. Pat Metheny, From This Place (Nonesuch)
  9. Tineke Postma, Freya (Edition)
  10. Joshua Redman-Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Brian Blade, Round Again (Nonesuch)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time OutTakes (1959, Brubeck Editions)
  2. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  3. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Roz Milner (Exclaim)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ambrose Akinmusire, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
  2. Jeremy Pelt, The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1 (HighNote)
  3. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  4. Lionel Loueke, HH (Edition)
  5. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
  6. Charles Tolliver, Connect (Gearbox)
  7. Thumbscrew, The Anthony Braxton Project (Cuneiform)
  8. Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note)
  9. Allison Neale, Quietly There (Ubuntu Music)
  10. Ugly Beauty, Ugly Beauty (self-released)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Ralph A. Miriello (Notes on Jazz, Jazz Journalist Association)

NEW RELEASES

  1. John Hollenbeck, Songs You Like a Lot (Flexatonic)
  2. Jerry Bergonzi, Nearly Blue (Savant)
  3. Grégoire Maret-Romain Collin-Bill Frisell, Americana (ACT Music)
  4. Aaron Parks, Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man (Ropeadope)
  5. Ricardo Grilli, 1962 (Tone Rogue)
  6. Jeff Cosgrove-John Medeski-Jeff Lederer, History Gets Ahead of the Story (Grizzley Music)
  7. John Scofield, Swallow Tales (ECM)
  8. Dayna Stephens Trio, Liberty (Contagious Music)
  9. Brian Landrus-Fred Hersch-Drew Gress-Billy Hart, For Now (BlueLand)
  10. Reverso [Frank Woeste-Vincent Courtois-Ryan Keberle], The Melodic Line (Out Note)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  2. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance)
  3. Nat King Cole, Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) (Resonance -19)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Chris Monsen (Klassekampen's Musikkmagasinet)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, If You Listen Carefully the Music Is Yours (Odin)
  2. Aly Keïta-Jan Galega Bronnimann-Lucas Niggli, Kalan Teban (Intakt)
  3. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
  4. I.P.A., Bashing Mushrooms (Cuneiform)
  5. Eric Revis, Slipknots Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
  6. Anna Högberg Attack, Lena (Omlott)
  7. Matthew Shipp, The Piano Equation (Tao Forms)
  8. Skurkar, Skjulte Motiver (Øra Fonogram)
  9. James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Molecular (Intakt)
  10. Camila Nebbia, Aura (Ears & Eyes)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Albert Ayler Trio, 1964: Prophecy Revisited (Ezz-thetics)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

John Frederick Moore (Jazziz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem)
  2. Tyshawn Sorey, Unfiltered (self-released)
  3. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Axiom (Ropeadope)
  4. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  5. Matthew Shipp, The Piano Equation (Tao Forms)
  6. Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead, Legacy Holder (Vision Ahead Music)
  7. Jeremy Cunningham, The Weather Up There (Northern Spy)
  8. Ron Miles, Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)
  9. Jeff Parker, Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)
  10. Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)
  2. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)
  3. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Allen Morrison (DownBeat, JazzTimes)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
  2. John Beasley, MONK'estra Plays John Beasley (Mack Avenue)
  3. Kurt Elling, Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition)
  4. Antonio Adolfo, BruMa: Celebrating Milton Nascimento (AAM Music)
  5. Alan Broadbent Trio, Trio in Motion (Savant)
  6. Christian McBride Big Band, For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver (Mack Avenue)
  7. Jimmy Heath, Love Letter (Verve)
  8. Becca Stevens, Wonderbloom (GroundUP Music)
  9. Allegra Levy, Lose My Number (SteepleChase)
  10. Aaron Diehl, The Vagabond (Mack Avenue)

REISSUES/HISTORICAL

  1. Nat King Cole, Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Best of Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) (Resonance)
  2. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note)
  3. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN