Francis Davis

Francis Davis founded the Jazz Critics Poll in 2006, when he was the main jazz correspondent at the Village Voice, and kept it going through 2024, up to his death on April 14, 2025.

[Add more background here.]

Francis wrote movingly about his health problems in his last poll essay, here.

Obituaries

• Nate Chinen [NPR] [04-16]: Francis Davis, a figurehead of jazz criticism, has died. Chinen also wrote about Davis in his Substack newsletter, The Gig. The initial post has also appeared on many NPR radio station websites.
• Gary Miles [Philadelphia Inquirer] [04-16]: Francis Davis, celebrated music critic, author, and historian, has died at 78
• Adam Nositer [NYT] [04-17]: Francis Davis, Sharp-Eared Jazz Critic, Is Dead at 78
• Jon Garelick [04-18]: Arts Remembrance: Francis Davis, 1946-2025
• Michael J West [04-22]: Francis Davis, Esteemed Jazz Critic, Dies at 78
• David A Graham [04-24]: The Critic Who Translated Jazz Into Plain English: "When Francis Davis pronounced judgment on music, it carried a great deal of weight."
• Allen Lowe [04-28]: A Tribute to Francis Davis
• Jazz Journalists Association Editor [04-22]: Celebrating Francis Davis, 1946-2025
• Terry Gross [05-02]: Terry Gross remembers her late husband, jazz writer Francis Davis
• Wikipedia: Francis Davis
• Wikiwand: Francis Davis
• Memorial Service Details at Remember My Journey