15th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2020
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2020 Totals: Vocals

  1. Sara Serpa, Recognition (Biophilia) 13
  2. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12) 12
  3. Kurt Elling, Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition) 10
  4. Gregory Porter, All Rise (Blue Note) 7
  5. Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood, Live (International Anthem) 5
  6. Cory Smythe, Accelerate Every Voice (Pyroclastic) 5
  7. Thana Alexa, ONA (self-released) 4
  8. Ran Blake & Christine Correa, When Soft Rains Fall (Red Piano) 3
  9. Elina Duni & Rob Luft, Lost Ships (ECM) 3
  10. Norah Jones, Pick Me Up Off the Floor (Blue Note) 3
  11. Jyoti, Mama, You Can Bet! (SomeOthaShip) 3
  12. Bettye LaVette, Blackbirds (Verve) 3
  13. Luciana Souza, Storytellers (Sunnyside) 3
  14. Kandace Springs, The Women Who Raised Me (Blue Note) 3
  15. Lucia Cadotsch, Speak Low II (We Jazz) 2
  16. Sinne Eeg, We've Just Begun (BFM Jazz) 2
  17. Josie Falbo, You Must Believe in Spring (Southport) 2
  18. John Hollenbeck, Songs You Like a Lot (Flexatonic) 2
  19. Irreversible Entanglements, Who Sent You? (International Anthem) 2
  20. Aubrey Johnson, Unraveled (Outside In) 2
  21. Diana Krall, This Dream of You (Verve) 2
  22. Allegra Levy, Lose My Number (SteepleChase) 2
  23. Robin McKelle, Alterations (Doxie) 2
  24. Somi With Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper (Salon Africana) 2
  25. Fay Victor's SoundNoiseFunk, We've Had Enough! (ESP-Disk) 2
  26. Callum Au & Claire Martin, Songs and Stories (Stunt) 1
  27. Laila Biali, Out of Dust (ACT Music) 1
  28. Debbie Davis & Josh Paxton, Interesting Times (Prom Night) 1
  29. Dena DeRose, Ode to the Road (HighNote) 1
  30. Kat Edmonson, Dreamers Do (Spinnerette) 1
  31. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve) 1
  32. Rebecca Coupe Franks, Every Little Thing Counts (RCF) 1
  33. Champian Fulton, Birdsong (Champian) 1
  34. Nubya Garcia, Source (Concord) 1
  35. Melody Gardot, Sunset in the Blue (Bravado) 1
  36. Kathleen Grace & Larry Goldings, Tie Me to You (Monsoon) 1
  37. Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Artificial Happiness Button (Ropeadope) 1
  38. Lianne La Havas, Lianne La Havas (Nonesuch) 1
  39. Carmen Lundy, Modern Ancestors (Afrasia -19) 1
  40. Emi Makabe, Anniversary (Greenleaf Music) 1
  41. Denise Mangiardi, Brown Book (Alice's Loft Music) 1
  42. Leila Martial, Warm Canto (Laborie Jazz) 1
  43. Luba Mason, Triangle (Blue Canoe) 1
  44. Zara McFarlane, Songs of an Unknown Tongue (Brownswood) 1
  45. Camila Meza & the Nectar Orchestra, Ambar (Sony Masterworks -19) 1
  46. Raul Midón, The Mirror (Artistry/Mack Avenue) 1
  47. Kassa Overall, I Think I'm Good (Brownswood) 1
  48. Ian Shaw/Iain Ballamy/Jamie Safir, What's New (Silent Wish) 1
  49. Archie Shepp-Raw Poetic-Damu the Fudgemunk, Ocean Bridges (Redefinition) 1
  50. Sun Ra Arkestra, Swirling (Strut) 1
  51. Steve Swell Quintet Soul Travelers With Leena Conquest, Astonishments (RogueArt) 1
  52. The Brianna Thomas Band, Everybody Knows (Breathline) 1
  53. Loudon Wainwright III With Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks, I'd Rather Lead a Band (Search Party) 1
  54. Kenny Washington, What's the Hurry (Lower 9th) 1
  55. Norma Winstone & John Taylor, In Concert (1988, Sunnyside) 1
  56. Wood River, More Than I Can See (Yellowbird) 1

Critics were asked to name one album apiece, with no point system.

The following albums received votes this year but were released in 2019 and received votes in that year's poll. Rule is: we add the old votes to this year's only if the album received more votes this year. None did.