2020 Totals: Debuts

1. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega (Blue Note) 41
2. Micah Thomas, Tide (self-released) 9
3. Raphaël Pannier Quartet, Faune (French Paradox) 8
4. Max Bessesen, Trouble (Ropeadope) 4
5. Asher Gamedze, Dialectic Soul (On the Corner) 4
6. Nubya Garcia, Source (Concord) 4
7. Josh Johnson, Freedom Exercise (Northern Spy) 4
8. Webber/Morris Big Band, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music) 3
9. Alonzo Demetrius, Live From the Prison Nation (Onyx Music) 2
10. Karl Evangelista, Apura! (Astral Spirits) 2
Emily Kuhn, Sky Stories (BACE) 2
11. Emi Makabe, Anniversary (Greenleaf Music) 2
12. New Orleans High Society, New Orleans High Society (1718 Records/Slammin' Media) 2
14. Thana Alexa, ONA (self-released) 1
15. Steve Arnold & Sea Change, Sea Change (self-released) 1
16. Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note) 1
17. Noah Bless, New York Strong: Latin Jazz! (Zoho) 1
18. Moses Boyd, Dark Matter (Exodus) 1
19. Lara Driscoll, Woven Dreams (Firm Roots Music) 1
20. Giveton Gelin, True Design (self-released) 1
Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra, Night Devoid of Stars (Cellar Live) 1
21. Aubrey Johnson, Unraveled (Outside In) 1
22. John Lake, Seven Angels (Outside In) 1
23. Chien Chien Lu, The Path (self-released) 1
24. Luca T. Mai, Heavenly Guide (Trost) 1
25. Master Oogway, Earth and Other Worlds (Rune Grammofon) 1
26. Simon Moullier, Spirit Song (Outside In) 1
27. Never Weather, Blissonance (Ridgeway) 1
28. Douglas Olsen, 2 Cents (self-released) 1
29. Kassa Overall, I Think I'm Good (Brownswood) 1
Vanessa Perica Orchestra, Love Is a Temporary Madness (self-released) 1
30. PRAED Orchestra, Live in Sharjah (Morphine) 1
31. Ester Quevedo Quintet, Trabalenguas (UnderPool) 1
32. Skurkar, Skjulte Motiver (Øra Fonogram) 1
33. Toivo Quintet, View (Losen) 1
34. Tropos, Axioms // 75 AB (Biophilia) 1
35. Oded Tzur, Here Be Dragons (ECM) 1
36. Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble, Queen Nandi: The African Suite (Mageba Music) 1

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

The following albums received votes but are not considered eligible as Debut albums:

• Nubya Garcia, The Source (Concord): Garcia previously released Nubya's 5ive (2017), as well as appearing in the groups Maisha and Nérija.

• Webber/Morris Big Band, Both Are True (Greenleaf Music): Group but not artist debut. Anna Webber has several previous albums (Discogs lists 8). First album under Angela Morris's name, but she previously recorded as Rallidae.

• Kassa Overall, I Think I'm Good (Brownswood): Has a previous album, Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz, more with name on credits line, plus two albums with rapper Kool A.D. as Kool & Kass.

• Moses Boyd, Dark Matter (Exodus): Boyd previously released the album Displaced Diaspora (2018) as Moses Boyd Exodus. He also has 4 duo albums with Binker Golding as Binker and Moses.

• Oded Tzur, Here Be Dragons (ECM): Has two previous albums from 2015-17.

• Thana Alexa, ONA (self-released): Has a previous album, Ode to Heroes (2014).

• Master Oogway, Earth and Other Worlds (Rune Grammofon): Quartet, has a previous album, The Concert Koan (2018).